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BrainWaves: The Neuroscience Graduate Program Newsletter

Exploring the City of Hamilton

Author: Vanessa Parise

Whether you are brand new to Hamilton or are coming back for another year of graduate school, welcome! Moving to a new city can be overwhelming, especially when you are not familiar with what the city has to offer. Hamilton has a well-rounded food scene, many cozy coffee shops and beautiful hiking trails, and a vibrant night life. In order to familiarize you with much of what Hamilton has to offer, we provide this starter pack: 

Food, Shopping, and Nightlife

Hamilton’s food and nightlife is way more fun and diverse than people expect. Think of a type of food and Hamilton likely has a restaurant serving it up. As it is hard to pinpoint just a few places (I’m still trying them out myself), I’ve listed some areas of Hamilton to check out for both their food and nightlife.





1. Westdale Village: A cozy little pocket just a 10-minute walk from McMaster that is full of cafes, pubs, indie shops and little food stores. It is the perfect location to grab coffee, sit down and study or just walk around and enjoy the views. 



2. Hess Village: If you’re looking for night life, this is the go-to place. This little spot has bars, patios, live music spots, and good food as well. Additionally, if you walk one block over to King Street, you’ll find tons more restaurants to try out. 



3. James Street: The most artsy area of the three, located in the heart of Downtown Hamilton, James Street offers many restaurants, vintage shops, and monthly art crawls.

Museums and Historical Landmarks

Unbeknownst to many people, Hamilton has a rich history from fighting in the Battle of Stoney Creek during the War of 1812, to becoming an industrial hub during the early 20th century. There are many historic landmarks and museums to explore the city's history. Below I have named a few places for you to check out! A full list can be found here.



1. Dundurn Castle: A 19th century mansion where you can tour historic rooms and gardens. It’s a cool way to see how Hamilton’s wealthiest lived back in the day. They also decorate very nicely during the holidays if you love holiday decorations like me!




2. Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology: This museum will give you a first-hand look into the industrial heritage of Hamilton and the scientific roots behind it. 

Hiking and Parks

Fun fact: There are over 100 waterfalls in Hamilton, earning it the nickname of the “Waterfall Capital of the World”. As Hamilton is part of the Niagara Escarpment, there are many beautiful places to hike, see waterfalls and be in touch with nature. Since my list can’t even scratch the surface, I urge you to check out the waterfalls, hiking trails, and parks!




1. Bayfront Park: Located right on the water, Bayfront Park offers trails for walking/biking as well as a calm place to sit and watch boats. It is simply a wonderful place to shut your brain off for a few hours. 





2. Tiffany Falls: A short, easy hike that leads to one of Hamilton’s prettiest waterfalls. Here is a picture of me at Tiffany Falls following a snowstorm! 

To finish off my list of places to go, I highly recommend spending a few hours at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. There are many interesting art exhibits on display from around the world. One of the perks is that students have free admission (with a valid student ID) every day and all visitors are free on Thursdays! Check out their website for more information on hours of operation, current and upcoming exhibits and events. 


Happy Exploring Everyone!