Here are ten ideas for day trips within a three-hour driving distance of Brampton that won’t require any hotel reservations or airplane tickets.
Treetop Trekking Ziplining in Brampton
You don’t have to go far to experience ziplining excitement; Treetop Trekking may be only 15 minutes from downtown Brampton by car, but it feels like an entirely new world. The Aerial Game Trek includes bridges, aerial games, zip lines, and more. The stand-alone zip ride is the Blue Heron, which features twin 1000-foot ziplines crossing over Heart Lake, while the Red-Tail Hawk Observation Course lets you look for wildlife in the lakeside wetland. There are rates for individuals, families, and groups, so you’ll be able to choose the package that best suits your needs.
Aberfoyle Antique Market near Guelph
This market has been around for over 55 years and hosts more than 100 quality dealers selling collectibles, folk art, furniture and more. The Saturday Special Show adds more than 90 dealers to the market and you get the chance to browse through more than 150 guest dealers. The market is just a 40-minute drive from Brampton and includes free parking on site, a restaurant, and the Bluewater Creamery, which boasts hand-scooped homemade ice cream. Other nearby dining options include the Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant, The Village Family Restaurant, or Manhattans.
The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto
If your idea of a great day is one spent appreciating art and culture, then the Aga Khan Museum makes a perfect getaway, especially when it only takes 40 minutes to get there. The museum aims to provide unique insights and new perspectives into Islamic civilizations and the cultural and historical threads that bind us all together. The site, designed by Fumihiko Maki, ensures sure that not only is light ever-present in the building, but also that light will animate the space in myriad ways, depending upon the time of day or season. The museum also gives visitors access to a variety of musical and dance performances, cultural workshops, and film screenings.
Millcroft Spa in Caledon
Lose yourself in the luxury of an elegant escape only 45 minutes away. Enjoy French classical cuisine with a country flair prepared by Executive Chef James Buder. The spa offers 17 treatment areas, including 11 private treatment rooms and three dedicated hydrotherapy rooms, a fitness room, an outdoor terrace, indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor whirlpool, private men’s and women’s locker facilities with herbal steams rooms and showers, and a fully licensed Spa Café serving a great selection of wellness-oriented fare. You can also enjoy the hot springs, surrounded by waterfalls and lush surroundings, or a variety of outdoor activities including yoga, volleyball, croquet, soccer, bike riding, walking, or hiking.
Taste de Tours in Guelph
It’s a little less than an hour’s drive to Guelph, where you can do lunch and get a taste of the town’s history and cultural landmarks at the same time. The Taste de Tours is a 2km walking tour that gives you the opportunity to enjoy regional cuisine and learn about the people behind the restaurants, pubs and specialty food shops. Tours are available daily (rain or shine) and you can even add a beer and wine tasting ticket to your excursion. There are twelve people per tour and custom tours are also available.
Wine Tours in Niagara
There are so many different wineries in the Niagara region it can feel overwhelming when trying to decide which ones to visit. Thankfully, there are several packages available which will take away the worry of planning. Each package includes visits to several wineries, with cheese, charcuterie, chocolates or a multi-course lunch or dinner. There are even a couple of packages which include beer tasting. After your 90-minute drive to Niagara, take advantage of the complimentary parking available at the Hilton Garden Inn and the Embassy Suites Hotel. From there, you’ll be picked up by a 14-passenger luxury air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter Executive Series bus and dropped back at the hotel after the tour.
Collingwood Caves in Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain isn’t just for skiing. In fact, it contains some of the oldest tourist destinations in Ontario at 450 million years old, which is all the way back to the Ordovician era when the caves were formed. Within a two-hour drive from home, you can explore scenic caves, caverns, and nature trails or check out the longest suspension bridge in southern Ontario (126 metres), where on a clear day you can see 10,000 meters. You can go zip lining, gemstone mining, or play a game of mini golf. Environmental enthusiasts can book a three-hour guided eco adventure tour. Just remember to wear your running shoes or hiking boots.
Muskoka Steamships in Muskoka
Muskoka’s steamship heritage is older than Canada, so what better way to celebrate Canadian history than a trip on a classic steamship? The Muskoka Lakes Navigation Company was founded in 1866 and operated the largest fleet of inland lake steamships in North America until it retired as a common carrier in September 1958. It only takes a couple of hours to get to Muskoka, where you can enjoy a sightseeing cruise for an hour, or a two-hour cruise with high tea. There are also longer cruises available with lunch or dinner provided, or you can check out the Craft Beer Cruise, the Millionaire’s Row Sightseeing Cruise, or the Pirate’s Cruise.
Johnson’s Cranberry Marsh and Winery
In 1950, Orville Johnston bought land in Muskoka to start his cranberry dream and now, over 60 years later, the Johnston family is still dedicated to growing excellent cranberries. The winery produces fruit to craft wines that reflect the region, what the French call “terroir,” or taste of place. The Johnson farm supports a host of wildlife and ecology, and the family works hard ensuring they have the least amount of impact possible on the environment. Wine tasting is offered along with a tour of the Blueberry Hill blueberry farm. Visitors can also relax on the patio with wine, cheese, and cranberry goodies. It’s just a little more than a two-hour drive away and is open 361 days a year.
Albright-Knox Art Museum in Buffalo, New York
Right across the border to the U.S. is the Albright-Knox Museum in Buffalo, one of the oldest museums dedicated to the art of our time, and the sixth oldest public art institution in the United States. The museum has collected and exhibited art since 1862, and the current collection includes works by Francis Bacon, Frida Kahlo, Roy Lichtenstein, Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and many others. Hour-long tours happen on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and there are various other events taking place all the time, so check the museum’s website when planning your trip.