Burlington Water Front Discovery Walk Oct.22,2011

We drove along Lakeshore Road passing by Mississauga, Oakville, Bronty Village to Burlington. On the way we were amazed by those tree's color and those big mansions and their estate, how many rich people call this on the lake or by the lake area home? Like us the ordinary working class, we just can't imagine to live in this kind of gorgeous mansions.

 

The first park we visited was Burloak water front park of Burlington, it is a pretty small park. There is paly ground for kids and a small beach, we walked the water front trail, took pic with the background of far away Sky Way Bridge and Hamilton area.The water was so clam and clear.

 

Then we drove down towards downtown of Burlington. We was attracted by another park on the way called Paletta Lakefront Park and the estate. The grounds and architecture of this restored 1930's estate was related with the steel industry. Dorothy's grandfather,Cyrus A.Birge was a steel industry pioneer in this area. He bought this land so that he could look across the bay to the steel mills. After his death,his daughter,Edythe-Dorothy's mother,built the mansion with her inheritance. The mansion and estate are surrounded by Shoreacres Creek and the wetlands,meadow,marsh which is home to so many plants,birds,animals. Nowaday, it becomes a park and the Shoreacres Creek Discovery Walk trail. It is a beautiful trail to walk around the Shoreacres Creek whick runs from the Niagara Escarpment. We acrossed the bridges, walked on the mud trails covered by thick fallen leaves like walking on the soft carpets.Enjoyed the view of the trees color and the lake, the creek, it was really an enjoyable discovery walk.

 

If you observe carefully, you can find Sedge, Locust,etc the rare plants, and even you can find wren, oriole and hear the singing of them, in the creek, the smelt,chub will come to spawn in the spring.

 

We met two new wed couples taking pictures here in the park and the mansion.

 

The last stop we made is Spencer Smith Park-central and water front to the city of Burlington since the very beginning of settlement in the area.

 

It is a big park spreading along the lake and there is a long water front trail as well. We started to walk from the brand new ,modern style Spencer's Restaurant-it looks like a Music Hall. Then we walked towards to east along the trail, enjoying the view of the lake and the park, many people were relaxing here and kids were playing in the playground.

 

You could see the water clearly through the bottom, and it was so calm not even a little bit ripple.At the background towards west, you also could see the Sky Way Bridge , the famous Burlington Beach and the Hamilton far away.

 

We walked to the east end, went back to Lakeshore Road, it was time for a rest and some snack. We had coffee, milk steamer,bagels and sat on the comfortable chairs in the Second Cup coffee shop to spend a quiet time. It was so nice to sit down and relax, enjoy some refreshment after a long walk.

 

A nice day out. We drove back along the Lakeshore Road again, time to home to have a home made dinner.