Wander the historic HUB district

There's a lot to explore beneath the Wheat City's quiet, agrarian facade. Brandon’s historic downtown, nicknamed The Hub, is like a kid sister to Winnipeg’s Exchange District. Centered along Rosser Avenue, a handsome collection of heritage architecture with faded ghost signs is a testament to Brandon's prosperity at the turn of the 20th century. Spend a few hours visiting the independent, local businesses that now occupy these buildings. On your list should be The Brow Loft for beauty items and accessories; One & Only for trendy home decor; and the gift shop at Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba for locally made items.

Colourful murals are popping up on buildings downtown, too. Brandon Tourism offers an online, interactive mural walking tour map so visitors can plan a self-guided tour of the art.

After all that walking, fuel up at the many local restaurants that make up Brandon’s burgeoning food scene, including a range of multicultural kitchens—from Indian to Ethiopian to Mexican—that are standouts in the community.

Brandon brings you back

At the turn of the 20th century, Brandon was a hub for trade and commerce as the Prairies were settled and Canada expanded west. The best place to learn about this early life is at Daly House Museum, the Victorian-style stone home of Brandon's first mayor. Staff offer guided interpretive tours, and be sure to save time to stroll the beautiful gardens. Another must-see museum is the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, which is located in a hangar at Brandon's municipal airport 10 kms north of the city centre. It is full of historical aircrafts and artifacts that commemorate the role that the prairie sky and Brandon played in the Royal Canadian Air Force air training school during World War II. Due to a temporary museum closure for repairs, make sure to check the website for hours before you head to this site.

Hills and Valleys

The rolling landscape surrounding Brandon makes for some great outdoor adventures that many don't expect during a visit to this prairie city.

In the afternoon, run for the hills! Located 10 km south of Brandon off of Highway 10, the Brandon Hills Wildlife Management Area is an all-season playground for hikers, cross-country skiers, and birdwatchers. This recreation area is particularly well-known for single-track mountain biking. There are multiple loops ranging from 2-7.5 kms throughout the 722 hectare area.

Or choose to go west. Grand Valley is a tiny provincial park hidden away in the Assiniboine River valley 10 kms west of Brandon along the Trans Canada Highway. Check out Stott historic site, a former bison impoundment and Indigenous village dating back over 700-1900 years ago. Interpretive signs along the 1.5 km self-guided On the Trail of the Buffalo Chase trail explains the process of a historical bison hunt and its significance to the First Nations and Métis communities of the area. A viewing tower also gives visitors a wonderful look of the scenic river valley.

Admire the Assiniboine

As the summer sun starts to set, head back to the centre of the city to the network of 17 kms of walking trails at the Riverbank Discovery Centre. Here, locals and visitors can connect with this river ecosystem that defines the land and city. Take in views of the Assiniboine River while crossing the Red Willow Pedestrian Bridge. Festival Park, with its covered outdoor stage and amphitheatre-style seating, is a gathering place for live music events.

Part two

Spend the day road tripping east of Brandon to some of the most unique museums found within an hour's drive.

More Military History

Continue east through the sand hills to Canadian Forces Base Shilo and the on-site Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) Museum. The RCA Museum is a unique national gem because it is dedicated solely to the history of the 200K+ Canadian Gunners who have served in war and peace since 1855. Upon arrival, 40 gigantic artillery pieces and vehicles greet visitors in the parking lot. Inside, decades of war history is condensed into a 12,000 sq. ft. space among an imposing collection of self-propelled Howitzers, anti-aircraft guns, soldier dioramas and more. Take time to discover the smaller artifacts and special exhibits that wait quietly to be discovered.

Back to The Roots

Spend the later half of the afternoon learning about Manitoba's pioneer past at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum just outside the town of Austin. A must-see at this Manitoba Star Attraction is The Homesteaders' Village, which represents prairie village life in the late 19th century with an 1883 schoolhouse, a post office that once served all of northwestern Manitoba, an elegant clapboard mansion, a general store, and more. If you're visiting in July, the museum's signature event, the Manitoba Threshermen's Reunion and Stampede, features its collection of vintage farm machinery in action, along with children’s activities, a pioneer fashion show, and music.

Part three

Commencing in Brandon, this second day trip heads west towards Saskatchewan to discover some gems in the region that mostly only the locals know about.

Lake life on the prairies

Oak Lake Beach Provincial Recreation Area, located 45 km west of Brandon, is at the heart of the RM of Sifton. This resort community and recreational area is a jewel hidden in the seemingly endless farmland of southwest Manitoba. A short drive from the town of Oak Lake, via Hwy 254, the resort area's main draw is a sandy, family-friendly beach equipped with two play structures, volleyball and basketball courts, and picnic shelters. A marina allows you to put a boat into the water for a day of fishing (rumored to be exceptional) or watersports. Many locals own cottage properties around the north shore of Oak Lake known as Cherry Point Park.

Next door to the beach is Oak Island Resort, an all-inclusive getaway that touts a pristine 18-hole golf course and massive 400-site campground with seasonal and overnight options. The resort has everything needed for a weekend or week-long getaway: an on-site convenience store, Creemee ice cream shop, mini-golf course, and vacation cabin rentals for non-camping families. Another 10 km west on the Trans-Canada Highway from the Oak Lake Beach turn-off is Aspen Grove Campground, a family-friendly resort complete with pool, minigolf and RVs available for nightly rentals.

A Prairie Gateway

Whether you spend a few hours or a few days discovering Oak Lake, at some point continue your journey west along the TransCanada Highway to Virden, a town renowned as the gateway to the Canadian Prairies and the centre of Manitoba's small oil industry.

A wonderful way to learn more about the personality of Virden is on a 2-hr guided historical walking tour. The tour starts at the historic CPR Station, which is now home to the Arts Mosaic Gallery (and super cool costume closet), and provides history of the area starting before Confederation. Hear about the famous Fort La Bosse, the stern-wheelers on the Assiniboine River, and the Aud Theatre, an ornate concert hall built in 1911 renowned for its outstanding acoustics and classical style. The Aud is still used today by community arts and theatre groups.

If time permits, choose a museum to visit in the area. The Virden Pioneer Home Museum harkens back to the Victorian lifestyle of a wealthy pioneering family in Virden. Just up the highway in Elkhorn, MB the Manitoba Antique Auto Museum is regarded as one of North America's best for car enthusiasts.

Cap off your visit to Virden with a stop at either The Sweet Spot for a lemonade or doughnut or a cool treat at iconic Ice Cream Island.