Bradford, Ontario is a country and urban area making up the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, in Canada. Overlooking a picturesque farming community known as the Holland Marsh, the town also sits adjacent to the scenic Holland River. Travelers and tourists to the town, less than an hour’s drive away from Toronto, have their choice of things to do in Bradford this year and every year after that.
Things to Do
Visitors to Bradford mostly come to enjoy a peaceful country existence that also offers many of the conveniences of urban life. The experience when visiting Bradford is made all the more pleasant by a large number of activities and events taking place in and around the town and surrounding communities.
Hockey, Hockey, and More Hockey
The sport of hockey is Canada’s lifeblood and Bradford, ON has two junior hockey teams that play at a high level of skill and excitement. Both the Bradford Bulls and the Bradford Rattlers offer fans the kind of hockey for which Canada is famous. The Bulls skate at the Bob Fallis Sports Centre right in town, and you can catch the Rattlers skating against opponents at the town’s Bradford Leisure Center. Both teams are grand champions, and reasonably priced tickets and all amenities are the norms. The level of hockey played is near-NHL in quality, too.
Championship Golfing
If golfing’s your passion, Bradford can certainly sate your appetite for it. The Club at Bond Head, in fact, offers not one but two championship-caliber 18-hole golf courses. Clubhouse facilities are first-rate, and the club lies just minutes west of Highway 400, one of two major north-south routes between Bradford and Toronto. Visitors to the club are advised to book a tee time, in-season, online. Rates are in keeping with the professional caliber of the courses though they also aren’t exorbitant.
Nature and Wildlife
The Holland Marsh area in and around Bradford offers everything from year-round nature and wildlife exploration to outstanding wineries, a farmer’s market, and excellent farm vistas. If you’re into nature photography, the Marsh is certain to offer up hauntingly beautiful scenery throughout the year, in fact. Visit the Holland Marsh Wineries in nearby Newmarket, open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M and Sundays until 5:00 P.M.
Fun for the Kids
Kidergy is Bradford’s first indoor playground, making it suitable for year-round activities and fun for children of all ages. The facility offers more than 7,500 square feet of space for active children, and there’s a 3-level, 2,200 square-foot play structure. Individual party rooms abound, and parents can relax in Kidergy’s cafe and lounge area. Free WiFi is on hand for those who need to check email or who just want to surf the Internet while the kids play, play, and play some more.
Carrot Fest
Bradford offers Carrot Fest, “The World’s Greatest Carrot Festival,” in August. For 2016, the festival takes place on the 19th and 20th. Voted one of the Top 100 events in Ontario, the Carrot Fest takes place on the streets of downtown Bradford, with more than 300 vendors, pro wrestling, carnival rides, live musical entertainment and much more on tap.
Bradford, Ontario Lodgings
A wide variety of lodgings are available in and around the Bradford West Gwillimbury area, and they range from budget, bed-and-breakfast, motel-type and four-star facilities. Visitors wanting to soak in all the charm that Bradford has to offer should consider a stay in one of the town’s several bed and breakfast businesses located both in town as well as nearby. Rates are reasonable, and off-season rates can be a real bargain. Visit the Simcoe County tourism website for additional resources and details on everything to see and do in Bradford, Ontario.