We heard you are moving to Burlington so we wanted to wish you a big welcome! We are very happy you will be joining us here.

You probably already know that our gorgeous little city in Ontario was declared the best city of its size in Canada by MoneySense – our country’s leading finance and lifestyle publication. It should go without saying that the quality of life here, whether we talk weather, business, schools, shopping, crime levels, recreation, music and festivals, nightlife and so on, is close to what you might call ideal. This is largely impacted by the city’s geography. Ontario is the country’s leading consumer market and a home to some of the largest industries, but there is not a single job sector that would dominate the market ruining the balance.

The city of Burlington has numerous popular tourist attractions that many residents enjoy. Some of the things to see in Burlington include the Waterfront Trail, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Spencer Smith Park, Mapleview Centre, Burlington Mall, the Art Gallery of Burlington, Canada’s Largest Ribfest, Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival, as well as numerous golf courses, bars, clubs and spas.

Waterfront Trail

The most popular fitness, recreation and tourism attraction by far is the 1600km long Waterfront Trail. It joins 84 communities, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and the Niagara, 3 UNESCO sites, 90 beaches, 3 wine regions, 325 national parks and much, much more. On and off-road amenities are available to cyclists, rollerbladers, pedestrians and anyone else looking for a quick getaway. Whether you live here or are just passing by, the Waterfront Trail in an absolute must.

Royal Botanical Gardens

Royal Botanical Gardens has its headquarters in our little city but also spans across Hamilton, ON. Environment Canada pronounced RBG as the National Focal Point for Plant Conservation and this stunning nature oasis is considered the shrine for plant biodiversity. The Arboretum, the Herbarium, the Nature Interpretive Centre and Princess Point altogether make up 27km of floral trails. Most notably, the Ontario Garden Show, the second largest garden show in the country, is held here.

Spencer Smith Park

Off the shore of Lake Ontario, Spencer Smith Park combines a beautiful small beach and a number of walking areas that offer something for everyone. Burlington’s Ribfest, as well as beer and music festivals are held here making it an extremely popular gathering area, especially during the festival season. Since 2013, Spencer Smith Park features Brant Street Pier, a 137m pier overlooking Lake Ontario with amazing views.

Mapleview Centre and Burlington Mall

The two malls in Burlington attract most of the residents and tourists when shopping for the latest fashion trends.  Mapleview, originally opened in 1990, was renovated in 2010 requiring $64 million. It has a huge glamorous structure and features a number of global brands. The Burlington Mall, opened in 1968, spans across 67,000 square meters. Its first floor features popular retail shops and the second hosts many business offices.

Art Gallery of Burlington

This not-for-profit charitable organization gathers over 100,000 visitors annually to its exhibitions and numerous activities. Spanning across 4,100 square meters, it is home to a number of the city’s guilds – Burlington Fine Arts Association, Burlington Handweavers and Spinners Guild, Burlington Sculptors and Woodcarvers Guild, Latow Photographers Guild, Fibre Arts Guild, Burlington Potters Guild, and Hooking Craft Guild of Burlington.

Canada’s Largest Ribfest

Each year, the Burlington Lakeshore Rotary Club organizes Ribfest, a food festival lasting four days in the heart of Spencer Smith Park. Every September, the city of Burlington expects approximately 175,000 people to participate in its most popular festival in one way or the other. More importantly, half of the visitors are not from the city, providing great financial inflow to the municipality and its organizations.

Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival

Another fantastic annual festival in Burlington is the Sound of Music Festival held each June for the past 35 years. Also organized in Spencer Smith Park, it attracts around 225,000 people who come to enjoy the festivities such as concerts, free music programs for kids and other festival activities. The event received its spot on the list of Festivals & Events of Distinction as one of the most respected ones in the Ontario region. Also, the Grand Pinnacle Award was given to the festival by the IFEA – International Festival and Events Association, for its event management quality, content marketing and a few other indicators.

Golf Courses

In addition to the most beautiful nature sites of Burlington, stunningly spacious and emerald-like golf courses can be found in the city. From wherever you are in the city there are a variety of golf courses just minutes away. Try to get a hole-in-one at Crosswinds Golf and Country Club, Burlington Springs Golf Club, Hidden Lake Golf Club, Tyandaga Golf Course, Millcroft Golf Club and a few others are just minutes away.

Bars and Clubs

When it comes to lunch, dinner or nightlife spots in the city, there is a very big chance that you will find a place to your liking. The Black Bull Neighborhood Pub, Gator Teds Tap and Grill, The Nines Brick Bar + Stone Oven + Grill, The Poacher Pub & Restaurant, Club 54 Nightclub, Windjammer By The Lake and many other fun and fashionable establishments are available to you throughout the city.

Spas

Feel the need to get away from everything for just a little while and feel like royalty? Just find your oasis of calmness and go for it! Burlington offers a number of amazing spas including Sanctuary Day Spas, Sante Day Spa & Boutique, Princess Nails and Spa, Q Spa at Mercedes-Benz Burlington, Rosewater Spa, Burlington Spa & Wellness Centre, The Follicle Salon & Spa, Luminescence Spa and a few others that will make sure you go home feeling 10 years younger.

Well, there you have it! A few tips on what to see and do in Burlington after moving into your new house and settling in. Of course, the list on how to enjoy the beauty of our city is endless but we hope to have provided you with at least something to start with.