If you are looking for a charming escape from city life, you should visit Ancaster, Ontario. There are so many things to do in Ancaster, Ontario and I am not just saying this because I live here!
It is one of the best places for nature trails and hikes in the general Toronto area and there are so many cute shops and places to eat as well. Not only am I sharing the best things to do in Ancaster but you can find a mini weekend itinerary to outline your plans at the bottom of this post!
#1. Hike Tiffany Falls
We are a family who loves to hike so we have been to many trails and paths within the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara Conservation area yet nothing beats Tiffany Falls for us. This is such a great hike if you are visiting with young kids as the path is very accessible and it’s a short duration of only 20 minutes round trip.
The short walk out to the falls is easy for most yet the reward is huge. They are truly some of the most beautiful ones we have seen and there is an observation deck that allows you to get a real nice vantage point of the whole landscape.
I would recommend about 15 minutes at the falls itself where you can take everything in.
Note: Definitely visit mid week or go SUPER early on weekends. It does get busy. Parking is available at the trail head but it’s not a huge lot
#2. Get Ice Cream at Purple Pony
We go to Purple pony once a week during the warmer months. I blame it on my kids but quite frankly it is the cutest ice cream spot I have ever been to and I love going myself.
With tons of flavours and the cutest seating area, this will be a hit for everyone! They have chalk for the kids to play with, little ponies to sit on and benches circling the space out front.
Note: It’s only open between May-September 1st so plan your visit accordingly!
#3. Visit a Brewery
There are so many cool breweries in Hamilton, Ontario and a good few of them are right near Ancaster!
- Fairweather Brewery ( bring your own food! Seriously you Uber Eats some pizza if you wanted right to your table)
- Grain and Grit ( check their page for events that they do. They often have food trucks on site)
- Shawn and Ed’s ( awesome food menu!)
#4. Explore Nature at the Hermitage
The Hermitage trail is one of my favourite hikes in Ancaster. It is easy enough with kids and the whole loop takes about 1.5 hours. On the hike you get to see a lot of different vegetation, steams and there are even a few benches to sit at long the way.
At the beginning of the hike, you can also find the restored ruins and gatehouse which was destroyed by a fire in 1934. There is a lot of rumours about the ruin structure being haunted and with that you can find some really cool Ghost tours to do at night if you are into spooky things like that.
To access the Hermitage hike, you can find the parking lot on Sulphur Springs Road and it costs $10.00 for parking
#5. Do a waterfall hike at Sherman Falls
At 17 meters high, Sherman Falls is an impressive waterfall in Ancaster that truly makes you feel like you are in somewhere like Costa Rica. It is even shorter than Tiffany Falls in terms of distance to the falls itself making it a great waterfall hike to do with kids.
The path leading there is paved, gravol and a bit of dirt. It is not stroller friendly but pretty accessible overall and definitely one of the most easiest ones in the area
There is parking on Artaban Road which is 2 minutes from the trail head.
Other places in Ontario you should consider visiting:
- 7 Incredible Family Vacations to take in Ontario
- 13 Magical Things to do in Winter in Ontario
- The Best Pumpkin Patches in Hamilton, Ontario
- 14 Places in Ontario to see Fall Colours
- Unique Hotel in Dundas, Ontario: The High Acre (where very room has it’s own spa!)
#6. Visit Triple C Farm
Want to get upclose and personal with alpacas, sheeps, pigs and goats, you need to visit Triple C petting farm. This family run sanctuary is fun for everyone and is filled with so much heart. The owners are often there doing the tours that they run and really live and breathe all things farm
They do everything from a casual farm visit, animal walks, goat yoga or even movie time with the animals. They also have animal driven therapy which is supposed to be incredibly healing
#7. Have a picnic at Fieldcote park
I feel like Field cote is a hidden little gem of green space in Ancaster.
While there is a ton of trails and nature that can be found in Ancaster, this one is a little less known.
It is a great spot to have a picnic or to bring the kids to have them run around. There are benches, gardens, trails and even a little band stand. In the summer they used to run some free jazz concert series ( it now takes place at the Ancaster
#8. Get pastries or pizza from Castelli Mercato
Whatever you do in Ancaster, you are going to want to make sure that you don’t skip this place. Is it wrong if my favourite thing to do in Ancaster is get pastries or pizza from Castelli Mercato.
Their sweets and dough is all made in house and it shows. It’s a fan favourite among locals and it’s not shocking to see the place filled on a Friday or Saturday night with people picking up pizzas.
Note: There is no dine in at this time except some little patio tables outside. In addition to pastries and pizza, they also have sandwiches, sauces for purchase along with frozen items to grab
#9. Get dinner from Brewer’s Blackbird or Coach and Lantern
Set in an original 1830’s heritage building, Brewer’s Blackbird is a perfect restaurant in Ancaster to visit for a lunch or dinner. It has been transformed and renovated a few years back into an upscale brewery and restaurant.
The patio is a vibe during the warmer months ( and it’s right on the main street in Ancaster) so it’s lively! And while you can find a good selection of their in house beers on the menu, we personally LOVE their burgers which are made in house and they make killer margarita’s
The other popular restaurant spot is Coach and Lantern which truly makes you feel like you are have been transported to Ireland. This Irish pub has a vine filled patio and string lights and is very cozy in the summer and is equally as great in the winter with indoor fireplaces and comfy seating.
#10. Go to Carluke or Lindley’s Farm
Visiting Carluke or Lindley’s Farm is one of my favourite fall activities in Ancaster. Each place makes their own pies in house, has pumpkins and just a warm and cozy vibe during that season.
Lindley’s Farm is kind of famous in town for their strawberry picking at the end of June/early July and it has become a tradition with me and my kids to go. Carluke’s on the other hand is amazing for apple picking and they have tractor rides and a cute little play area for kids
#11. Visit the Ancaster Farmer’s Market
Every year between May through October, the Ancaster Farmer’s Market takes place at 357 Wilson Street ( right Infront of the Ancaster Theatre). It is a place to grab fresh local produce, pick up home made ice cream, or bring home ready to go meals for dinner. It even has live music sometimes and a free little area filled with kids activities.
It happens on Wednesdays between 3-7PM and it is a weekly thing that we do in our household! Do not miss the granola from Challe Family Farm- SO GOOD!
Weekend Guide to Ancaster, Ontario
If you want a little breakdown of what we would do if we had only a weekend in Ancaster, I am sharing a little guide below. Depending on your activity level and speed, this guide may vary but all of this is certainly possible if you wanted to check a few things off!
Day 1
- Morning coffee from Caniche ( cute French bistro located on Wilson Street)
- Hike Tiffany Falls
- Add a waterfall hike at Sherman Falls
- Lunch at Coach and Lantern
- Ice Cream from Purple Pony
- Brewery Visit at Grain and Grit
Day 2
- Pastries from Castelli Mercato
- Triple C Farm Visit
- Lunch at Brewer’s Blackbird
- Hike the Hermitage Trail
Hotels in Ancaster, Ontario
Given it’s size, there are no big hotels in Ancaster ( which is why Ancaster is so charming!) You would need to go to downtown Hamilton if you were looking for a bigger hotel chain like Sheraton or similar.
The best place to stay in Ancaster is definitely The Barrack’s Inn which is a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of the town. Featuring 18 stunning suites, it is the best spot if you are attending a wedding at the nearby Ancaster Mill
Yearly Events in Ancaster, Ontario
Some of the events below are a good enough reason to make a drive to Ancaster! Between the market, the fair and theatre, there are certainly enough options
- Ancaster Fair– Ancaster Fair is like an event from the movies. I used to go as a kids and then continued the fun as a teen and now I am bringing my own kids here. Going as the sun starts to go down, getting a Beaver tail from the food vendors and playing some silly circus games is definitely a core memory for me.
- Fall Autumn Stroll– This day time event has been happening for almost a decade and has guests walking through the downtown areas of Ancaster sipping craft beers, and tasting local wines. It’s one of the best events in Ancaster in my opinion!
- Heritage Parade– Happening once a year in June, this free parade runs on the main street of Ancaster and features floats and talent from local businesses and groups. It is a great activity for kids
- The Great Pumpkin Stroll-This adorable and festive stroll is the perfect Halloween outing for families. There are over 300 pumpkins that are carved, crafted and illuminated and placed within Fieldcote for everyone to enjoy. You can expect food trucks and other fun additions to this night!
- Ancaster Theatre Memorial Arts Centre– This brand new state of the art theatre was build in 2023 and for such a small little town, is quite something. The theatre has so many awesome shows you can hit up (everything from Mo town to Legally Blonde plays to Christmas specials)
If you are thinking of planning a day in Ancaster, Ontario and have questions, reach out to me on Instagram here!
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