A Fairfield Cornell, which was used for training, is eased back into a collection of working warplanes at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, just one of many fascinating sites to see in Ontario's Steel City. (Phil Raby/Special to QMI Agency)

ONTARIO - The City of Hamilton has some pretty interesting nicknames: Steel City, the Hammer and some others too rude to mention, all alluding to its past as an industrial powerhouse in southwestern Ontario.

But there's another side to this city, often overlooked or perhaps even unknown to those living outside of its borders: Hamilton has some really cool places to visit. As well, spending a weekend there is definitely affordable for a family of four looking for a quick get away. Check our mini-guide to the places we visited and recommend to families.

Playing around

The Hamilton Children's Museum is small but packs an entertaining punch for families on a budget. A family of four (two adults and two children) can get in for only $7. Combine that with free parking and the fact this museum is located in scenic Gage Park, you can't go wrong with an afternoon visit.

Inside you will find exhibits that are perfect for little minds and hands such as "From the Ground Up," an interactive exhibit where visitors can roll up their sleeves and get dirty, literally. There's a sand pit with dinosaur bones that can be dug up and studied with all the scientific equipment in the lab. The working microscopes are a big hit, and with a variety of glass slides available to examine, you can be sure the kids will be spend a lot of time in this exhibit.

The Hamilton Children's Museum is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For details, see city.hamilton.on.ca and click on Hamilton Civic Museums.

Up, up and away

Want to get in the cockpit of a jet fighter or watch a World War II aircraft take flight? The place to go is Hamilton's Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum for that and much more.

This museum traces the history of Canada's military warplanes from World War II to the present through interactive exhibits that bring to life the stories behind the aircraft. Preservation of the airplanes is one of the museum's mandates and visitors can view some of the on-going restoration projects as they learn about the roles these aircraft played in keeping Canadians safe throughout the decades.

Are there video gamers in your family? Have them test their skills with the flight simulators that illustrate what real combat is all about. You can also jump in an Avro Canada CF 100, an interceptor fighter from the Cold War, and work the controls inside the cockpit just as a pilot would have years ago.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children six to 12. Kids under five are free and so is parking. See warplane.com.

A world to discover

If you're planning a visit to one of Canada's national parks this summer why not take a virtual tour before going? That's possible at the Parks Canada Discovery Centre, located on Hamilton's waterfront.

The museum offers three incredible galleries that take visitors through all of Canada's national parks and national marine parks while teaching lessons in conservation and history.

In one of the galleries kids can take a walk on a boardwalk flanked by screens with panoramic views of Canada's national parks. One touch and the scene will zoom in on a closeup of a tidal pool, flower or wildlife.

In another gallery, visitors can have a look at the life forms living beneath the Arctic ice or walk into a lighthouse where one's navigational skills will be put to the test.

A popular place for kids and adults is the gallery designed like a Great Lakes ship. There is lots of equipment to be tinkered with while learning about the role the Great Lakes play in our eco-system. The Parks Canada Discovery Centre is open Thursdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the spring, then open daily in April.

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