Exploring St. Catharines: A Riverside Adventure - 12 Mile Creek Trail

After a delightful lunch at WIND on King Street in St. Catharines, my friends and I were eager to continue our afternoon adventure. 

Our destination? Montebello Park, a charming spot rumored to house a nostalgic working carousel. Because, let's be honest, some of us never really outgrow the allure of a carousel ride.

Anticipation was high as we approached the park, but alas, a fence had been erected, signaling the imminent arrival of a summer carnival. Our carousel dreams would have to wait for another day. Undeterred, we decided to make the most of our time before catching our train at St. Catharines station.

With a few hours to spare, we ventured towards the Burgoyne Bridge, where a path led us down into the valley below. Here, nestled beneath the bridge, we found ourselves in serene isolation, surrounded by the rushing waters of 12 Mile Creek. It was a rare moment of tranquility, with not a soul in sight.

As we marveled at the long pedestrian bridge ahead , we couldn't help but notice the remnants of the what looked to be an old Shipyard just off the 12 Mile Creek,  a testament to the area's rich maritime history. Once a bustling hub for ships navigating these waters, the locks now stand as silent witnesses to days gone by.

Curious about the redirection of shipping traffic, we learned that today, vessels are diverted to the nearby 16 Mile Creek instead. This adjustment has transformed the landscape, allowing nature to reclaim parts of the waterways once dominated by industry and commerce.

Our impromptu riverside excursion beneath the Burgoyne bridge turned out to be a hidden gem in St. Catharines, offering a glimpse into both the past.  As we entered the trail we noticed an interesting looking pink Firemans training tower used to train firemen in the late 1970s.   With each step, we discovered more about its history and natural beauty, making memories that would stay with us long after the train carried us away from this picturesque corner of Ontario.

Whether you're a history buff, a nature enthusiast, or simply seeking a quiet escape, St. Catharines promises adventures aplenty for those willing to explore beyond the beaten path.

Annual International Jazz Festival

 The 'Beaches' section of the (Waterfront trail) is also known as the Martin Goodman trail.  I have previously covered portions of this trail before (see 'Martin Goodman' and 'Ashbridge Bay' in this blog) 

In the summertime, the Toronto beaches come alive with swimmers, sailors, sun-bathers and almost anything else you can think of that can be enjoyed in or near the water.  The Boardwalk runs along Beaches Park, Kew Gardens, Kew Beach, Woodbine Beach to Ashbridges Bay.  Unfortunately, the remaining 50% of the Beaches trail is all on-road. (approximately between Kingston and Silverbirch Avenue to Kingston and Birchmount in the east). 

Toronto's International Beaches Jazz Festival. I thought I’d include this as it was an important event in Exploring Toronto.  It ran for a few weeks in July, and had over 100 bands some old, some new who had their own flavour of Jazz.   

Around noon time, Kew Beach stage blasted out with an upbeat Romanian-Gypsy style of jazz music from a group called Lemon Buckets!  I was surprised to hear this kind of music in a jazz festival.  They are considered relatively new to the Jazz world, but they're young, energetic and extremely talented with their instruments!

South of Kew Gardens playing on the The Latin Stage near Woodbine Beach,  was the Latin Jazz Ensemble .  These gentlemen would be considered established.  Their stuff was kinda cool with that Latin-Salsa flair and very relaxing kind of music, but not really my cup of tea as far as music goes! :) Although, it was kind of neat to see a couple get up and dance to it.  

Not too far westward along the Beaches trail past the Kids park and Woodbine Beach swimming pool was the Big Band stage.  Far more dancing was seen here to the sounds of the Big Band era played by an established group called the Jazz Mechanics.  A couple of hours of jazz music is enough, and the day was still young.  Like any annual festival it brings in plenty of money to the hosting cities, and an opportunity for local business to market their wares, and a chance to get their names or products out in the world marketplace.  Even if you didn't get a chance to check out the Festival at all, you can mark your calendars for next year.  Be sure to check out Lemon Buckets, they really are a very unique and fun group!

Where there is any large group of people, there are always police officers standing by in case of any trouble, and being in a large city like Toronto, that's no surprise.  What I am puzzled about is, where does Spock fit into all of this?  Well he had his phaser on him, so guess that made us all safe.