Hi my name is Curt, I’m a father of two and Bracebridge is our home. I was born here, as were my two children, Sylvia (8) and James (6). My partner Marleigh, is from nearby Orillia, ON. We love our small town, and the surrounding Muskoka region. If you’re an active family like we are, hopefully you can use this list as a guide to enjoy your time in and around Bracebridge. Here are some of the things we cherish about Bracebridge:

Bracebridge Resource Management Centre

5140 Highway 11 North

We live on the east end of Bracebridge, so the Bracebridge Resource Management Centre (BRMC) is a convenient place for us to go exploring! In my teenage years I would spend countless hours with my neighbours at Duck Chutes in the BRMC. Now we hike as a family, exploring all the trails that offer wildlife and great river views. Next year we will start to enjoy the mountain bike trails with the whole family.

Eats & Treats

Small kids love sweets and great eating experiences, and we have a few stops in Bracebridge that we like to visit as a family :

Muskoka Natural Food Market: smoothies and gluten-free treats

The Burger Shop: milkshakes and great homemade burgers

The Oven: quite possibly the best pizza in Ontario, and great sourdough bread too!

The Griffin Gastropub: patio poutines and Muskoka Brewery pints for the adults

Fresh Kutz: our go-to breakfast place

The Pasta Shoppe: tarts, tarts, tarts, tarts…

Disc Golf Course

1028 Taylor Road

Located at Peake Fields in Bracebridge is the Disc Golf Course built by the Dads of Muskoka. This place is a gem to go for some frisbee fun tucked into a beautiful forest. This 18 hole Disc Golf Course offers a great hike for families and dogs. Peak Fields also offers state-of-the-art baseball complex, playground, and washrooms making this a great stop for some affordable outdoor fun.

Bracebridge Sportsplex

110 Clearbrook Trail

For locals, the Bracebridge Sportsplex is home to swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, and connected is one of the local high schools - Bracebridge Muskoka Lake’s Secondary School (BMLSS). The Bracebridge Sportsplex also offer drop-in and seasonal programming for children and adults. Take a fitness or special interest class, children day camps, public swim, use the great climbing wall, or private rentals of the gymnastics club or swimming pool(s).

Biking

Manitoba St. - My son James is new to the biking world, so we’ve spent much time on the paved trail that runs along Manitoba St north, ending at High Falls Rd. We typically park at the Bracebridge Sportsplex and head out Clearbrook Tr. or Douglas Dr. to connect to the trail. It’s fairly flat, and offers a decent distance for all of us.

Stoneleigh Rd – Just out of town on HWY 117 towards Baysville, we enjoy biking Stoneleigh Rd. It’s got almost no vehicle traffic, and offers a paved cycle in a densely treed area. There is even a section where you pedal next to a lake.

James and Sylvia biking in Bracebridge — James and Sylvia biking in Bracebridge

Kirby’s Beach

1010 Kirby's Beach Road

We have a family cottage, but sometimes it’s fun to go to the beach for a play! Kirby’s Beach is a decent size, and has a great lawn area, playground, and washrooms.

Shopping

We love supporting locally owned and operated businesses in Downtonw Bracebridge:

The Owl Pen: a used book treasure trove

Precision Music: all things guitar, and a wide selection of gear and instruments

The Annex: art classes for kids & adults, and the funkiest home décor

Minds Alive!: kids heaven boasts a great collection of toys and books

Ecclestone Cycle: Ecclestone Cycle could quite possibly be “The Greatest Purple Cycle Shop on the Planet”. This place is all bikes all the time. Stop by for bikes, gear, tune-ups, tips, group rides...

We love our small town, and the surrounding Muskoka region. If you’re an active family like we are, hopefully you can use this list as a guide to enjoy your time in and around Bracebridge.

Things to do with the Family in Bracebridge