If the long-lasting Canadian winter is good for anything, it’s to intensify the excitement for spring.
But it is often so easy to spend the entirety of spring indoors. Here are a few places you can go to better appreciate the warm weather, as well as have an interesting and entertaining experience, regardless of the temperature.
rare Charitable Research Reserve
Located in Cambridge, head down to rare to reconnect with nature as it was meant to be.
rare houses just under 1,000 acres of protected forests, ponds, and wetlands, with activities including guided hikes, lectures, gardening workshops, and evening Owl Prowls.
Open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Trails on the property are free and open to the public; standard fees for special events are $8 per person.
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
Enjoy the exotic splendour of the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, where thousands of freely flying butterfly species are on display, joined by exotic birds and plants.
Open Monday to Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Rates are $13.35 for adults (ages 13-64), $11.25 for seniors (ages 65+), and $7.00 for children (ages 3-12). Children under three years old enter free of charge.
Shade’s Mills
Shade’s Mills is a popular destination for school field trips and excursions, but you don’t have to be a student to enjoy what Shade’s Mills has to offer.
Enjoy swimming, canoeing and fishing in Mill Creek, as well as over 12 kilometres of hiking trail.
And if you can’t make it down when the weather is warm, Shade’s Mills has you covered. Wintertime activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.
Open Monday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Entry fee is $12 — additional fees vary depending on activity and area of the facility attended.
