Choosing A Hotel in Hamilton
Quick Summary of Most Popular Areas
Downtown Hamilton: the mullet of the city, it's business during the day and a party at night
Westdale: inviting and cozy area with shops and some beautiful homes, an unexpected delight for many visitors
Where to Stay in Hamilton
Hamilton gets a pretty bad rap sometimes due to its eyesore of an industrial area along the shores of Lake Ontario and is often referred to as the armpit of Ontario because of this. However, Hamilton can be quite the scenic place as the Niagara Escarpment runs right through the city. Heading downtown Hamilton seems like a logical choice for most (and it is as far as hotel accommodations go) however there are much nicer areas you'll want to end up visiting. If you want to visit the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, watch a Hamilton Tiger-Cats football game or check out the nightlife at Hess Village, then sure, downtown is a good place to be, however you'll find that during the day your time may be better spent elsewhere.
Things to do in Hamilton
If you have a day to kill I'd highly recommend checking out the Westdale area (which is slightly northwest of downtown). Westdale is a neighbourhood that surrounds McMaster University and is home to a few boutiques and pubs worth trying. Even venture onto McMaster University's campus. It's an eclectic mix of old and modern architecture housed on a relatively small and walkable campus.
A bit about Hamilton you may not know...
The cultural and geographic landscape of Hamilton is quite diverse. There is a growing art scene that continues to develop. It's a hot spot for indie film makers as the landscape ranges from highly industrialized and polluted areas, to quaint and cozy neighbourhoods to scenic walking trails. In fact, there are over 100 waterfalls and cascades along the Bruce Trail, most notably Webster Falls which is only about a 30 minute drive northwest of downtown Hamilton.
Surrounding Area
Hamilton is only about an hour drive away from downtown Niagara Falls, which is a popular weekend destination for many locals. In addition, less than 20 minutes away by car is the city of Burlington, which has some really beautiful golf courses.
