In the opening scene of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold – seeking out the perfect family Christmas tree – sings carols down the highway with his unimpressed teens in the back seat. Upon arriving at the tree farm (after a series of unfortunate events), Clark and his family find, cut down, and literally drag home the tree that will become the centre of their family Christmas. While the Griswolds’ hunt for the perfect tree is hilarious and unfortunate, there is something to be said for the treasured experience that comes with cutting down your own family Christmas tree.

Think you’re Griswold enough? Visit these local tree farms to find your family’s perfect tree.

Clembrook Christmas Farm

4231 Derry Rd West, Milton  • clembrookchristmasfarm.com

Back at the turn of the century, W.B. “Grandfather” Clements purchased this farm in Nelson Township. He resided in Milton but built his summer cottage and a guest cottage on what is now the Appleby Line side of the farm. His family would spend most of their summers here amid the tall pines, cedars, and numerous brooks flowing throughout the property from the Niagara Escarpment.

Clembrook has an excellent selection of pre-cut Fraser and Balsam Fir up to 14’ and Scotch and White Pine up to 8’. Their cut-your-own trees, which include Scotch, White, and Austrian Pine along with Norway and Colorado Spruce, reach up to 7’.  They also have visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, cozy bonfires, wagon rides, refreshments, a gift shop, and much more!  

Jingle Bill’s Tree Farm

7373 Concession 1, Puslinch  •  Jinglebills.ca

Jingle Bill’s Tree Farm is Southern Ontario’s North Pole and your one-stop shop for fun, friends, and Christmas spirit! Located just 15 minutes north of Burlington in Puslinch County. Their farm is focused on the classic Christmas tradition of searching for the perfect tree with friends and family. Make your pick, bring out the saw, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Jingle Bills sits on 100 acres of land complete with 30 acres of dense forest, a babbling brook, Elves Marketplace, and Jingle Deb’s Treat Tent. Let your little ones enjoy the inflatable Farm Hopper Barnyard or cozy up by the fire with friends with hot cocoa.

Merry Farms

1974 Concession Road 2 West, Hamilton  •  Merryfarms.ca

Available by reservation, Merry Farms is a 176-acre farm offering “cut your own” or “pre-cut” trees…. both Balsam Fir and Fraser Fir. Wind your way through the farm along their scenic laneway for almost 3 kilometres over rolling hills. Enjoy wagon rides and refreshments, and be sure to explore their rustic Christmas store filled with unique gifts and items.  

Sandwiched between the Escarpment and Lake Ontario, Halton is home to many natural wonders. And while it’s fairly easy to hike Mount Nemo or hit the beach in the summer, winter comes with a slew of logistical challenges that keep many of us indoors. The truth is though, winter is the perfect time for outdoor adventure. Regardless of your interest or your age, there is lots to explore (and great groups to explore it with) in Halton.

For the grown-ups

In its 48th year, the Halton Outdoor Club is a great resource for nature-seekers. What started as a cross-country ski club has now evolved to serve all four seasons, featuring cycling, hiking, paddling, and snowshoeing as well as cross-country skiing. 

When the club initially started, young families were a key part of their demographic and they had an extensive training program for children. However, as more family-friendly programming has become available in the Region, today’s members mostly fall into the 40 to 85 age range (with over 500 members). As a non-profit, volunteer-run outdoors club, all activities are led by experienced members who follow best practices. Most activities are free and those that involve a cost are billed on a cost-recovery basis.

All five of the club’s activities are equally popular and the club offers lessons and clinics in cross-country skiing and paddling to help beginners get started or to improve their technique. The club recently started a Winter Fit program to get members in shape for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

“Most members participate in more than one sport and some participate in all five,” said Cheryl McCarney, club manager.  They also organize skiing and snowshoeing day trips along with extended trips to Europe. Their paddling group even went to Belize! “We look forward to more such trips once we get Covid-19 under control,” said Cheryl. 

The club’s tagline is Active and Energized Together Outdoors. “Members enjoy the camaraderie and social aspects of the club and being able to participate in a safe, supportive environment,” said Cheryl. 

For the kids

It was rare to see a child in the ‘90s without a Scouts or Brownie patch proudly plastered on a sash or belt. Scouts Canada, with programming for children and youth ages 5 to 26, is still around and serving children today after over 100 years. Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts are for younger kids, and Scouts is for 11 to 14 year-olds. Groups do go all the way up to Rover Scouts for those between 18 and 26. 

More than 50,000 youth participate country-wide in Scouts programming with outdoor adventures that include hikes, weekend camping, and canoeing. Those interested in finding a Scouts group in the Burlington and Oakville area can google Scouts Canada and check out the Central Escarpment area. 

Girl Guides of Canada has some 97, 000 members across Canada and provides an environment for girls and young women to explore the arts, sciences, outdoor challenges, and global awareness. Many older girls stay involved as they find it helpful for developing leadership skills. 

For families

It’s fair to say that if you can’t find an outdoor activity that you would enjoy at one of the Conservation Halton parks, you won’t find it anywhere. The Conservation’s parks include eight different parks that offer a wide range of family activities, from hiking to bird watching to skiing. The parks include Rattlesnake Point, Hilton Falls, Mount Nemo, Crawford Lake, Mountsberg, Robert Edmonson, Kelso, and Glen Eden, which offers skiing and snowboarding.

Mountsberg is unique for its educational experiences that include its Raptor Centre which houses Octavius the Great Horned Owl and Pip the American Kestrel. They also have daily educational programs and family events so there is something for everyone. For animal lovers, the horses, donkeys, sheep, and goats can all be seen in their outside enclosures. The kids can pet the goats, play on the natural playground, or enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride. 

The Royal Botanical Gardens offers many family activities including the blooms festivals, performing arts, and holiday celebrations. Some popular family events include Enchanted Garden Weekend, the Great Pumpkin Trail, and Holiday Traditions in November and December. 

With organized sport, activities and clubs, the only thing you’ll need to take care of is bundling up. 

Local Links:

Halton Outdoor Club || Haltonoutdoorclub.ca

Scouts Canada || Scouts.ca

Girl Guides Canada || Girlguides.ca

Royal Botanical Gardens || rbg.ca

Conservation Halton || Conservationhalton.ca

When Carol Baldwin first heard about the game of pickleball, she had the same response as many people, “I read a booklet about it and thought, what the heck is that?”

Baldwin can’t be blamed for her confusion. The game, after all, is a combination of several sports brought together on a tennis-like court…. and while it may look like tennis, it combines elements of badminton and table tennis while featuring a different racket, lower net, and new rules.

Like table tennis, pickleball is played with a paddle (smaller than a tennis racquet but larger than a table tennis paddle). And while the pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court, the sport is played with a perforated polymer ball, similar to a wiffle ball.

For unseasoned players, there may not seem like there’s much to the net seeing as it’s similar to the ones used in tennis – but for pickleball, the net sits around two inches lower and can be played as doubles or singles.   

Baldwin never could have guessed she would like the game as much as she does. But after only a few games, she was hooked. That was ten years ago and she’s still a loyal player who hits the courts twice a week.

“I just loved it and I kept going back and back,” said Baldwin, who plays at the Burlington Seniors Centre on New Street.

Pickleball appeals to people of all ages partly because it’s fairly easy to learn, but also because playing at a competitive level comes quite quickly. Competitive games are popping up all over North America and are attracting players of all ages.

Pickleball tends to have a large following from seniors because it’s easier to play than other ball and racket sports (for example, there are no overhand serves). Baldwin never thought the game would be more than a passing fancy for her. But to her, it’s more than just a game, it’s also a fun social activity.

“Through pickleball, I met the group of people who have kept me sane during COVID.”

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. They were looking for an activity for their kids and combined various elements from other court games.

Contrary to popular belief, the name did not stem from one of the founder’s dogs. It came about because it sounds like Pickle Boat – a moniker from rowing where oarsmen are chosen from the leftovers of other boats, in the same way as pickleball is a combination of other games.

The game has taken off like wildfire. Two years after the trio developed pickleball, they constructed the first pickleball court. By 1976, the first tournament in the world was held in Washington.   

Since then, a sport that began as a children’s backyard activity has evolved into one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. It’s played in countries around the world, and competitions are held by groups like the U.S Pickleball National Championships.

As of 2021, there were 57 member countries for pickleball which are overseen by the International Federation of Pickleball.

The demand for pickleball has spread to Burlington and Oakville where it’s now offered in several centres, including the Burlington Seniors’ Centre, and many Burlington city-run recreation centres, like Central Arena and Mainway Arena.  In Oakville, the Global Pickleball Network lists many spots where pickleball is played, including River Oaks Community Centre and George Savage Park.  Many private racket clubs including the Ontario Racket Club have also embraced the game.

If you haven’t picked up a pickleball paddle yet there’s no better time than the present – and who knows, maybe you’ll be pining for pickleball like so many others.