When your family’s all together on weekends or for holidays, you don’t want to spend the entire time in front of the TV, or glued to tablet screens, do you? We know that finding an activity to get kids some screen-free time can be a challenge in itself. The good news is if you live in or near the iConnect Community, you’re close to a great selection of kid-approved activities that you can enjoy as a family!
Coming soon to iConnect is a 2.6-hectare neighbourhood park, right at the centre of the community. There will be plenty of walking/bike trails, seating areas, and activity areas. You can enjoy sunshine on your lunch break, stay active with a run through the park, or have some outdoor fun with the whole family. It will be that much easier to PLAY right in the same community where you LIVE, WORK, and SHOP.
In the meantime, check out these experiences!
Parks and Playgrounds
Sometimes all a kid needs is some open space and fun playground equipment to kick-start their imagination. Why not pack a picnic lunch and make your way to one of these idyllic greenspaces, a short drive from iConnect?
- Belmont Park
- Waterdown Memorial Park
- Joe Sam’s Leisure Park
- Sealey Park
Down on the Farm
The perfect antidote to technology overload, kids can get a taste of a simpler life – and a taste of farm-fresh delights – from one of these Southern Ontario locales.
- Drummond Farms: This fifth-generation apple orchard boasts more than twenty different varieties of apples, not to mention freshly produced apple cider, honey, and maple syrup. If you’ve never experienced farm-fresh, handpicked apples before, you don’t want to miss this!
- Hanes Farmland and Corn Maze: People from all over flock to this Dundas farm for a full day of adventure and fun! Beyond the iconic mazes there are play areas for the kids and areas to meet and feed the farm animals. And don’t skip the bakery, their pies are amazing!
- Grindstone Creek Farm: This small farm was built with a passion and commitment for healthy and ethical treatment of animals. You can book a self-guided tour to experience the unique and beautiful animals that call Grindstone Creek Farm home.
- Maple Ridge Acres: Have you ever wanted to meet an alpaca? Now’s your chance! This sustainable alpaca farm helps produce luxurious yarn for beautiful products. You can arrange a tour to learn all about it.
Zoos and Animal Encounters
Are your little ones showing an interest in animals? You can nurture this fascination in a safe and educational way in these locales:
- African Lion Safari: Since 1969, this world-renowned wildlife farm has offered a truly unique experience: the visitor is well-secured in the car, and the animals roam in open 2-to-20-hectare (5 to 50 acre) reserves. It currently supports over 1,000 animals across more than 100 species, along with numerous conservation initiatives.
- Twin Valley Zoo: This family-run haven for wildlife has been voted Brantford’s #1 thing to do by TripAdvisor! They have plenty of fun and educational activities geared specifically toward kids.
- Bronte Creek Provincial Park: This member of the Ontario Parks System has a little bit of everything! The Nature Centre has reptile and insect exhibits, and you’ll encounter plenty of birds and other wildlife throughout the park. It also plays home to special events all year and offers camping for adventurous families.
Enjoy that screen-free time
We hope to inspire you to have some kid-approved time away from all that pesky technology and enjoy some outdoor adventures without having to stray too far from home. Feel free to share your favourites (from this list or otherwise) on Facebook or Instagram and tag us – maybe we’ll feature them in a future blog post!