Posted : August 19, 2020
Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.
If you have ever challenged yourself to a treetop adventure experience like Treetop Eco-Adventure in Oshawa, then you know the exhilaration of being suspended many feet in the air while battling a mentally and physically demanding obstacle course. For you, the words “log swing,” “Tarzan rope,” and “zipline” are not only familiar, they’re adrenaline-rush-inducing. A birds-eye view of the Ontario wilderness in all its emerald majesty while you commando-conquer those aerial challenges? Ooh rah, say you!
Erm… okay, maybe we got a little carried away there. Treetop Eco-Adventure Park is far more accessible to adventure seekers who just want to get out there for some fun and exercise, and who perhaps aren’t quite ready to compete in American Ninja Warrior. Forgive us our enthusiastic exaggeration. But we weren’t exaggerating when we said “emerald majesty.” That’s really what it’s like. If this sounds like your perfect outdoor experience, then let us throw one more image into that mix… fall.
No, not off the elevated course. Rest assured, you’re tethered snugly when you’re up there; after all, safety is a prime concern for the staff at Treetop Eco-Adventure. By fall, we mean autumn. Take that notion of a birds-eye view of the woods, and paint the trees spectacular hues of red, yellow and orange. Sprinkle the air with the earthy scent of fragrant leaves, and maybe even woodsmoke from a distant chimney. Tickle your cheeks with a crisp autumn bite. Now you’ve got a whole new take on what it means to be an outdoor aerial treetop adventurist.
Exercising in the great outdoors is a time-honoured tradition—especially for us here in York Durham Headwaters, where we have so much rural and wooded landscape. But there is, admittedly, one sticky challenge to exercising outdoors in the summer… literally. Let’s face it: summer is hot. Physical activity beneath a baking sun isn’t always ideal or comfortable. That’s why fall is the perfect time to get your outdoor exercise in without having to worry about muggy weather and skin-parching heat. With the cool temperatures of autumn, your biggest challenge is the treetop course itself. “We recommend you wear warm layers that you can take off after you get going,” says Karen Richards, co-owner of Treetop Eco-Adventure Park. “I find that the spring and the fall are really nice times to do the more challenging courses, because they are a bit of a workout.”
May we also mention the bugs? Any outdoor enthusiast here in our corner of the Great White North knows that mosquitos, wasps and other pesky insects can present their own unique challenge to enjoying the outdoors in the summer months. Karen does point out that, because there is not much standing water in Treetop Eco-Adventure’s vicinity, insects and especially mosquitos are not any more of a problem here than elsewhere in the province. However, with the cooler temperatures slowing down our winged friends’ activity, fall is an excellent season to be out in the woods… even if you don’t get that extra cardio boost from your “bee dance.”
Fewer bugs, less heat. These are two great practical reasons why you should consider visiting Treetop Eco-Adventure in the fall. But really, the most enticing reason to get out into the trees, we think, is the view. “It’s a sensation of color,” Karen states. “It’s funny—I read something the other day that said, ‘Fall teaches you how to let go gracefully.’ With the leaves drifting down and the stillness of the forest, that is exactly what it’s like up there in the trees.”
You see, being out in the woods in the fall gives us the chance we don’t otherwise take in our busy lives of perpetual go-go-go to slow down and enjoy our surroundings. “When you’re out doing this kind of thing in the woods—it’s a two- to three-hour tour—you don’t even realize that you’re getting exercise,” Karen says. “You’ve just been out there relaxing and enjoying yourself, surrounded by nature.”
For small children beginning at three years old, there is the junior climbers’ course. Young, adventurous kids can complete aerial-like challenges that are age- and skills-appropriate, and even give ziplining a try. Karen says, “They actually have to go across a suspension bridge and get their stability going and that kind of thing. It’s really good for the little guys.”
Is fall the season for your Treetop Eco-Adventure experience? To book your visit, go online to www.treetopeco-adventure.park, or call (905) 655-1113.
Keep in mind that due to COVID-19 precautions, some of the activities may not be fully available, as well, you may need to purchase tickets online – make sure you check the locations website for more information to ensure a safe visit for all.
Story by Katherine Ryalen
– Ryalen is a Durham-based author and lifestyle blogger. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
