The great outdoors. Mother Nature. The wilderness. This may come as a surprise to you but in Brantford, there is no shortage of flowing rivers, scenic views or things to do outside. In this city, getting outside and having a good time is easy, as long as you know where to look. Well, a GPS helps, too.
Hiking
If hiking is your thing, then a walk along the Grand River should definitely be on your to-do list before the winter months hit. The Gordon Glaves Memorial Pathway is a network of trails that run along both sides of the Grand in Brantford. The trail connects many of Brantford’s finest parks, which all offer great places to kick back and relax. On the south side of the river, the trail connects the Grand Valley Trail, the Alexander Graham Bell Homestead and Lion’s Park, among others. On the north side, the Brantford/Hamilton Rail Trail, Waterworks Park, and the Brant Conservation Area are connected. Additionally, this trail forms a section of the Trans Canada Trail.
Canoe/Kayaking
If you’re fortunate enough to own a canoe or kayak, the Grand River is the perfect place to use it. The closest launch point would be to follow Colborne Street over the bridge and make a right on Ballantyne Drive. If you follow this around, a small lane on the right will take you down to the river.
Brantford Skatepark
The Brantford Skatepark is found on Icomm Drive behind the OLG Brantford Casino. If you can keep yourself from being distracted by the allure of flashing lights and slot machines, the concrete skatepark has more than enough ramps, humps and rails to keep any skater busy.
Earl Haig
The Earl Haig Family Fun Park is a great place to cool off and take a break from textbooks. With a day pass priced at only $8.75, it’s cheap enough to fit any university student’s budget. There’s a lazy river, mini-putt, go-karts and more.
If none of these things seem to your taste, then simply get outside. Find a friend and toss a football or Frisbee around. There are many parks in Brantford that offer tons of open space. So get out and enjoy the sun, because it won’t be long before the jackets are out and the snow starts to fly.
