Solo Travel with Renee
No, not the smash musical – I’m shouting out about The Hammer, Steeltown, Steel City, Lunch-Bucket town, The Ambitious City, Hammytown – aka Hamilton, Ontario.
My choice moniker would be ‘The Friendly City’. Pausing for a coffee, wandering through the Farmer’s Market or window shopping along James Street North, you will be enveloped by the warm and welcoming feeling of this metropolis that 537,000 people call home, just 58 clicks southwest of Toronto. The city buzzes with an eclectic art scene, cozy cafes and innovative restaurants, festivals and concerts as well as nearby natural wonders that will take your breath away.
I always start my Hammytown hiatus by checking in with the enthusiastic staff at the Tourism Hamilton office on 28 James Street North. Free maps and brochures, insider’s advice on what’s happening around town, suggestions for great dining or accommodation or help maneuvering the city’s Transit system are generously shared along with plenty of smiles. Distinctive Hamilton swag, like buttons and bags, are available for purchase. For lots of information before you go check out their website at https://tourismhamilton.com/
Ask about exploring outside the city – a trip to Royal Botanical Gardens or one of the sparkling seven waterfalls that ring Hamilton makes an unforgettable day, especially if paired with a picnic lunch from the nearby Hamilton Farmer’s Market.
This amazing indoor market, founded in 1837, is located right at King and James Streets in the heart of the city. It explodes with fresh meats, flowers, cheeses, local produce and imported foodstuffs. Artisanal booths are jammed with treasures and eateries abound to tempt your palate. Check out the enchanting Mechanical Clock on the upper level, also known as ‘The Clock of the Charging Horsemen’. Every fifteen minutes, miniature knights circle round and joust to chiming bells and music. It’s my favourite part of the Market! For more information about the market go to https://hamiltonfarmersmarket.ca.
While in the Hammer, for an authentic local experience jump on the free old-fashioned Trolley that tootles from King and James Street uptown towards Hamilton Harbour during the summer months. You can get fares and schedules at https://www.hamilton.ca/hsr-bus-schedules-fares
At the waterfront, attend a summer festival like Dusk Dances, a sunset extravaganza featuring various dance studios and guest artists. You can have a bite to eat at one of the Harbour Restaurants or enjoy an ice cream by the water.
If the weather is not cooperating, The Art Gallery of Hamilton is a perfect place to explore. Its notable collection holds some unexpected surprises – such as the Bosch-Bruegel ‘Crazy Bus’ – a vintage Volkswagen bus plastered with hundreds of plastic action figures, toys and iconic memorabilia. I always check in on this work-in-progress to see what new novelties have been crammed in since my last visit!
The Gift Shop is well curated with an eclectic selection of books and supplies, children’s toys and unique gift ideas, and the Horse and Train Bistro is a great lunch spot.
Other art venues include the McMaster Museum of Art at the McMaster University campus, Hamilton Art Inc, and a peppering of private galleries – so many in fact, that Steeltown holds Art Crawls on the second Friday of the warmer months which are extremely popular.
For the solo traveler, Hamilton is safe, amiable and affordable. I had no qualms about enjoying a late night dinner, then strolling back to my 
B & B through shady streets full of jaw-dropping homes around Abderdeen Avenue, a few blocks south of the city centre.
This Ambitious City with its proud industrial heritage is rich with things to see and do, but it’s the people who really shine – such as the courtly older gent who accompanied me from the bus station to the City Centre, the pleasant transit driver who watched for me along the trail to Tiffany Falls so I wouldn’t miss her bus and the generous vendor in the Market who offered to store my luggage in her booth so I could browse unencumbered at my leisure. They are the heart of Hamilton and the real highlight of my trip to the Friendly City.
Photos courtesy of Louise Adams, artgalleryofhamilton.com, wikipedia and Michael Whyte http://www.cityofwaterfalls.ca.