We recently took off as a family of four (with two busy young daughters) to find out if a winter weekend in Brandon could satisfy our family’s adventurous spirit. We decided to put the Brandon Brings You Back slogan to the test!

Everywhere we went we met the friendliest people who recommended the next local hot spot to check out and because no one knows the best spots better than the people who love their hometown—we followed their nudge. Here's where our Brandon winter adventure took us!

Indoor Adventures

neXgen Family Entertainment Center

608 Park Avenue, Brandon

Featuring North America’s only Hologram Zoo, neXgen is a must-visit! We put on some lightweight battery-powered glasses and toured Africa seeing animals like lions, hyenas, gorillas, giraffes and a herd of elephants which we had to duck for when they ran towards and over us. A few screams from two little girls and their daddy filled the scene while mom stood strong.

For families with children aged 9+, try their Virtual Reality which features escape rooms or other unforgettable group experiences like when our family became pirates, battling skeletons and the kraken monster!

Fun Time Pottery

535 34th Street, Brandon

Our girls now have a Brandon grandma—Grandma Milly. Our girls fell in love with Milly who guided our ‘paint your own pottery’ experience at Fun Time Pottery. With a variety of items to choose from, we all picked an item and proceeded to paint it. Milly was gracious as our girls required lots of extra care and instruction.

Because we live in Winnipeg, once our items are glazed and put to the fire, we asked that our items be shipped—so now we wait with anticipation for our pieces of art to arrive!

Pro Tip (from Grandma Milly): Paint at least three layers on your item for best results!

Outdoor Adventures

Riverbank Discovery Centre

545 Conservation Drive, Brandon

The Riverbank Discovery Centre was our starting point for outdoor exploring in the heart of Brandon. We started inside to learn all about this land located on Treaty 2 territory along the scenic Assiniboine River Corridor.

We looked at the taxidermy animals as we spoke to Dezarae and the staff about upcoming events. Here, you can also grab a trail map and get ready to explore the extensive trail system outside. Trails are available for cross-country skiers, skate-skiers, snowshoers, trail runners, fat bikers and walkers.

Pro Tip: Rent some snowshoes or cross-country skis at the Centre before you hit up the trails, then return for a cup of coffee or tea to warm up as you browse the gift shop!

Brandon Skating Oval

McGregor Avenue, Brandon

Strap your skates on in the warming shack, then head out on the wide and winding path to the Oval! The Brandon Skating Oval features music, festive light displays, picnic tables and firepits (with lots of firewood)--all making for a magical winter experience. The warming shack and the firepits are great to warm up little toes that can get cold faster. The Skating Oval is free to use and open till 11 pm.

Pro Tip: Aim to visit for sunset or after. The lights around the oval make for a beautiful ambience and nothing makes bedtime easier than climbing into a warm bed after a good cold skate!

Dining & Coffee Breaks

Pizza Express

360 10th Street

Recommended by the staff at neXgen, this pick-up and delivery spot has all sorts of foodie awards lining their walls—including an autographed photo of NHL great Peter Forsberg claiming that the Pizza Express pizza is the best. I’ve never seen so many ingredients on a pizza before and after a few bites of their Tropical Chicken pizza, it was hard to disagree with Mr. Forsberg.

Komfort Kitchen

835 Princess Avenue

Greeted by hostess Amy like we were family, we enjoyed a delicious homemade breakfast featuring a giant toasted cinnamon bun and a deluxe perogy plate complete with sautéed onions, bacon and sour cream. Everything you hope a classic local diner to be is found at Komfort Kitchen!

The Dock on Princess

1133 Princess Avenue

Saskatoon Berry Bison Burger made in-house with local ingredients? Yes please. After a long day of exploring and fun, we opted for take-out from local staple The Dock on Princess to enjoy in our cozy hotel room.

Chez Angela

29C 10th Street

Greeted by the lovely staff and the fresh smell of baked goods (all made from scratch using as many locally sourced ingredients as they can), this local champion is the perfect spot for a hot drink and a fresh treat. You can't miss Chez Angela on your visit to Brandon.

Pro Tip: Buy a fresh loaf of dill pickle sourdough to bring home!

Where to Stay in Brandon

We stayed at the Best Western Plus Brandon Inn, which was easy to find just off of the #1 highway. The hotel served well as a home base for all of our Brandon exploring and was great to come back to at the end of the day. Our two queen bedroom was very clean and quiet, perfect to retreat to as we geared up for the next item on our itinerary.

Our girls always ask if any hotel we stay at has a pool--and thankfully they did! Equipped with a waterslide, hot tub and steam room- a definite plus for two busy girls to get some energy out in the funnest way, for a super mom to have some relax time in the steam room or hot tub and for dad who loves finding a good waterslide!

The complimentary breakfast went beyond the bagels and muffins, with freshly-made bacon, eggs and waffles! There was also a 24 hour working coffee machine in the lobby to welcome us back from a cold outing with a french vanilla coffee or a hot chocolate.

We can’t wait to see our new friends again like Anna and the team at NexGen, Amy at Komfort Kitchen, Dezarae at the Riverbank Discovery Centre, Sam at Chez Angela and Milly from Fun Time Pottery. Experiencing the hospitality of the Brandon faithful really brings so much heart to visiting Manitoba’s second-largest city.

Something that one never regrets is time spent creating family memories. Take a weekend this winter and make some with yours. Warmer adventures can wait—it’s wintertime in Brandon!