Welcome to Ancaster, my home for many, many years. It’s a charming, historic little town within the city of Hamilton, Ontario in Canada and it’s simply a wonderful place. It was founded in 1793 and became one of the first important early British Upper Canada communities. More recently, it merged with the city of Hamilton in 2001. Ancaster is home to many wonderful destinations and beautiful vistas. I recommend everyone come to visit.
What follows are just some of the great places to see in Ancaster.
The Black & Smith County General Store specializes in handmade objects, particularly pottery and stationary. More than 60 Canadian artists showcase their wares at the shop, which also has an attached pottery studio and furniture workshop.
The Brassie Pub is a classic English pub and a favourite spot with locals. It boasts 23 beers on tap and serves a wide variety of “North American standards” and imported “Olde English pub grub.”
The Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum is a cultural heritage centre dedicated to the preservation of local history and fine arts. Through 31 stories and artifacts, one for every year the museum has been open, the “Stories from the Edge” exhibition offers snapshots of Ancaster’s history. Fieldcote also manages historic Ancaster Old Town Hall, which was built in the 1870 and features some of the finest stone architecture in Ancaster.
The Griffin House National Historic Site is a preserved 19th century home that was built in 1827 and purchased by Enerals Griffin, a black immigrant from Virginia, in 1834. The site showcases the black settler experience in Ancaster.
Tiffany Falls is a 21 metre-tall, cascading waterfall that tumbles from a broad valley above into a v-shaped ravine. It’s particularly stunning in the spring, when the spring melt causes it roar, and in the winter, when it’s frozen in place. In fact, ice climbing is allowed on the frozen waterfall!
Chocolate Sensations makes premium, hand-craft chocolate bars, truffles, coated pretzels and dipped fruits. The company has been making chocolates for nearly three decades.
The Purple Pony is a locally owned ice cream shop offering products sourced from a local, family-owned dairy. It offers a selection of more than 30 flavours – and children are encouraged to ride on its collection of purple ponies.
The Caniche French Bakery sells authentic baked goods of Europe – but you have to get there early. It usually sells out its stock before noon!
The Olive Board is a sophisticated wine bar known for its expert pairings of vino and charcuterie. Its wine cellar has more than 60 vintages of reds and whites as well as sparkling wines and rosés.
The Coach and Lantern is a British pub inserted into a 200-year-old stone building that some claim is haunted. It’s the third-oldest building in all of Ancaster, where in 1812 traitors were sentenced.
The Carluke Orchards were planted in 1965 by the Inksetter family. Thirteen varieties of apples are grown onsite, where visitors can pick their own fruit as well as sample goods from a bakery and gourmet food market.
The Mystic Golf Club is a challenging, 18-hole course with no two holes even remotely similar in distance or design. Its most notable hole is the tenth, a par-6, which requires navigating three deep ravines.
Ancaster Cheese & Fine Foods sells a wide variety of Canadian and international cheeses. It also sells sustainably sourced meats and handcrafted ice cream.
Josmar Acres is a family farm where you can pick strawberries and buy sweet corn wholesale. At the farm market onsite, you can buy seasonal produce and at the garden centre you can find bright, bold, beautiful flowers.
Theatre Ancaster is the community musical theatre company, known for its quality productions of shows like Mamma Mia!, Willy Wonka Jr. and Pippin the Musical.
Creations Art Gallery and Framing is a family-owned art gallery and framing studio. Its portfolio includes works of oil, acrylic and encaustic.