Bronte Creek’s maple candy wars

Today’s blog post was written by Jessica Stillman, school outreach coordinator and maple syrup aficionado at Bronte Creek Provincial Park.

Maple season is upon us!

Trees have been tapped, sap is boiling, and Bronte Creek’s annual Maple Syrup Festival is underway, which means the biggest annual debate has also begun…

…which is the better form of maple candy: taffy or sugar?

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Where to snowshoe in Ontario Parks

Nature looks completely different under a glittering blanket of snow. Why not strap on some snowshoes and experience Ontario Parks in a whole new way this winter?

Check out some winter parks with top-notch snowshoeing opportunities:

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Fun in the sun: bringing Ukrainian families to parks

What is it that you love most about camping?

The smell of campfire, the sound of the birds chirping in the forest, or that food just tastes better cooked outside?

There’s something about nature that calls to us, beckoning us to return to our favourite parks year after year.

But what if you don’t have a favourite park yet?

What if you’ve never visited a park at all, felt the fall leaves crush beneath your boots, or heard the enchanting call of the loon?

Before this summer, that was the case for just over 150 Ukrainian refugee children and their families.

Thanks to our partners and generous donors, these families experienced their first ever trip to Ontario Parks this season.

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How to plan your trip to Bronte Creek

Bronte Creek Provincial Park is a popular summer destination for weekend visits.

With 11 group picnic shelters and thousands of picnic tables spread throughout the day-use area, the park is well-equipped to host its 5,000 visitors each weekend during the summer.

Conveniently located on the boarders of Oakville and Burlington just north of the QEW/403, the park is within a 30 minute drive for residents of Toronto, Mississauga, Milton, Hamilton, and Grimsby!

Here’s our guide to making your trip to Bronte Creek a breeze!

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How to plan your day trip to Forks of the Credit

Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is a beautiful park west of Toronto. It offers excellent hiking, picnicking, and fishing opportunities, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

But the secret is out on this hiking destination located close to home! Forks of the Credit can experience large crowds of visitors, especially on summer weekends.

As the park’s popularity has grown, so has our need for visitors to put extra thought into being respectful. Visitors should plan ahead to avoid large crowds, potential fines, or being turned away at the park gate.

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Ontario’s trilliums

Today’s post comes from Assistant Zone Ecologist Pilar Manorome.

Spring is probably my favourite season as it brings new life to our parks in the form of migrating birds and emerging spring ephemerals, giving our forests their long-awaited pops of vibrant colours and contrast.

Most people know of the White Trillium — also referred to as Wake Robin or Large-leaved Trillium — as Ontario’s provincial flower. This is the flower featured on many of our provincial documents, from health cards to driver’s licenses.

Here are the top five fun facts about this iconic Ontario species:

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5 items a Victorian can’t live without

Today’s blog was written by Jessica Stillman, school outreach coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park.

Contained within these brick walls are stories of family, hard work, urbanization, and an era gone, but not forgotten.

This building is Spruce Lane Farmhouse at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Today, it is a living history museum designed to share stories of the Victorian era  through objects that fill the home.

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The best winter day trips (if you live in Toronto)

Living in Toronto can make nature feel a million miles away. This is especially true in the winter, when the closeness of the buildings, the busy streets, and the slush limit the best that winter has to offer – tranquility, wide-open spaces blanketed in snow, and room to play.

In truth, however, the natural world is never too far away. Several provincial parks are open all winter and offer easy day visits for city-dwellers.

Here are some of the top parks near Toronto you need to check out this winter:

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First Day Hike destinations

New Year’s Day is coming up fast — have you picked out a park for your First Day Hike on January 1, 2023?

This 10-park list rounds up some hot spots for your first foray into 2023:

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