28 Reasons I Love Hamilton... Reason 10

Why write 28 reasons I love Hamilton?

1. Hamilton is a CITY.
2. The Location
3. The size (population)
4. The scale
5. Creativity and the arts
6. The buildings
7. The nature
8. The film industry
9. The markets and restaurants

10. The trails, paths, and running routes

I'm a constant walker, an occasional hiker, and an off-and-on runner. This city has an amazing array of great routes for all three no matter where you are, and many runners realize that.

However, I am no spandex-clad Running Room devotee, so the other 99% of you can relate too, I hope.

First, the trails...
Trails are everywhere, mostly thanks to the escarpment. Thanks to the Escarpment and the Bruce Trail, there's hiking paths directly through the middle of the city, mostly flat and well-traveled enough for a quick jog or leisurely walk, but far-reaching enough that one can go just about anywhere. (I don't even mind the cut through the golf course... I find it kind of funny, actually). It's also really nice to run past a waterfall or two, and there's many more of those around the city.

And you can start hiking right afer stepping right off a paved city street... instead of driving half an hour to the trail, like we used to. The connection of the Bruce trail being right IN Hamilton, running through the city, is enormously advantageous.

Around the Bayfront, a huge paved trail connects the entire Harbour area as well, and there's another trail along the East Hamilton beach... The Bayfront trail's the one I use the most, and I love the views.


And running...
Type "running routes Hamilton" into Google and your first result is this: several routes mapped out, with variety in length, difficulty, and geography (west mountain, waterfront, downtown, etc.)

And of course we have Runner's Den and Running Room and more if you're with that set.

I rarely identify myself with that subculture, but to let Stuff White People Like rest easy, let's do the tally. Hmmm.. I do have New Balance Shoes, but not much in the way of "Outdoor Performance Gear" besides a ten-year-old-jacket and even older shorts. I guess that means that as I run through an area, I'm gentrification-neutral.


Even running on the harder surface of sidewalks, there's enough of a variety in streets, whether in residential neighbourhoods on the Mountain or quieter routes in the lower city to take a different route every day and not get bored. (and the fact this city's statistically so safe, and most neighbourhoods are safe, is also a big bonus for that)

I don't do it often, but I really enjoy Stinson from Victoria to Wentworth, then ducking down to Cumberland and going east to Gage Park. It's quiet and bright and full of trees.. and next to no road noise.


And of course, the stairs.
I remember after just moving here and re-certifying my CPR at a lovely lady's house on Auchmar. I ended up walking the Dundurn stairs there and back.... and it didn't hurt to pick up a croissant at Zarky's on the way back. I was amazed at how easy the walk was.

The Spec did a decent summary about them a couple years ago and Jeff Mahoney just wrote another one... Where else do you get that kind of outdoor workout for free - and that type of much-needed connection between upper and lower city?

What we have here is unique. There's a great network of places to walk and run in the city. And the escarpment means that we have great geographical advantages and features for even more of those.

And that's another reason I love Hamilton.

28 Reasons I Love Hamilton... Reason 7

Why write 28 reasons I love Hamilton?

1. Hamilton is a CITY.
2. The Location
3. The size (population)
4. The scale
5. Creativity and the arts
6. The buildings

7. The nature

Hamilton's got some great nature going for it.

This is Sean and Katie, and they are awesome people. Last July or so, they were visiting the province from Alabama (they'd flown to Buffalo, and were hitchiking up to Montreal). They were couchsurfing nearby and I met them in church on Sunday. They're pretty awesome, and we ended up hanging out a few times while they were there and on their way back.





When I first met them, it was a hot, brilliantly sunny day, and we headed down to the waterfront trail.

It's one of my favorite parts about Hamilton.





Not long after, another one of their hosts, Mandy, took them down to the beach and the waterfalls (no promotion required)

Two tourists. Two hosts. Three different destinations, all natural features we've taken advantage of. That's huge.

I like the Dundurn stairs, where you can head several different directions.... and seeing a few dozen snakes sunning themselves on the rocks, and little creatures moving amongst the undergrowth. (And yelling SNAKES ON A ROCK! har har...)

There's lots of great fishing here too, whether you're going off the waterfront trail or slightly out of town, there's many areas to go with lots of fish.

Among other odd jobs, I did a lot of landscaping last summer, and remember the variety of wildlife that would bolt back into the ravine as we came into Ancaster and Dundas backyards.

I even remember seeing herons in the water from my vantage point on the early morning GO train. (this is a picture of another one sighted in the Hamilton area, not the one I've seen)

There's also an enormous amount of conservation area here. I haven't ventured out to Cootes Paradise yet. And also, of course, the many farms and fantastic farmland that's so rare over much of the country is worth mentioning again.

(Although as far as nature goes, I could live without squirrels and pigeons, for obvious reasons)

So tonight I started to write a post about nature in Hamilton, and "The World Is Just Awesome" kept running through my head. So hey, I figured, let's run with it.




It never gets old huh?
Nope
It kinda make you wanna..break into song?
Yep

I love the oak trees
I love the clear blue skies
I love the Bruce Trail
I love when herons fly
I love Hamilton
And all the nature here

Boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah

I love the waterfront
I love deer in backyards
I love Princess Point
I love the escarpment
I love the whole place and all its craziness

Boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah

I love the nature folks
I love taking walks
I love my fishing hole
I love SNAKES ON ROCKS!
I love Hamilton
Its such a brilliant place!

Boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah
Boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah
Boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah, boom de ah dah

Hamilton's full of amazing creatures and plants and life. And that's another reason I love Hamilton.