Turn your day trips into ‘What a Day!’ Trips in Brantford

The summer season is fast approaching and that may have you longing to get away. There are many reasons to consider staycationing close to home. Fortunately, Brantford has everything you need to turn your day trips into “What a Day!” Trips.

Whether your tastes run toward exploring the great outdoors, or if you prefer to spend the day experiencing the best in live music, or perhaps you’d rather just treat your senses — and your tastebuds, Brantford has a variety of options available to you, all within an hour’s drive from home.

For those looking to enjoy some fresh air, Brantford offers a variety of scenic adventures for you to explore. While you may know of Wayne Gretzky, Phil Hartman, and Alexander Graham Bell, there’s a good chance that you’ve already experienced some of Brantford’s natural and architectural beauty right from the comfort of your couch!

Brantford has been home to a number of TV and film productions over the years, and you can explore them courtesy of a Film Locations Storymap. Brantford has been the setting for scenes that have appeared in critically acclaimed shows like “The Boys,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Locke and Key,” “Murdoch Mysteries,” and Emmy award-winning “Schitt’s Creek.”You can make a day of it and see the sights first-hand. And Advantage Brantford offers more details on the film locations and the scenes shot there.

But if reminiscing about celluloid memories isn’t your thing, Brantford lets you enjoy the here and now with some of the region’s finest festivals. This year, Lions Park is hosting back-to-back festivals, including Brantford’s Canada Day celebration with headliner the Jim Cuddy Band, and WTFest on July 2, which features some legendary rap and hip hop artists such as Rob Base, Maestro Fresh Wes, and Mix Master Mike from the Beastie Boys. WTFest will be hosted by a collection of MuchMusic luminaries including Steve Anthony, Rick “The Temp” Campanelli, Master T, and Bill Welychka. Schedules and tickets are available now.

Brantford is also home to one of Canada’s oldest golf courses — the Brantford Golf and Country Club, and the newly renovated the Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course and Learning Centre. And if hitting the links isn’t your thing, from over 70 kilometres of scenic cycling trails that connect in downtown Brantford, also known as The Hub of Ontario Trails, to enjoying the Grand River – a designated Canadian heritage river, Brantford is your destination for summer fun.

You’ll also want to come back again and again for events like Ribfest, a variety of shows at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, and programming year-round in Harmony Square.

We know exploring everything Brantford has to offer can serve to work up quite an appetite. Brantford is known for its rich and diverse dining options and has an emerging culinary scene that attracts discerning palates from across Ontario. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly place to take the kids, to explore new flavours and meals via a selection of international establishments, or to treat yourself and a loved one to one of Brantford’s fine dining venues, you can plan your culinary explorations at Discover Brantford.

And who says a day trip only has to be one day? With an assortment of accommodations for all budgets and preferences, you can make a weekend (or more) of your Brantford excursion — and still be home in time for the work week to start up again. Take advantage of this year’s provincial Staycation Tax credit to make this affordable trip, close to home, even more enticing.

One thing you may wonder after your Brantford adventure is: why don’t we this more often? You won’t be alone. Many in the Greater Toronto and Greater Hamilton Areas appreciate the work/life benefits that Brantford offers. Housing prices are far more affordable, so many people are looking to maximize their living environment — whether it’s their first starter home or they’re downsizing — by taking advantage of Brantford’s affordability. And being so close to Toronto and Hamilton, many families are either working remotely or commuting effectively to their jobs (often under 90 minutes), while still being able to get home in time to enjoy Brantford’s idyllic setting and cultural opportunities.

If you want to learn more, we encourage you to visit. After all, we all know that Canadian summers are short, so you want to make every moment count. With everything Brantford has to offer — and so close to home — there’s never a good reason to waste a day.