Do you ever lie awake in the early morning thinking of ways to get outdoors?! No? Well don’t worry…you’re not alone but luckily the term “morning person” describes me perfectly and the early mornings seem to be a great chance to do a little personal “research” into outdoor activities around Kingston! Maple Madness is held every year at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area in March and April. The conservation area itself is speckled with hiking trails throughout the woods and although a bit on the wetter side at the moment, the trails themselves were nothing an old pair of shoes couldn’t handle! There are many other events throughout the year to stay busy in the outdoors at Little Cat including skating in the winter and canoeing in the summer..and within a 10 minute drive from downtown, a great place for an outdoor adventure.
Once in the park, you arrive to the Sugar Shack itself by either walking the trails or hitching a ride with the tractor-pulled covered-wagon. At the Sugar Shack there are guides are around to show how the making of maple syrup has evolved over the centuries…. And more importantly (in my stomachs opinion at least), they are also serve up some tasty tassssty pancakes! (our best estimate was in the 1000s/day!) When we got there it was a unanimous “wagon ride” in lieu of walking to the ol’ Sugar Shack (note – there were many children under the age of three that seemed rather content with the trek). Once off the tractor and in response to my growling stomach it was time for PANCAKES! WITH TWO SCOOPES OF SYRUP! And we’re talking REAL, straight from the trees, not even bottled, LIQUID GOLD! To say they were delicious is an understatement but my “Word Thesaurus” didn’t seem to have a better alternative. After devouring my first flapjack in seconds I understood why the person behind me stated they wanted “12”…they were about 7 years old … Mom quickly interjected.
After the sugar rush hit we decided to go back in the Shack to get a maple candy (for desert of course…) and head up the trail to check out the syrup buckets! The trails are easy to follow and lead you up and around the sprawling forest. The walk itself was a great way to get active on the weekend and a nice way to enjoy the sunshine! On the way back we stopped at the “Chickadee feeding area” to get “in touch with nature” but alas the birds were nowhere in sight and coldness was setting in. We packed ourselves back in the car and got back in town just as the sugar rush was at its end and in time for a well deserved afternoon nap…we were spent…until next Sunday…
Visit their www for more info on upcoming events! http://www.cataraquiregion.on.ca/
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