Vacations should not only consist of driving around, shopping or participating in guided tours.
Vacations shall also be used to relax in nature without spending lots of money, having a picnic and watching the children having fun. Even when they are not yours.
All this is offered in this little park in St .Catharines.
You will find here not only a clean picnic area, convenient parking, but also easy to walk trails and many domestic animals which are used to visitors and which seem to be always hungry - but please obey the posted restrictions!
You will find "Happy Rolph's Bird Sanctuary and Children's Petting Farm" in St. Catharines, directly on Lake Ontario.

2 Northrup Cres
St Catharines, ON L2M 7M3

Naturally, many Canadians love beer, wine or mixed drinks. Specific regulations apply which must be obeyed when anything stronger than pop is offered during festivals. The area must be fenced in, normally glasses are not allowed and you must consume your drink within the assigned zone. In most European countries no government would dare to release such restrictions - but drinking and driving has serious consequences too.

We used the time before everybody arrived to explore the park and the little zoo.
We decided spontaneously to come back with my wife's mom. Elizabeth and her mother are both animal lovers. Straying cats, an opossum, two skunks, racoons and birds always find something to eat at our house in downtown Welland. Occasionally also one of the birds serves as food supply and Elizabeth mourns.
I believe a small family in a third world country could almost live on the food supplied to all the creatures.
We saw two llamas - on could obviously sleep when standing, the other one was eating as long as we watched it.
Naturally llamas are not common pets in Canada, but there are some farms which breed them. We found one of them in Newfoundland.
It is always good to keep your eyes open to discover little things like that.

The Canada goose is one of our national symbols and after it was almost distinguished it became protected. You can see it now everywhere in North America - also here in Happy Rolph's Bird Sanctuary.
In the USA they are becoming now a nuisance similar to pigeons in Europe.
A group of little children was chasing them a few minutes before I took these pictures. They did not fly away. Obviously, they are used to it and consider running as a necessary exercise after all the food which they get from the visitors.
This applies also for the children with overweight caused by junk food and not doing any exercises.
So, please do not interfere as long it is only a play and no harm is done.

If you have walking problems you always can have a rest on one of the benches and recover. Bring a book with you or just enjoy watching the visitors or your children and the animals.
Unfortunately swimming is banned most the time in many parts of Lake Ontario. It is s shame for industrialized countries of not being able to get the pollution under control.
The above shown goose was following us for quiet a wile. We did not bring any food with us what obviously made her angry.
We also discovered a playground for children which was well accepted by them. For local people I would recommend to spend several afternoons here with their little ones - especially when you live in an apartment building.

We are glad that a newcomer to Canada brought us to this wonderful place. We certainly will come back more often.
We were also amazed how many people from different countries came to the party of my wife's colleague. It was avery nice and peaceful coming together with lots of food. The place was left in mint condition. All garbage was put away. Please do the same and do not litter!
Unfortunately, I missed by all the talking and taking pictures that 27 trees had been assigned in remembrance to the Canadian victims of the attack to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
During our next visit I will also spend more time seeing the exotic birds which you can find here.