Family Activities
With so many exciting events and attractions, a visit to Barrie is guaranteed fun for kids of all ages! Below are some ideas to help you plan a fun-filled day in Barrie.
AGES 0 TO 5 YEARS OLD
A great way to spend time on a warm sunny day is to pack some snacks and head for a walk with strollers and all, to
Springwater Park. Springwater Park’s W.R. Wilson Children’s Interpretive Trail is a 1.5 kilometer paved trail that takes you to a wildlife viewing area with live wolves, bears, foxes, birds and more. Your kids can run free and as fast as their little legs can carry them. Bring their tricycles and get some exercise running after them. After your picnic, your family can enjoy the playground, horseshoe pits and open space. Enjoy the perfect summer day.
Another beloved outing with family and friends is the
Elmvale Jungle Zoo. This is where kids can feed and pet the kid-friendly animals and see them up close. The zoo is not too big and not too small; it is just perfect for families with kids ranged from 0 to 12 years of age (and for us older folks too). You will cherish all the photos and memories of your visit to the Elmvale Zoo for a lifetime.
Take the kids to the beach, park and playground at
Barrie’s Centennial Beach. Spend a day watching your kids play in the sand, cool off in Kempenfelt Bay and play for hours on the swings and slides. You and the family can walk, cycle, in-line skate and run around the beautiful paved 3.5 kilometer path that wraps around the Bay. After all that fresh clean air, you will be ready to go for a nap too.
The best place to be on a hot summer day is at
Barrie’s Splash Pad in Heritage Park. Your kids will love to cool off in the stream of water squirting out of the sprinklers.
Chappell Farms was made for family fun! Your kids will love visiting Chappell Farms during their Spring and Fall Festivals. Halloween is not the same with a visit to the kid-friendly Boo Barn, Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. Even mom and dad can get in a good scare at the Haunted Barn or finding their way out of the maze. Don’t forget the camera!
AGES 6 TO 12 YEARS OLD
Both girls and boys will love
Treetop Trekking at Horseshoe Resort. Kids will experience a special interactive game circuit made just for them.
After swinging around in the trees you can make your way to
Shanty Bay Go Karts and Mini-Putt. Show off your driving skills around the track or take your best shot through a mini-putt course.
On a hot summer day, be the hero and take your kids over to
Splash Canyon. Cool off with the kids as they splash around the spray areas, jump waves in the tidal pool and play on the water slides all day. Don’t tell the older kids, but there is much to see and do for the kids under 6 too. Find a shady spot for you to put your feet up and read a book.
If you like add a little knowledge and culture to your day, head over to
Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons and
Discovery Harbour. The kids will learn some history and have loads of fun exploring Sainte-Marie, the 17th century Jesuit mission headquarters to the Huron people, and Discovery Harbour, a 19th Century British naval base built to defend Upper Canada. Check their websites for special events and highlights taking place throughout the season. Also, just next door to Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is the
Wye Marsh, where you can take a tour with the kids.
Hit the road or go off-road for a family cycling adventure that you won’t soon forget. Or, take the family on a more challenging mountain biking trail through the Greater Barrie area. ”
Born to Ride” will take you there!
Born to Ride is Barrie’s newest Cycling Tour & Trails Adventures. They will rent and tour you through spectacular trails in and around Barrie. Take your family on a personalized 3 hour guided tour with Peter Armstrong, right from your hotel room. Tour and bike rental packages start at $43 per person. You can also rent a bike starting at $14.50 per hour. Specialized Custom Group Tours available. Visit
www.borntoridebicycle.ca or email:
info@borntoridebicycle.ca.
Rounds Ranch is open all season long with activities that are good for all ages. Let your older kids try navigating the huge and very fun Corn Maze which peaks in September. The whole family will have so much fun as you run around the maze to find your way out.
Bring your family to Barrie during one of our events and festivals! Explore our monthly
Festivals & Events here.