When you’re looking for a place to retire, you want to be sure that you’re going to enjoy it in the long term. One of the most reliable ways to make this happen is to find a home that is not only located near all of the practical things you need day-to-day but that is surrounded by exceptional natural beauty. Luckily, the Niagara region is just that kind of place.
The Luxury of Proximity to Nature
Natural beauty is something that never gets old. If you’ve spent the majority of your working years living in the middle of a densely populated urban area like Toronto, then you’ve likely missed out on your share of the scenic landscape that Ontario has to offer.
One of the reasons why so many people who retire decide to partner with Niagara Region home builders is so that they can enjoy access to some of the most attractive natural beauty in Canada. Another reason is that when you partner with Blythwood Homes, you’ll get to work with a professional designer on creating a new custom home that’s perfectly suited to providing everything you’ll need for your retirement years.
Essential Scenic Views
If you have a passion for exposure to nature, you’ll grow to adore the vast network of walking trails in Niagara that connects the scenic towns around the Niagara area. Living in areas that provide daily recreation to beautiful locations will help to motivate you to get the physical activity you need to enjoy a healthy lifestyle in your golden years. Consider the following popular scenic views that are waiting for you to enjoy in the Niagara area:
Welland Canal Lookout
While the Niagara region offers a veritable smorgasbord of natural vistas, it also offers other options. For those interested in witnessing some of the engineering marvels of the world, the Welland Canal offers one of the best lookouts in Ontario.
While the main Welland Canal Lookout is located at Lock 3 in south-east St. Catharine’s, the Welland Canals Trail, a hiking and cycling trail, runs along the canal to the town of Welland, and offers many excellent views of the locks along the way. You can also visit the St. Catharine’s Museum and Welland Canal Centre to learn more while you’re there!
Ball’s Falls and Mountainview
These parks, located in the northern part of the Niagara Region, offer spectacular lookout opportunities since they are both situated on the Niagara escarpment. They also both connect to the Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest marked trail, which runs all the way from Queenston to Tobermory (at the end of the Bruce Peninsula).
At Ball’s Falls, you’ll enjoy spectacular views along the Twenty Mile Creek. As you hike the section of the Bruce Trail that runs through the Mountainview Conservation Area, you’ll be able to enjoy Carolinian forest, various rocky features along the escarpment and vistas of Lake Ontario.
Greater Niagara Circle Route
If you’re looking for the best ways to get in touch with nature away from the crowds, you won’t find better opportunities outside the Greater Niagara Circle Route. In total, this massive hiking trail covers over 140 kilometres, passing through several popular towns in the area to provide access to an enormous number of residents.
The reason why this trail system is so extensive is that it actually unites several different hiking systems, including:
- Welland Canals Trail
- Friendship Trail
- Niagara River Parkway Recreation Trail
- The Waterfront Trail
You can also connect with the Bruce Trail from this system if you’re feeling ambitious and want to go even further!
Short Hills Provincial Park Trails
Located just outside the city of St. Catharine’s, Short Hills Provincial Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Niagara, offering many scenic views to behold due to its hilly landscape. Some of the popular activities that people commonly enjoy in this park include:
- Cycling
- Horseback Riding
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Mountain Biking
Nature lovers can also spot animals like coyotes, white-tailed deer and mountain vole in this area.
Enjoying the Niagara lifestyle is all about giving you options. While the ability to take in Ontario’s stunning flora and fauna as often as you like is a wonderful luxury, you also don’t want to move too far into the wilderness. After all, you’ll still want to be able to enjoy regular visits from your friends and family, along with all of the necessities of the modern world.
Communities You’ll Love
When you move to a community like the town of Ridgeway, you’ll be living just a short drive away from all of these beautiful locations. In this way, you get the best of both worlds: access to all of the comforts of the city while living amongst the beauty of Ontario’s scenic views.
The Friendship Trail portion of the Greater Niagara Circle Route will actually run right through your town. The area also offers a wide assortment of other recreational options, including excellent golf courses. You’ll be living very close to some of the best beaches in southern Ontario.
Fort Erie
Just a short drive east of the town of Ridgeway, you’ll find Fort Erie, located right at the beginning of the Niagara River. Fort Erie is another town that connects to the Greater Niagara Circle Route nature trail system since it more directly shares the Friendship Trail with Ridgeway.
Both of these towns are located only a short drive from the American border, so communities in this area enjoy quick access to shopping and vacations.
When you partner with Blythwood Homes to build a new custom home, you’ll gain access to properties located in active adult lifestyle communities in this area. As such, you’ll enjoy easy access to all of the wonderful scenic locations mentioned above.
If you’re looking to downsize your current home in preparation for retirement, there’s no better place to move than the Niagara region. If you want to learn more about the kinds of homes that Blythwood Homes has to offer and the experience of living in an active adult community, please get in contact with us.