Okay, let's be honest. I would not have ever heard of Lakeside Park had it not been for the song on…read moreRush's third album Caress of Steel. I had love the song, and always thought it would be cool to visit it one day. Well that day had finally come. I was in town last year, and thought what a perfect time to make my pilgrimage and see what this Park was all about. About. I was very sad when Neil passed away in 2020, and had heard they had built a pavilion bearing his name so I had to see what that was. I arrived in this little small touristy town and saw all kinds of cool little businesses and places to park and saw the sign up ahead that said Lakeside Park. As I entered into the park it was a very nice area. Well kept plenty of greenery, and it is right next to the water. It was a pretty warm day so we were getting some nice cool breezes. As I looked around I saw the Neil Peart pavilion. I had made it. As I wandered over to it, there were people hanging around inside. Having some get-togethers, little parties, people working, or just hanging out in the shade. Enjoying the cool breezes. I couldn't help but feel a little bit sad, as Neil's music and lyrics had meant so much to me growing up. In fact, he was the one that inspired me to pick up the sticks and learn to play the drums. As I walked around the park and sat on the benches, and just enjoyed the scenery, I could imagine all of the things I had heard about in the song and how cool of a place this must have been back in the day. Even if you're not a fan of Rush, this is a great place just to hang out and have a picnic or just enjoy a nice day out. Bottom line? I will absolutely make this an annual pilgrimage when I am in the Ontario area. It is well worth the short drive, and is a must see for Rush fans.

This beautiful park is at the end of the peninsula and next to the Port Dalhousie harbor (harbour?)…read morewhich includes TWO lighthouses. Both of them are on the other side of the inlet. A massive parking lot (pay at the kiosk and display the receipt), the fabulous carousel, picnic pavilion, beach volleyball courts and yes, accessible restrooms. The Rotary Club Bandshell and Neil Peart Pavilion are also here. And if you're wondering why the pavilion is named for a rock drummer, Neil spent all his childhood in Port Dalhousie after his family moved here when he was two years old. [Review 1479 of 2024 - 156 in Ontario - 22502 overall]

What makes this a hidden gem is the fact that it's truly hidden. It's beautiful and picturesque…read more The main entrance leads down to the waterfront which has a rock break wall and a big shelter with picnic tables. The main building has clean washrooms. If you follow the waterline to the left you will find a decent sized sandy beach. It has scattered picnic tables throughout the park, it also a few different parking areas. The main parking lot is huge. Cheers

Adorable little park. Nice stairway down the hill to the water. Benches along the lake and under…read morethe trees. Lovely breeze. Passing through for photos. Nice picnic area. Lost a star cause the ladies room wasn't clean.

I was hoping for something where I could picnic with my lunch but not so much here. Town & Country…read morePark remains in its natural state and that's okay. Actually completely natural as I spotted a family of deer walking through as I leaned against the bridge railing and ate my lunch. There is a worn dirt path through the park and a steel bridge crosses a stream. That is the only concession to civilization here. There is street parking at the east side in a neighborhood. No restrooms, no ballfields, no playground, no picnic tables. [Review 1490 of 2024 - 167 in Ontario - 22513 overall]

Sunset Beach is an actual beach - a quarter mile of sand along Lake Ontario…read more The park includes a large paid parking lot, a restrooms building, playground and public boat launch. I was hoping to go through the park to get to the Port Weller Light Beacon Station but that did not seem to be an option. If you've figured that out, let me know what path you took? [Review 1483 of 2024 - 160 in Ontario - 22506 overall]

The marker explains, "A. Stewart Howes established Lincoln Fabrics Limited as a weaver of specialty…read morefabrics in 1955. The factory was built between 1899 and 1900 at 63 Lakeport Road and formerly housed the Maple Leaf Rubber Company and the Consolidated Rubber Company. Stewart Howes' son, David S. Howes, assumed leadership of the company in 1983 and remained in charge until his death in January 2015. "Both father and son were committed to a family-owned and operated business employing a loyal and skilled workforce from the local community, many of whom devoted their entire working careers to the company. Both stressed involvement in the community at large as an essential part of citizenship, and many organizations in St. Catharines and Niagara benefitted from their active participation and generosity in the fields of health, education and heritage. "Howes Park is dedicated in honour of Stewart and David Howes, whose contributions have made their community a better place to live and work. "If you work together and work hard, you can build a life here. nd to me, one of the things you should do is give back." -David S. Howes, 2013 The park is a nice green space near the port and the pedestrian bridge is lovely. [Review 1482 of 2024 - 159 in Ontario - 22505 overall]

My dog, Kass used to go here and it's an amazing place! She loved it and the playing there tired…read moreher out.

This place is amazing! Not one, but 2 pools that can be rented and a huge field that you can…read moreaccess with that rental. The owners are friendly and accommodating, the prices are fair, and the facility itself is a well thought out piece of doggie heaven! My dogs lose their minds when they figure out that we're going there for playtime!

Happy Rolph's is a perfect stop at St Catherine's for kids to play and see animals…read more They have multiple playground equipment for different ages that are great for kids to burn some energy. There's picnic tables under a gazebo and a few others near trees which makes a great stop for snacks or lunches. There's a few animals to see. We enjoyed getting to see the pigs eating lunch, cow, horses, ducks and goats. No petting but you can buy seeds for the ducks and geese at the pond. There's free washroom which was pretty clean. Overall, a great family friendly and no cost stop.

Cool public park and mini animal sanctuary run by the City of St. Catherines. We drove into…read moreNiagara-on-the-Lake for one night and tried to find some kid-friendly activities to do. This was nearby so we checked it out. There's a big playground and park area good for the kids to run around and picnic. The "farm" part is actually a bit small, but still entertaining. There are horses / ponies, goats, a cow and a pig ( all with their own names). I think you would only be able to spend 30 minutes max just at the farm park, but there is a big playground and green space for the kids to run around.

The St. Catharines Cenotaph is located in Memorial Park and is a memorial to the brave men and…read morewomen from the Niagara region who served in various conflicts. It was unveiled on August 7, 1927 by Brigadier General W.B.M King, who commanded the 10th Brigade of the third Canadian Field Artillery Battery during the struggle for St. Julien at the second battle of Ypres in 1915. The monument is the centerpiece of a small park just north of the bridge on Saint Paul Street. It is comprised of a large column constructed out of brick and granite, mounted atop a concrete plinth, set on terrace level steps. In includes inscriptions and bronze plaques commemorating the sacrifices of local soldiers that recognize the Second World War, Korean War, Peacekeeping (2006) and the Merchant Navy were added later. At the top, front of the column is the St. Catharines crest and on the reverse side is a maple leaf. A scroll-like ornamentation is at the base of the column. A furled flag and maple leaf grace each side of the cenotaph, and the symbols of the different units that fought in the Great War are found encircling the structure. On the bottom plinth are two carved crosses. Originally there was a large reflecting pool at terrace level in front of the cenotaph, but it was removed in late 1930. There is a historical marker nearby that points out the heroism of Lance Corporal Fred Fisher, V.C., 1894-1915 [Yes, he was just barely 20 years old.]. It reads, "Born in St, Catharines, Fred Fisher abandoned his studies at McGill University when World War I broke out and served with the 13th Battalion, First Division, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Fisher was awarded the Victoria Cross for his exceptional courage in action near St. Julien, Belgium, on April 23, 1915, during the second battle of Ypres. Under very heavy fire he led a machine-gun detachment covering the withdrawal of an artillery battery. Though his crew fell to enemy attack, Fisher held their position. He then returned to the garrison for more men and advanced again to the firing line. Killed in action the next day, Fisher has no known grave." The park is a focal point for Remembrance Day ceremonies. [Review 2079 of 2024 - 190 in Ontario - 23098 overall]