*Video transcription below
Top 5 Reasons to Move to Barrie, Ontario in the Winter
Hi everyone, Rich Fournier from The Fournier Real Estate Team and in this video I am going to share the Top 5 Reasons why you should move to Barrie, Ontario in the Winter Time
~Intro~
Hi Everyone! Rich Fournier here and I am about to share with you the top 5 reasons to move to Barrie, Ontario in the winter. Now, yes Barrie gets more snow than the GTA but that’s what makes it so much fun!! I believe that if it’s going to be cold outside we might as well have snow to enjoy. I promise that if you make the move to Barrie you will love the winter again, just like you did when you were a kid!!
Before we get to our list don’t forget to subscribe to our channel by clicking the subscribe button and click the bell so that you are notified every single time we put up a new video about moving to and living in the Barrie area. Having said that Let’s get to our top 5 list.
NUMBER 1
Number 1 is the amazing proximity to traditional winter activities like skiing! Barrie is literally 20 minutes away from 3 ski resorts: (1) Snow Valley, (2) Mount St. Louis Moonstone and (3) Horseshoe Valley.
Whether you like to ski, snowboard or just hang out in the chalet drinking hot chocolate (or wine lol), these hills have you covered for as much fun as the family can handle! As an added bonus, Snow Valley and Horseshoe Valley also offer snow tubing with special discounted nights to make your winter fun more affordable!
For those of you that would rather stay on flat ground but still want some amazing exercise, you can head over to Hardwood Ski & Bike which is just north of Barrie Hardwood Ski and Bike has over 40 km of beautiful, rolling trails through hardwood and pine forests for cross-country skiing.
NUMBER 2
Number 2 on our list is all the awesome outdoor spaces right in our own city! Visit any neighbourhood in Barrie, and you will find parks, trails, forests and green space to explore. I have three kids and an amazing dog and living literally 2 minutes away from one of the forests inside of barrie, is one of the biggest perks for us as a family. We love that we can walk down the street from our home and be at the entrance to a city forest. Our kids can get up close and personal with nature, whether it be hanging on the bouncy tree or geocaching off the beaten path. It also means your four-legged friends can get out and enjoy the great outdoors as well! Some of our favourite outdoor spots are the Simcoe County Forests, Ardagh Bluffs and Sunnidale Park.
NUMBER 3
Number 3 is Barrie’s beautiful waterfront. It is a pretty spectacular sight to see Kempenfelt Bay dotted with ice huts over the winter months. Just imagine the memories you could make with your family by lounging in a ice hut fishing and drink hot chocolate. For those that would prefer to skate on the ice, Heritage Park and Centennial Park, both along the waterfront, offer public skating.
If you’d rather enjoy a leisurely stroll with some hot chocolate, Barrie has over 6.5 kms of mostly flat trails along the waterfront to take in the snow-covered lake views.
One of the really spectacular pros of living in Barrie is that there are always festivals and events in the city and winter is no exception! Barrie’s Winterfest is routinely named one of Ontario’s top 100 Festivals and is designed with the whole family in mind. They offer snow sculpture displays, chainsaw ice carvers, inflatable slides, wagon rides and much more! Additionally, Downtown Barrie hosts New Year’s Eve festivities with fireworks, Canadian Musical Talent and Kid-friendly celebrations.
NUMBER 4
Number 4 on the list is – Barrie’s bustling downtown, filled with unique shops and restaurants. And there is probably not a better time to wander down Dunlop street than just before Christmas when shop owners decorate their windows and offer holiday inspired menus.
My advice, park downtown in one of the many parking locations which are free to city residents and start by grabbing a coffee at Bohemia, which is an eclectic cafe on the main strip. Whether you are tackling your Christmas shopping list at J’Adore, a cheese and chocolate lovers paradise or just escaping for a mid-day print at flying monkeys brewery you’ll find something to draw you in.
Restaurant wise, Barrie’s downtown boasts an incredible range of dining options, from casual spots like the Lazy Tulip, The Grilled Cheese Social Eatery and Donaleigh’s Pub to fancier fair like the Painter’s Hall or The North. You’ll also find vegan grub at Valiant’s or delicious Indian foot at Tara’s Indian Cuisine.
NUMBER 5
Finally, number 5 is as local as it gets. No matter where you live in Barrie, a toboggan hill and a hot chocolate spot are never very far away. Whether you are near the downtown core (Hillcrest Public School), in Holly (ardagh Bluffs) or in Sunnidale (Sunnidale park), there are hills to be found. Amazingly, Barrie is also home to more than 30 volunteer-maintained outdoor skating rinks!
So whether you want to stay close to home, or venture out, Barrie is a thriving community in the winter, set up for family fun.
We’d love to show you some of our favorite spots here in the Barrie area! So if you are considering moving to Barrie in the Winter, Call/text or email us right away to start your home search and we promise to make your transition as easy as possible. We work with tonnes of people who are moving up to Barrie and we want to make you as happy as possible.