Winter in Barrie

The long running Barrie Winter Carnival-a top 100 Ontario event takes place over the first weekend in February. Barrie Snowbelt activities provide fun and excitement for families and couples. Discover one of Ontario's fun winter destinations for all of the outdoor winter snow sports including snow tubing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing. Minets Point is always entertaining with ice snowboarding, snowferring with kites, and winter surprise visits, by dog sleds, skaters, cross country skiers. Check Ontario Ski and road conditions with the current Ontario Ski and Snowboard report originates in Barrie from the Ministry of Tourism Information centre just off of Highway 400 at Mapleview Drive. Book winter getaways at Barrie hotels and resorts on-line.

Spring in Barrie

Maple Syrup in the Simcoe County area initiates the beginning of spring and end of Winter. A variety of Maple Syrup Festivals and Maple Harvest locations are available in close proximity to Barrie. In addition to spring skiing. It is always an adventure to watch the ice go out on Kempenfelt Bay as many say "you can hear the ice melting".When the ice fishing stops the spring fishing begins on Kempenfelt Bay and Barrie fishing tournaments signal a start to summer.

It is not too early to start thinking about March break getaways in the Barrie Area, where a number of kids activities, getaway packages and Barrie area March Break Kids Programs are available for Day Trips or overnight vacations (staycations).

Barrie Fall Colour Road Trips

Barrie is a starting point with a Fall Colour Road Trip around Lake Simcoe including Orillia, Lagoon City, Beaverton, Jackson's Point, and provides seveval options with side trips including spectacular fall colour maple sugar bush areas in Simoce County such as Horseshoe Valley Wasaga Beach, Elmvale and Minising with recommended events,festivals and fall fairs. In Ontario there are two autumns, the second autumn provides late yellows and golds from the Oaks and Tamarack trees.

Event Centre Barrie

The Barrie Molson Centre is the home to the Barrie Colts Junior hockey team, and is one of the largest venues for major events, shows, and entertainment in the Barrie-Simcoe County region north of Toronto

Lake Simcoe Resort Destination

Barrie is the largest city in Simcoe County was put on the international map as host of the Live 8 concert. One media outlet defined Toronto as being "a little below Barrie". Many of the Barrie hotels and resort accommodation are easily accessible off of Highway 400. Barrie is a good starting point for a road trip to tour the province or to take one of the many Ontario Spring, Summer or Fall travel routes. There are several boat launching areas close to highway 400 for fishing in Lake Simcoe.

Barrie Go Train To the Beach from Toronto:
Like many Toronto residents the thought of starting your weekend North of Toronto was avoided as many did not want to drive Highway 400 north. There is good news. Now with the Go Train going to Barrie, you can leave Friday afternoon from downtown Toronto, and return Monday morning. This will be of benefit to those who like to enjoy the fresh Barrie air, beaches, hiking or biking around the Kempenfelt Bay, but don't like the drive. Arrive relaxed for your romantic weekend away or time at the beach.

Barrie Downtown on Lake Simcoe

The Barrie downtown, has one of the most beautiful waterfronts in Ontario, and is a must visit on your way north. The downtown has many exceptional restaurants, and unique shops. It depicts turn of the century Ontario architecture, and many of the buildings have been restored to their original state. A portion of Barrie's History can be viewed through the Ontario Historical Association Plaques.

Barrie Emerging As Regional Culinary And Entertainment Hub

In addition to exciting restaurants and theatre venues, the Hospitality and Tourism program at Georgian College at Barrie's north end has a number of culinary events and a special 'Dinner and Wine Series" . For the Highway 400eleven traveller, a stop can be a refreshing half way point to the cottage or ski hill and is a quick exit off of Highway 400 at Duckworth Street. Toronto residents are discovering one of the region's best kept secrets.......At a recent Stuart McLean show The Vinyl Cafe hosted by the Gryphon Theatre, a number of Toronto residents were overheard raving about the Georgian Dining Room. See Georgian College Hospitality and Tourism Web site

Quick Bits

Distance from Toronto:
90 km

Driving Time from Toronto:
~ 1 hr

Downtown Barrie Map

Map Of Ontario
(Official Government of Ontario Road Map)
This site requires Adobe Reader and may take a bit longer to download

Barrie Tourism and Travel News

Avoid Barrie Gridlock

Barrie Trivia
Where is the Barrie Weather measured?
Also see Lake Simcoe Marine Forcasts.