Burlington, ON
Bark and Fitz (15th April ‘23) We started our day with a trip to Bark and Fitz. With now 20 locations across Canada, this chain was bought over by Greenhawk Equestrian sports in 2016, and so the store is split between the two genres. The dog-part of the store was smaller than I expected, but if you are an equestrian like me, you’ll enjoy browsing the rest of the store. We bought some natural ingredient treats. Another nearby location is South Oakville.
Bronte Creek Provincial Park (15th April ‘23) Given the unexpected sunny weekend, I made an impromptu decision to borrow a Parks pass from Waterloo Public Library and head to Bronte Creek. Our first pitstop at the park was the off-leash trail! To get here, drive straight from the park entrance, past the park office, and then you will see the sign. There is a large grassy area for fetch and playtime, along with some trails. It took us 15 minutes to loop the outer trail. If you’re camping, there’s a shorter off-leash at the campgrounds too.
Next we drove back to Car Park A and took the Lookout Ravine Trail. The viewpoint was mediocre at best, but be sure to add on the Half Moon Valley Trail. Here, you get a better view down into the ravine, and can walk right down to the river itself, where Rita had a paddle. We also added on the Trillium Trail at the end for more forest walking. The main trails run alongside the river, but there is lots to do across the park, such as the Nature Centre for kids, Spruce Hill Farmhouse interpretive centre, and one of Canada’s largest outdoor pools. There are many events held at Bronte Creek throughout the year, which can be found at the Friends of Bronte Creek website. And be sure to check out the Heritage Oak Tree!
Charm Bar Café at Pure Boutique (3rd Oct ’24) As soon as I saw this blush pink café-inspired jewellery making spot on Instagram, I knew I had to go! And when I found this statement on their website, Rita had to come too: We love our furry friends and you will often find my sweet lab, Rosie, and my “grand dogs” Willow and Mac (my son and daughter’s dogs) hanging out at the shop.
BLK Swan (3rd Oct ’24) Just across the road is a dog-friendly patio. Canines can enter from the accessible entrance off the sidewalk and are offered water. I got a Hub Grub Salad, which was simple yet delicious.
