Downtown Bracebridge
Summer is finally here and that means the peeps are flocking to Muskoka (I don’t blame ya). SO I thought this week for my visitor and local friends alike I’d share some of my favourite things to do in our little town during this busy season. Muskoka as a whole is such an amazing place to visit in the summer and despite the crowds there really is something for everywhere here. I have so many favourite places throughout the region but Bracebridge of course holds a special place in my summer soul. If you will, let me virtually guide you through this special little place.
From shopping, to restaurants, to beautiful beaches, Bracebridge has a little bit of everything for everyone. Whether you are local to the area, a cottager or just visiting for the day there is always something to do (in the summer at least LOL). Honestly with the rising cost of gas and food and everything in general I think places like Bracebridge and Muskoka are going to continue to see a rise in visitors because it is a place still manageable for a visit, close enough to the GTA, etc, to do a day trip but still somewhere that feels special. We have noticed quite an increase in visitors over the last few years, despite covid, so I think that is something to keep in mind when you are coming in terms of managing expectations. Like a Wednesday can be as busy as a Saturday sometimes. Anyways, I am going off on a tangerine (as my dad would say, ie. tangent). Here we go . . .
BRACEBRIDGE MUST DOS:
Food and drink is always on the forefront of my activity planning list when we go anywhere and that is no exception when we are going out in our own town. There are some obvious choices like the Old Station that we all know and love but if you are looking for a few other options you may not be familiar with, I’ve got you!
Let’s start with “The Oven,” a little wood oven pizza spot, that is seriously delicious and a great option for something a little more low key. Take home to the cottage to enjoy on the dock or have a little picnic down by the falls! They also have really delicious breads so if you are looking to carbo load, this is the spot.
Muskoka Brewery might not be a secret spot but it is one you should definitely visit if you are in Bracebridge. Their brand new patio and pergola setup is seriously great! They have upped their outdoor game big time during Covid and it is one of the main reasons to pop in for a beverage. Oh and you can grab your favourites to go on your way out!
There is nothing quite like an ice cold, spicy (or regular) margarita on a hot summer day and El Pueblito has one of the best ones hands down. Indulge is some classic mexican favourites on their cute little patio right on the main street! I will also suggest not bringing the kiddos here cause the seating is limited and a little small. More of a date night or girls lunch kinda situation IMO.
I could go on and on about food and drinks and truthfully if you have any questions about where to find the best of what just hit me up, I’ve got you. But eating and drinking is not the only thing we like to do in our cute little town (shocking I know). There are great beaches, shopping and some seriously instagrammable spots all over.
Some of our favourite beaches are getting a little overcrowded but we love Kirbys for the kids and usually aim to go during the week instead of the weekend. They have an amazing new park and the beach is so kid friendly as you can walk out so far before the water even hits your waist. This park is a 10 minute drive from downtown and makes it ideal when you want to stay closeby.
A very noteable kid friendly spot obviously includes Santa’s Village. They have an amazing splash pad for the littles and all the usual attractions we have all come to know and love throughout the years. If your kids are between the ages of 2-6 I highly recommend you add it into at least one day of your Bracebridge summer itinerary (or get seasons passes if you are local, pays for itself honestly).
ALRIGHT, last but not least, some more grown-up activities and instagram worthy stops. Bracebridge has such a great variety of shops downtown. There is a little bit of everything and even though I might be a little bias (yes I have a shop downtown) it really is so fun to browse the shops. I want to make a mention of one of our fellow retailers and friends, Bliss Boutique. They will sadly be closing at the end of the summer and truly are a staple in our downtown core. Add them to your list of places to pop into when you are here next. Muskoka Bear Wear has reopened their doors for in-person shopping for the first time since March 2020 which feels pretty exciting for all of us. Take time to browse all the downtown has to offer and please make sure Belle’s is on your list so you can say hi to ME (hehe).
*** good news for us, we are finally giving this old building a makeover so stay tuned for a fresh faced Tigg's & Belle’s coming your way this fall (the new sign went up already and we are jazzed!) ***
Whenever I am going to a new town I love to find a few good spots to grab some content for the gram. This summer we have some great options so here is where you need to go:
We have a beautiful new wall mirror located beside Little Black Bow. It is a must (and featured in this blog of course)
Again, I don’t want to just self promote, but at Belle’s we have a pretty great selfie wall, just saying.
The new pride bench (located in the park beside the movie theatre) is a great spot to show some love to our LGBTQ2S+ community and the park itself is a lovely spot to visit and snap a pic if I do say so myself.
The bracebridge falls, I mean enough said.
Chancery Lane - I have said it before and I’ll say it again this is one of the best spots to get content for the gram.
Now last but not least a double whammy for grabbing a pic and grabbing a drink. The Griffin pub, located at the top of Chancery Lane, not only has the cutest patio for getting the shot but also a great lineup of beverages and snacks to treat yourself to while you are downtown. Just go and thank me after.
Now one more place worth mentioning to add to your rainy day list (I am writing this on yet another rainy day, well actually it is the middle of the night but it was rainy and we had to entertain the kids, anyway . . .) Our local little movie theatre. This might not sound like anything special but there is something so nostalgic about going to these small town theatres and ours is one of the best. There is also a great lineup of films coming up so definitely something to consider if the weather is not cooperating.
That is all for now folks. I know I have missed some gems but this should give you a good list of “to-dos” the next time you are looking for some fun in Downtown Bracebridge. I think remembering the importance of supporting local and small towns in general right now is going to be more important than ever right now so from all the small businesses in all the small towns (but especially ours) we hope to see you soon! I’m done with the ted talk now, but you know where to find me, come say hey on the gram! And my apologies for all the likely spelling and grammatical errors in this post as I am writing it at 3am with a baby. You’re welcome . . . Have a great week babes!
xo
