Transitions-Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Real Estate Blog

Burlington's Waterfront - Spencer Smith Park

In the middle of winter, I find myself dreaming of the Lake Ontario waterfront. Lake Ontario has been a constant in my life from the time I was 7 years old and we moved from the tip of James Bay in Quebec down to Batawa in southern Ontario.

A special occasion in my family was when my Dad would announce 'Let's go to the beach!'. My two brothers and I would jump for joy and run to find our sand toys and bathing suits.
Mom would pack dinner into a cooler and my Dad would go out to the back garden shed to get the hibachi and charcoal briquettes so we could barbecue our dinner on the beach. Then off we would go.

On other occasions we would go smelt fishing with two or three other families. When the smelt were running in the spring, my Dad and his friends would use big square nets to catch thousands of them.

They'd bring the nets on shore where the Moms and kids were warming themselves around a giant bonfire, and we would scoop all of the smelt into buckets or whatever other containers we had brought.

                                                                        North Beach on Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County -
                                                                        where we used to go to the beach on weekends and smelt
                                                                        fishing in the spring.

Back at home my Dad would pay my brothers and a penny for each smelt we cleaned. It was a quick and easy way to make a few dollars and  we enjoyed the opportunity to make some extra money over and above our allowances.

Anyhow, just sitting here this evening thinking of the Lake Ontario shoreline here in Oakville and Burlington and started to go through some of my pictures from last summer. These are taken at the Burlington Waterfront in Spencer Smith Park.


Looking out over Lake Ontario at Spencer Smith Park on Burlington's Waterfront.


View of the Burlington Pier - Under Construction


Spencer Smith Park on Burlington's Waterfront

If you're in Burlington, be sure to stop by and take a stroll (or go skating in the winter) down on the waterfront at Spencer Smith Park.

©2010JoSmith

If you're looking for a FREE activity that the whole family can take part in, grab your skates and head down to Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario for Free skating at the Rotary Centennial Pond.

Overlooking Lake Ontario, the Rotary Pond is the perfect place to spend a sunny, Sunday afternoon with your family or friends.

Skating starts at 10am however the pond is also open in the evenings until 10pm so you and your sweetheart can have a romantic evening by the lake skating under the Pond lights and bright winter stars.

The pond is kept groomed however it's advisable to call ahead for ICE conditions -905-634-7263

If you would rather stay cosy and warm inside and watch the activities taking place, pull up a chair in the Discovery Landing Observation building.

This beautiful glass building is the perfect place to watch snow falling over the lake, storms coming in on the horizon or just soak in some bright winter sun.

The Rotary Pond at Discovery Landing is at the foot of downtown Burlington.
After skating be sure to take in a hearty dinner and warm up at one of Burlington's fine downtown restaurants or cafes.

It's the perfect way to end a perfect day of Free skating on Spencer Smith Park's Rotary Centennial Pond in Burlington, Ontario.

©2009JoSmith