Thinking of making a change in the new year? Want to get out of the rat race…but not too far away? Sick of your small town, but don’t want to be overwhelmed in a big city? Barrie has the best of both worlds. Read more to find out why!!
- The Waterfront. Kempenfelt Bay, as part of Lake Simcoe, is a main attraction for locals and visitors alike. Not only is it safe to swim here, you can fish in summer AND winter! Seeing ice fishing huts scattered throughout Kempenfelt Bay is an amazing sight. It is also the site for many festivals, including the ever-popular Kempenfest, the Barrie Waterfront Festival, and Barrie’s CaribFest! These summer festivals bring thousands of people to our fair city which is a testament to how attractive our waterfront is.
- Year-Round Activities. Lots of cities and towns have plenty of activities to do throughout the non-snowy months, but very few have the opportunity to include just about everyone in winter activities. In warmer weather, you can go biking, hiking, rollerblading on the boardwalk, or just go for a walk on the water and get an ice cream cone! In winter, the possibilities are almost as endless. As I mentioned before, head down to Kempenfelt Bay for some ice fishing, or if you’re into something more high energy, how about some kite-boarding?! Drive 10 minutes out of town for some snowmobiling, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on the Oro Rail Trail. Drive a little bit longer for downhill skiing at Horseshoe or Moonstone!
- Great Restaurants & Shopping. I love our downtown restaurants and shopping. We have great independent business owners. If it’s fine dining you want, check out Michael & Marion’s, At the Five, or North. Want a pub atmosphere? Try Donaleigh’s! You can find live music at Kenzington, Manhattan’s or see bigger names at The Mansion. And if you’re looking for Indian food or sushi, you’ll find it in Barrie. We have great boutiques for shopping downtown, and the Georgian Mall is there for all your shopping needs. Rarely do I have to go to Toronto to shop for myself or for gifts. The Paper Merchant has beautiful stationary and gifts for any occasion.
- Small-Town Feel, Close to Big City. It’s not very often I go downtown or to the mall or to a restaurant where I don’t run into someone I know…and I’ve only lived here for a few years. Barrie’s a great city to make connections – everyone knows everyone! We have the new Mady Centre for the Performing Arts for live performances, but for bigger productions you can still head to Toronto for an evening at the opera or to see the TSO, or even commute to work while you’re looking for a job here.
- Affordable Housing. If you’re coming from Toronto, you know that buying a home in the City is very difficult for most people. On average, you’ll probably need to spend half a million dollars to get a very average home. The average price for a home in Barrie is around $280,000. If you’re just starting out on a single income, you can even find a small condo for well under $200,000. That’s not to say there aren’t beautiful homes here either, but $500,000 will go a lot further here than it will in Toronto. Have a couple million to spend? Get a beautiful estate home in the country or on the water. Check out November’s RBC report on Housing Trends and Affordability to see what’s going on across Canada.
There are so many reasons to make Barrie your home. I’ve lived in lots of different cities in Canada, and I’ve chosen to make Barrie my permanent home. At least come check us out for a weekend, and if you’ve never been here and you’re looking to make a move, I’d be happy to show you around!
