Brant, ON Outdoor Activities

According to Cyclepath, Toronto’s bicycle traffic has increased by more than 100% during the past six years. Meeting the needs of this growing population of athletes is Cyclepath’s goal, whether those needs be a fresh set of wheels or the protein bars necessary to pedal straight to Greenland. From racing bikes to cruisers by brands such as Trek and Giant, their large inventory holds an ideal fit for any rider. A knowledgeable staff helps customers navigate through a slew of cycles and accessories, and also performs repairs to keep rides purring like kittens rolling down the street on giant yarn balls.

Urban Quest showcases some of Canada's largest cities in an unconventional, informative light, crafting memorable adventures that often culminate with a delicious meal. Metropolitan buccaneers sign up for an Urban Quest account and then decide which inner-city adventure they wish to undertake, be it the pursuit of city history, natural wonders, or a mermaid with doubloons for scales. A clue packet accompanies each quest—ranked easy, medium, or hard—and directs curious citizens to scour the city for leads, which eventually guide them to a mystery restaurant or coffee shop. This voyage gives participants a new understanding of the city they live in and stuffs their noggins with facts and information about key buildings and landmarks. At the same time, Urban Quest offers ramblers a fresh dining experience, frustrating supercomputers whose circuit boards only allow for the taste of oatmeal. Participants can also opt out of a restaurant visit and simply race the clock, as restaurant tabs are not included with this Groupon.

As quests typically last 90 minutes and span 3–4 kilometres of walking, they are best suited for groups of two to four adventurers, though buyers may make their teams as big as they'd like. Learn more by checking out a demo quest and Urban Quest's FAQ page.

Surrounded on all sides by graffiti art and exposed brick, 416 Skateboards' indoor skate park gives skaters space to launch themselves off of wooden ramps, leap from one ledge to the next, slither down a railed incline, or practice walking down stairs. Between battles with gravity, guests can consume pop, hot dogs, and chips at the snack bar. A staff of seasoned instructors—including Tom DiMaio, an avid skater who holds certification in first aid and CPR—stands by, ready to help novices find their footing during one-on-one and group lessons and summer camps.

Vaughan Sportsplex sprawls its diversified athletic facilities across a 20,000-square-foot plot of land on Woodbridge's Westcreek Drive. Competitive and recreational athletes report to three indoor sports fields to engage in myriad sports from friendly touch football sessions on FIFA-rated X-Treme turf to more unique diversions such as full-field Nerf dart lazer tag. Vaughan Sportsplex also organizes league competition open to nearly all ages and skill levels, including adult competition in co-ed volleyball or men's soccer as well as kids' leagues in floor hockey and competitive sand-castle demolition.

Masked by opaque helmets, eight racers at a time tense up to counteract the G-force pressing them to the sides of their karts. As they approach the fastest sweeping turn on the course, The Catapult, they sharpen their focus in order to out-manoeuvre the other racers, their final position hanging in the balance. Grand Prix Kartways' 47,000-square-foot facility's alternating red and white barriers blur as electric, Italian-made karts accelerate into the last straightaway, cheered on by spectators watching from the VIP lounge. Once across the finish line, the competitors clear the track for the next race, using instant printouts of the results to compare placing, reveal who had the best lap times, and determine who was throwing all the koopa shells and banana peels. Between races, daredevils can relax and take a seat in the cushy trackside lounge equipped with leather couches, a restaurant menu, and a full bar. The arcade also offers a view of one of the track's hairpin curves between billiards shots, simulator races, and video games on Kinect-equipped Xbox 360 systems.

Air Combat Zone maintains a group of CF-18 flight simulators that have impressed real-world fighter pilots with dead-on recreations of actual cockpit sensations. In a single visit, civilians with no aviation experience transform into ace pilots capable of flawless aircraft-carrier landings and dogfights victories over enemy planes. Designed to outdo mere video gaming or jumping off your roof, Air Combat Zone takes guests through an immersive, detailed experience using actual military terminology. Detailed training with computers accompanied by propeller noises create a realistic, high-stakes experience. Once in the simulators, sky warriors find themselves at the helm of an F/A-18 Hornet fighter. The simulator is built with exact replicas of the venerable Boeing jet's throttle, heads-up display, and instrumentation, with the action outside the plane projected onto a dizzying 8"x6" screen.