Best Waterpark

Hamilton has broken a 34-year-old record for the hottest May 25.    The old record was 28.4 C, set in 1978.   The record was bested Friday afternoon when the temperature hit 29.
The new record was recorded at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. by Environment Canada at its weather station at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

But it’s possible other parts of the city got even hotter.  Some saw the outdoor thermometer on their car record the temperature at 33C!   The national weather agency had forecasted that Hamilton could would see temperatures hit 30.

Environment Canada says the average maximum temperature for the day is 20.4.   If you need something to take your mind off the heat, think about the lowest temperature recorded for the day — since they started keeping records in 1960 — a very chilly 2.6 C, in 1992.

On such a hot day like today, we start to dream of ways to cool off.... fortunately we have air conditioning at our house and many of my neighbours are fortunate to have a pool in their own back yard.

We also have quick access to a fantastic attraction where many locals like to spend a lazy day at the best Waterpark around in this area... Wild Waterworks.    We will have til next weekend to look forward to going there as  their website...  http://www.wild-waterworks.com   says the park does not open until next weekend... June 2/3, 2012.    With the warm weather we've had the last couple of years for the May long weekends,  maybe going forward they will consider opening earlier next year??!!

Please note: Wild Waterworks is a SMOKE FREE facility.

Located in Confederation Park, just off Centennial Parkway in Hamilton, Wild Waterworks offers a perfect place to spend a warm summer day.   Ride the four tube slides: Night Rider and Blue Demon and Vertigo and Sidewinder.

Move on and surf the waves in one of Canada's largest outdoor wave pools. Over a million gallons of heated water splash down every minute.

Discounted tickets to Wild Waterworks available at participating Mac's Milk stores.

The fun continues with the heart-pounding twists of the Corkscrew and the Kamikaze - the park's six-storey body slides.

Toddlers will love Little Squirt Works, a fun wading pool with slides, sprays, mists and fountains.

Confederation Park is an 83-hectare package of fun and adventure located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Hamilton. Here you'll find some of the area's best food and fun throughout the year. To see everything Confederation Park has to offer, go to the website and download the Confederation Park - Wild Waterworks Brochure.

You can purchase the Go-Solo Season's Pass for $69.99 or a Family Pass is available for $223.96 (for a family of 4, with an additional charge of $55.99 extra per person) which includes a free parking pass for Confederation Park.    With the Season Pass there are VIP privileges like a fast VIP gate entrance.

Best Victoria Day Fireworks

We've been looking forward to this weekend for so long... the first long weekend which seems to kick off the summer season.

The May long weekend has long been associated with opening up the cottage, camping, gardening, bbq'ing and enjoying spending time with the people you love to hang out with.    Days prior to the long weekend are usually spent "praying" for nice weather.

I love the long weekend as it is a goal for me to get my gardens (front, back & side!!) edged, mulched and annuals spread around to give summer long impact between the spurts of bloom between the perennials.

It is also a time when people look forward to FIREWORKS!

There are many variety stores, temporary mobile trailer stores and sections of retail stores that sell fireworks for you to set off (safely) on your own property (please note recommendations at the end of this post).

For the Victoria Day 2012 long weekend, you will only find Public Fireworks on Sunday May 20th at the Dundas Driving Park, located on Cross Street in Dundas.     These are the official City of Hamilton Victoria Day Fireworks and Burlington does not have Public Fireworks this weekend.     The Fireworks in Dundas are presented by the Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club in partnership with the City of Hamilton.    Volunteers will be on hand to collect cash donations to help fund Rotary Community Projects.     PLEASE NOTE THAT PERSONAL FIREWORKS AND & SPARKLERS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE PARK.

Fireworks generally are set off when the sun goes down (sometime around 9-915pm.    As these are the only fireworks in the area, best get there early so you are not disappointed.

Guidelines for Setting off Fireworks:

• Family fireworks may be set off only on Victoria Day, Canada Day and the two days immediately preceding or following these two holidays.
• No child shall set off family fireworks other than a sparkler where the child is under direct supervision of an adult at all times.
• No person shall set off family fireworks on any land of which he or she is not the owner without first obtaining written permission of the owner.   Fireworks shall not be discharged over roadways.
• Appoint one person to be in charge who knows about the hazards of fireworks.   Carefully read and follow the label directions including requirements for safe distances to spectators.
• Always keep a pail of water or a water hose nearby.
• Firmly set the fireworks at least 1/2 its length in a pail of sand or dirt, angled slightly away from spectators, checking wind direction and speed.
• Never lean over a firework when lighting it.   Never re-light a "dud" firework.
• Supervise the use of sparklers with children.    They burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing and cause severe burns.   As the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, immediately soak in water.