30 Fun Things to Do in Barrie ,ontario- Fun Attractions to Explore in 2024

Last Updated on July 27, 2024 by William Alexander

Quick Introduction of Barrie.

Barrie is a small city Situated in central Ontario, Canada. It is present on 

Western shoreside of Lake Simcoe and centre of Toronto and  Algonquin Provincial Park. You can reach it here after driving 56 miles North of Toronto. 

Barrie is famous for its beautiful waterfronts, outdoor activities, fantastic culture, festivals, and events.

Barrie is full of adventure, with outdoor attractions and indoor activities. If you are planning a trip to Barrie, then you are in the right place. I will explain my experience in a complete Travelogue of Barrie in this guide. In this article, I will give you some tips about things to do in Barrie, including outdoor and indoor activities.

So let’s get started.

Best Fun things to do in Barrie.

We can divide things to do sections in two parts one is indoor activities and second is outdoor activities we talk about both .

Outdoor Things to do – Barrie attractions.

Do fun activities on the Barrie waterfront.

Barrie’s waterfront is one of the city’s famous tourist attractions. You can explore the best of Barrie’s waterfront by walking along the waterfront trail, swimming in the clean water of Lake Simcoe, or playing volleyball with friends and family.

Moreover, here, you can explore waterfront playgrounds like Heritage Park or Centennial Park, where you can climb, slide, and enjoy scenic views of the lake.

You can also dine with a view of the waterfront at the different restaurants near Barrie. Here, you can eat seafood. 

Sunset Watching is my favourite thing from everything I see here. Here, you can watch the vibrant hues of orange and purple in the sky. It was a mind-blowing scene. 

Explore natural beauty by hiking along trails.

Including the waterfront, Barrie also has beautiful forests where you can go hiking. You can walk on the North Shore Trail or the Ardagh Bluffs Trail (4.1 miles long). North Shore Trail.

This gives you different difficulty levels for Hiking and provides views of wildlife such as Birds, Small Mammals, White-Tailed Deer, Foxes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Insects, Small Predators, and Raccoons. 

This is one of the best hiking trails in Barrie. Along with Ardagh Bluffs Trail, there are some other short trails—many are 1.5 to 2 miles long. These hiking trails are famous for Geocaching, Trail Running, Meditation, Yoga, and Picnicking.

Spend A relaxing day At Centennial Beach.

Barrie has too many small beaches, but one of its famous beaches is Centennial Beach. It is known due to its natural scenes.  This beach is linked to Centennial Park. This is the best place to visit.

These are the top things that you can do on these beaches.

• Enjoy Swimming in the clean and cold water. 
• Lay out on beach chairs and sunbathe. This is very beneficial for health and a source of vitamin D. It can help people of all ages.
• Play Volleyball Beach with family.
• Build buildings or statues with sand, which is called a sandcastle building.
• Do a Flying kite and compete with your friends.
• Arrange a picnic with your family and enjoy seafood with us.
• Sit on a beach chair and read books. 
• Doing yoga on the beach is one of my favourite activities.

Go to Nature Walks. 

You can go on nature walks along the beautiful parks and walking trails like 

Wilkins Walk Trail or Lover’s Creek Ravine. Here, you can go Hiking, do Nature Photography with friends and family, Bird Watching and watching flying monkeys, have picnics, Dog walking on the trail, and Relax in the natural environment.

Explore Barrie Hill Farms.

Barrie Hill Farms is a place to take Seasonal production like Fresh berries.

It is a beautiful green space where you can photograph and do educational tours. Apple and pumpkin are famous products of Barrie Hill Farms.

People also come here to attend the yearly spring festivals like Strawberry Festival, Blueberry Festival, Corn Maze Adventure, Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival, Christmas Tree Farm events, and Educational Workshops. by colleges and universities.

Visit MiNET’s Point Park (water park).

M MiNET’s Point Park is famous for its scenic views, which provide picturesque views of Lake Simcoe. It’s a popular spot for photography in Barrie. Here you can enjoy food and drinks and Recreational Activities like birdwatching.

This Park features a sandy beach where you can sunbathe and swim, among other things. 

Golfing in Barrie.

If you like golf, Barrie is the best place for you. You can book tea time at golf clubs like Bear Creek Golf Club, Innis brook Golf Course, Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club, and National Pines Golf Club.

You can take golf lessons from those clubs. Then, you can polish your golf skills.

Some clubs offer a golf package that includes green fees, providing cost-effective golf. They’re also family-friendly.

Fishing 

Fishing Areas in Barrie:

• Barrie Waterfront:
• M MiNET’s Point Park: Situated on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, 
• Innisfil Beach Park:  
• Tiffin Boat Launch: Located near the North Shore Trail, 
• Kempenfelt Bay: Kempenfelt Bay is a costly place that gives us fishing opportunities for some fish species.

Fishing Requirements in Barrie.

1. Need for Fishing License:

You must have a fishing certificate or license in Barrie. Age factor is also very important . your age must be more than 18.

2. Release the particular species of fish.

Regarding protection concerns, fishing is responsible for following the catch and release guidelines for particular species. Proper handling methods will be helpful for securing the life of released fish.

3. Maintain the discipline of parks.

In Barrie, some fishing sites are present in public parks and conserved areas, so if you want to do fishing here, you must follow the discipline guidelines of the Park.

4. Fishing gears. 

You must do fishing with proper gear like rods, reels, tackle, bait, and a fishing licence. It will help you to do it safely.

Try your luck on axe-throwing.

Axe-throwing is a fun and special family activity you can do in Barrie. You can do it at several places. One of them is Bullseye Axe Throwing. It provides both premium and casual events regarding axe-throwing. 

Its Casual price is $30$ for 75 minutes for one person. Its premium cost is $44.25 per person. With a minimum of 8 people, it provides four different facilities. Different Target Types are best Coaching, Games and Competitions, and Food and Drink. The minimum age limit for this activity is ten years.

Kayaking and paddleboarding on Lake Simcoe in Barrie.

Kayaking and paddleboarding on Lake Simcoe in Barrie give us a tremendous way to explore the beautiful water activities and Provide the best scenic views around  Lake Simcoe. You can also do kayaking and paddleboarding at Centennial Beach, M Minet’sPoint Park, and Tyndale Park. You can take services from Happy Paddling, Kempenfelt Kayak, and Northern SUP on a rental basis.

Best Tips for It

• Before doing so, always wear a life jacket.
• Examine Weather Conditions.
• Bring water with you, And try to stay hydrated.
• Always learn about basic skills and essential Guidelines.

Explore Festivals in Barrie

Barrie organizes several festivals every year. You also can explore Events and Festivals in Barrie 

The following are given below. 

Winter Events

1. Barrie Winterfest .

Date: February 3-4-2024. Famous activities at this event are ice sculptures, lumberjack shows, family entertainment, skating, horse-drawn wagon rides, and a polar bear dip.

2. Winter Wonderland

 Date: December to February; its exact date changes every year. Famous activities of this event are Illuminated trails, holiday light displays, and festive decorations at Heritage Park and at downtown Barrie.

Spring Events

• Spring Tonic Maple Syrup . Festival Date: Early April; its exact date changes yearly. Famous activities at this event are Mapleview, maple syrup demonstrations, pancake breakfasts, wagon rides, and live entertainment at Tiffin Centre.

Summer Events

1. Barrie Waterfront Festival
   • Date: May 24-26-2024. Famous activities at this event are live music performances, food vendors, midway rides, and family-friendly activities at Centennial Park.
2. Celebrate Barrie
   • Date: 1-6-2024 . Famous activities of this event are Live performances, activities, food vendors, and local artisans at Centennial Park.
3. Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival
   • Date: June 7-1-2024 Famous activities of this event are Jazz and blues performances at various venues around the city, including outdoor concerts and club shows.
4. Canada Day Celebrations
   • Date: 1-7-2024 The Famous activities of this event are Fireworks, live music performances, family activities, and a parade at Heritage Park and downtown Barrie.
5. Kempenfest
   • Date: August 3- 5, 2024 Activities: It’s one of the largest outdoor summer festivals in Canada, with more than 300 vendors. Famous activities at this event are live music performances, a midway, and car shows at Barrie’s waterfront.

Fall Events

1. Barrie Film Festival
   • Date: October 11-20-2024. Famous activities of this event are Screenings of international and Canadian films, short films, and special events at various venues in Barrie.
2. Downtown Barrie Craft Beer and BBQ Festival
   • Date: September 21-22-2024 Famous activities of this event are Craft beer tastings, BBQ food vendors, live music, and entertainment in downtown Barrie.
3. Barrie Pumpkin Festival
   • Date: Late October. The exact date changes every year. This event is famous for Pumpkin carving, family-friendly activities, and seasonal food at Chappell Farms.

Indoor Things to do in Barrie.

Test your problem-solving skills in an escape room -(Family-friendly).

Barrie provides you with Escape rooms where you can test your problem-solving skills.

You can see how you can tackle a problem. Barrie has many Escape rooms, but the following are the preferable options.

Escape Room Barrie.

This escape is situated at 8 Ellen Street.: This street provides a variety of rooms, like Witchwood Forest and Simcoe Arms Hotel. They provide the services of all groups. They can also provide mobile escape rooms for big events. Their services change from hour to hour, so you must check their timetable before they leave your home.

Trapped Barrie is located at 347 Cundles Road East: According to my experience, it has elastic event spaces and is always best for corporate team-building and parties. It’s time schedule is fixed; you can check it from its official website and book your Visit.

Mind Buster Escape Rooms: This escape room is situated at 102 Commerce Park Drive. It offers theme rooms like Jewel of Excalibur and The Candy Man. You must arrive 15 minutes before your time in that Escape room. This room provides unique and thrilling adventures. You can book your Visit from its official website.

Explore the Local History of Barrie, Ontario, in the Museum.

My favourite indoor activities are visiting museums and tours, as well as exploring history and ritual activities. Rie offers many of these, some of which are given below. Given below. Here, you can explore local history and culture.

1: Simcoe County Museum, situated at 151 Highway 26, Minesing, offers educational tours and events for people of all ages. Its many exhibits display the history of Simcoe County.

2: The Grey & Simcoe Foresters Regimental Museum is situated at 36 Mulcaster St, Barrie. This Museum displays the history of Grey and Simcoe Foresters and has collections of military uniforms, weapons, medals, and documents.

3: MacLaren Art Centre . The museum is situated at 37 Mulcaster Street, Barrie. It focuses on the cultural history and arts of the region.

Visit Freaky Wizard in Barrie.

This Special board game cafe offers a magical environment for Visitors of all ages. It is situated at 130 Bell Farm Road, Unit 13A. It provides More than 700 board games for just $5. 

For this fee, you can play unlimited games. In addition to these games, the cafe provides a wide range of local food and drinks, such as fair-trade coffee, tea, and snacks. This cafe is specially designed to welcome families. It also hosts parties and events on a rental basis.

 Bowling in Barrie.

If you like bowling and want to go bowling in Barrie, Bowlerama Barrie is the best choice for you. It is situated at 320 Bayfield St, Barrie. It provides several indoor activities for all ages. In services, it will give you 32 lanes, plus ten 5-pin Lanes and twenty-two 10-pin lanes. It also offers an indoor playground.

It also offers bowling in the dark with vibrant lights, known as Cosmic Bowling. Bowlerama Barrie offers Leagues for children and youth. It also has a full sports bar that includes billiards and arcade games. You can visit here from 9 A.m. to 12 A.m.

Go shopping at Rio Can Georgian Mall.

Rio Can Georgian Mall is the largest mall in Barrie, situated at 509 Bayfield Street. It’s the best shopping hub for people who live in Barrie and is also a central shopping destination. It has some outlet stores, including HHudson’s Bay, SportChek, HomeSense, and L.L. Bean. This mall provides a variety of shopping items in the fashion field.

We also offer the best dining options, such as MMoxie’s Grill & Bar, MMac’s Sushi, Manchu Wok, and Real Fruit Bubble Tea.

I like the fancy gourmet doughnuts at this mall. This mall also offers many shopping events, such as the sale of unique products, and some other services, such as detailed service.

 I Highly Recommend this mall for Things to do in Barrie.

Visit Nightlife Spots in Barrie.

Barriers provide the best nightlife scene and is a perfect city for those who love nightlife.

Barrie’s nightlife revolves around Dunlop Street, which offers several bars, clubs, and live music venues.

Some of them are given below.

1: The Queens Hotel: 

This hotel is situated at 94 Dunlop Street East. It is famous for its historic venue, live music, and D.J. nights. The hotel has three stocked bars and a modern lighting system that makes it more beautiful and well-maintained at night.

2: Alley. 

It’s a popular nightclub situated at 34 Dunlop St E, Barrie. This location provides the best collection of cocktails and offers the best night environment for dancing. It also gives many options for organising night parties like birthday parties and bachelor parties.

3: Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery: 

This is best for beer lovers. It is also situated at 107 Dunlop St E. If you are looking for things to do with beer, then it’s the right place for you.

4: Live music and Events.

You can enjoy live music and events at Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, The Queens Nightclub, MMcReilly’s Pub and Restaurant, Five Points Theatre, Ranch 2.0, etc.

Heritage Estate Winery.

Heritage Estate Winery offers a wine tour for $15 per person. Here, you can watch the wine-making Process and taste four different types of wines. If you want to do this tour, you need to book seats in advance from its official website. It runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Things to do in Barrie with kids.

Visit Jack’sUrban Jungle 

Jack’s Urban Jungle in Barrie is a unique indoor park for kids aged eight and up. It offers more than 37,000 square feet of activities. Kids can do the following things in Jack’sUrban Jungle

1. Zip-lining
2. Climbing walls
3. Obstacle courses
4. Ninja warrior courses
5. Aerial adventure courses
6. Trampoline areas
7. High ropes courses
8. Balance beams
9. Monkey bars
10. Cargo nets.

X Play Amusements in Barrie.

X Play Amusements is an entertainment centre for families and kids in Barrie at 30 North Village Way, Unit 5. It offers several fun activities for kids and families, including a trampoline park, laser tag arena, and arcade games.

Its trampoline consists of foam pits, dodgeball, slam-dunk basketball, and aerial silk. Laser tag offers a two-level arena with more than 20 different games. Its service hours are 10 A.m. to 10 P.m., with extended hours on weekends. 

Its pricing is $11.99 for 30 minutes of Trampoline Tickets and $11.99 for one game of Laser Tag. For more details, you can visit its official website.

Smart Moves Play Place.

It’s an indoor play centre for kids up to 12 years old. It is located at 565 Bryne Drive. It provides fun while combining learning concepts of maths, Science, Technology, and Engineering. It offers several play areas that illustrate STEM concepts like velocity and gravity, providing kids with an educational experience.

It offers activities, including Drop-in play and stem-themed rooms. It also offers services for parties and events.

Monkeynastix.

Monkeynastix is a fun and dynamic fitness movement program for kids aged 1 to 12. This program targets developing basic movement skills like balance, flexibility, strength, agility, coordination, and body awareness through fun and creative activities and music.

Kida is warped up with powerful songs, some stretching, and movement activities. These movements are divided into sessions. Each session consists of activities using gymnastics and sports gear that focus on learning a specific skill in a week. 

Monkeynastix programs are divided by age, such as 1-2, 3-6, 7-8, and above. It provides regular classes.

Code Ninjas in Barrie.

Code Ninjas in Barrie provides an environment where kids aged 5 to 14 can learn coding by playing games. It is situated at  350 Big Bay Point Rd, Unit 3-4, Barrie. It also offers games for the development of STEM skills in kids.

Services Offered:

Code Ninjas J.R. for Ages 5-7 : 

This program offers coding learning for kids using tools like Scratch Jr. and Code Spark Academy. Kids can learn basic coding concepts like sequencing, loops, and conditionals through this.

Code Ninjas Create for Ages 7-14:

This program focuses on problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Through it, kids gain a deep understanding of coding languages and techniques.

Things to do in Barrie in winter 

Skiing and snowboarding.

Barrie offers the very best places for Skiing and snowboarding. The following are given below.

Snow Valley Ski Resort.

It is situated just 10 minutes from Barrie. It is a great place to go. It provides 19 trails, varying from beginner to advanced, according to visitors’ ski and snowboarding skills, and is serviced by nine lifts. It also provides a Terrain park and snow tubing. It offers equipment for Skiing on a rental basis.

Horseshoe Resort

It’s the best place to go for residents and visitors alike. It’s located 20 minutes away from Barrie.

It provides 28 runs, ranging from beginner to advanced, according to visitors’ Ski and snowboarding skills, serviced by 6 lifts. This resort also offers Nordic Skiing and Snow Tubing.

Mount St. Louis Moonstone.

This is also the best place around Barrie. You can reach it after the 30-minute drive from Barrie. It is present near Coldwater. It provides 36 slopes and 8 chairlifts according to skill levels. It also offers Night Skiing on special evenings.

Skateboarding at Barrie Skatepark.

 You can do Skateboarding at Barrie Skatepark. Skatepark is a famous skating destination that provides various ramps, rails, and obstacles that are very beneficial for skating and the development of skating skills.

The skatepark provides benches, picnic tables, and shades for skaters to enjoy. It also has washrooms and kitchen facilities nearby.

Essential Points about Skateboarding.

1. Use Helmet
2. Use Protective Gear. 
3. Dog Sledding in Barrie.

Dog Sledding is one of the best winter activities you can do in Barrie at Windrift Kennel.

This adventure involves exploring snowy trails while being pulled by a team of Alaskan Huskies. Windrift Kennel offers one-hour, half-day, and Full-Day Tours. The one-hour tour is best for beginners, while others offer longer rides through various terrains.

It’s the best way to enjoy the winter landscape in Barrie.

FAQs.

Conclusion.

After reading this article, I hope you are well-known about fun things to do in Barrie . Its a small city in Ontario full of adventures and best for tourism.

In this article, I discuss multiple things to do here with reviews and photos. I like rock climbing at Alt-Rock, and I recommend you visit Heritage Estate Winery in Barrie.