Winter resort fun for families in Simcoe County and Georgian Bay

Part 1: Horseshoe Resort and Simcoe County

Approximate distance and drive time from Toronto to Barrie: 115 kilometres, 1 hour, 20 minutes

Just over an hour’s drive north of Toronto, Simcoe County offers endless winter fun for families at resorts offering fantastic ski hills and other snow-based activities, skating rinks and indoor adventures for kids in the city of Barrie.

Plan to visit during Barrie Winterfest, an annual celebration of winter with outdoor, arts and cultural events held throughout February.

Horseshoe Valley Resort

Approximate distance and drive time from Barrie: 25 kilometres, 20 minutes

Horseshoe Valley is the ultimate winter resort destination for families with cozy accommodations, onsite dining, an indoor pool and spa services plus a range of kids’ programs and outdoor snow-based activities.

The resort features 29 downhill ski and snowboarding runs, an exciting terrain park, one of Ontario’s best snow tubing hills and 30 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails. There’s also fat biking and snowshoeing available.

Check out the Winter Adventure Package for a great deal on accommodations, downhill lift tickets, cross-country trail and snow tube pass, plus trail passes and rentals for snowshoeing and fat biking.

Location: 1101 Horseshoe Valley Road West, Barrie

More snow-based adventures

Explore exciting outdoor activities in and around Barrie within a short drive from Horseshoe Valley Resort. 

Hardwood Ski and Bike

Hardwood Ski and Bike offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking on well-groomed trails. The facility is excellent for families with tweens and teenagers.

Location: 402 Old Barrie Road West, Oro Station

Snow Valley Ski Resort

Located in Minesing, just a sixteen-minute drive west of Barrie, Snow Valley Ski Resort caters to families looking to enjoy winter sports. Take lessons in skiing or snowboarding from experienced instructors or hit the slopes at your own pace.

Location: 2632 Vespra Valley Road, Minesing

Mount St. Louis Moonstone

Approximately a 20-minute drive north of Barrie, the Mount St. Louis Moonstone ski resort features a range of ski hills suitable for beginner and expert skiers and snowboarders.

Location: R.R.4, 24 Mount St. Louis Road West, Coldwater

Outdoor skating rinks in Barrie

Barrie operates several outdoor ice rinks throughout the winter, including the Circle at the Centre Ice Rink at City Hall and the Heritage Park Pond Rink in Heritage Park. Ice skate rentals are available at the Centre Ice Rink.

Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre

Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is a 1,214-hectare nature preserve located 40 minutes drive north of Barrie. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and even animal tracking.

Location: 16160 Highway 12 East, Midland

Fun indoor activities nearby

Balance your outdoor activities with indoor fun at these family-friendly locations.

X-PLAY Amusements & Trampoline Park

Featuring a two-level laser tag arena, games and foam pits, airbags, and trampolines, this amusement park is perfect for kids to burn off excess energy.

Location: 30 North Village Way #5, Barrie

Alt. Rock

Explore the sport of indoor rock climbing and bouldering with carefully designed climbing terrain with various holds, angles and features for all ages and skill levels.

Location: 445 Dunlop Street West Unit A, Barrie

Bowlerama

Plan a bowling night! State-of-the-art lanes, neon lights and a lively atmosphere offer a complete entertainment experience.

Location: 320 Bayfield Street, Barrie

Family-friendly restaurants in Barrie

After a busy day of winter discovery and indoor fun, enjoy a delicious meal at a family-friendly restaurant.

Danny’s Fish and Chips

This family-owned business has perfected its homemade batter recipe and fresh-cut fries.

Location: 411 Huronia Road, Barrie

The Farmhouse Restaurant

Enjoy a casual family meal with views of Lake Simcoe. The menu features Canadian classics, including P.E.I. mussels, Atlantic salmon, black bean veggie burgers and pulled pork grilled cheese sandwiches.

Location: 268 Bradford Street, Barrie

The Sweet Oven

Don’t miss the best butter tarts in Canada! Made with high-quality ingredients from scratch, these quintessential Canadian treats are available in various flavours.

Location: 90 Park Place Boulevard Unit #2, Barrie

Part 2: Blue Mountain Resort and Georgian Bay

Approximate distance and drive time from Barrie: 66 kilometres, 1 hour

West of Simcoe County, the snowy hills of Blue Mountain offer more winter adventure and classic Ontario resort experiences. Natural beauty and year-round outdoor activities attract visitors to the scenic region nestled along the shores of Georgian Bay.

In winter, the iconic Blue Mountain Resort is a hub for skiing, snowboarding and other snow-based activities. Nearby, the charming Blue Mountain Village and the town of Collingwood offer dining, shopping and entertainment.

Blue Mountain Resort

Ontario’s premier family-friendly winter destination features 43 ski and snowboard trails, terrain parks, night skiing, ice skating on the Woodview Mountaintop loop and a thrilling mountain rollercoaster.

Beyond the slopes, the vibrant cobblestone Blue Mountain Village offers cozy après-ski dining, special events, spa experiences and more. Accommodation options range from hotel rooms and lodge-style suites to chalets and cottages.

Location: 156 Jozo Weider Boulevard, The Blue Mountains

Things to do nearby

Find more outdoor adventures and unique experiences nearby. 

Scenic Caves Nature Adventures

A labyrinth of caves and crevices on the Niagara Escarpment, this attraction features a 125-metre suspension bridge overlooking Georgian Bay and the surrounding forest. There are also well-marked trails to explore by snowshoe or on cross-country skis.

Best for families with tweens and teenagers.

Location: 260 Scenic Caves Road, The Blue Mountains

Apple Pie Trail

Follow the Apple Pie Trail from Blue Mountain Village to the surrounding communities of Craigleith, Beaver Valley, Thornbury and Meaford. The trail celebrates its rich apple-growing region and the local producers who welcome you to their apple orchards, cider houses, wineries, bakeries, restaurants, markets and more.

Location: Southern Georgian Bay

Central Park Skating Arena

Drop by the outdoor rink at Central Park in Collingwood for a free skate. Check the weekly schedule for “open skate” to enjoy unsupervised leisure skating.

Location: 250 Hume Street, Collingwood

Family-friendly dining

From dining options at Blue Mountain Village to restaurants, cafes and more along the Apple Pie Trail, you’ll find great local food that will satisfy everyone’s cravings.

Thornbury Bakery Café

A main street landmark serving fresh coffees and pastries, a full breakfast and light lunch.

Location: 12 Bruce Street South, Thornbury

The Pottery Restaurant

This cozy, rustic restaurant features delicious Eastern European dishes highlighting ingredients harvested from the Georgian Bay region.

Location: 110 Jozo Weider Boulevard, The Blue Mountains

Firehall Pizza Co.

Firehall Pizza Co. is a spacious Italian pizzeria overlooking the plaza in the centre of Blue Mountain Village. It serves classic pizza, chicken alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs and more.

Location: 162 Jozo Weider Boulevard, The Blue Mountains

Kaytoo Restaurant and Bar

A go-to, family-friendly spot for burgers, fish and chips, steak frites, stir-fry and more.

Location: 176 Jozo Weider Boulevard, The Blue Mountains

The Smoke

The Smoke combines specialty brines and seasonings with traditional barbecue, such as smoked ribs, beef brisket and pulled pork, to create delicious, barbecued dishes.

Location: 498 First Street, Collingwood

Bent Taco

Savour fresh and flavourful Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos and quesadillas.

Location: 48 Pine Street, Collingwood

Getting here and around

This itinerary is best travelled by car.

By land

Barrie in Simcoe County is about an hour and a half drive from Toronto via Highway 400 North. The Blue Mountains in the southern Georgian Bay area is another hour’s drive west along Highway 26.

For visitors from the U.S., the closest border crossing is the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, New York, which connects to Fort Erie, Ontario. From Fort Erie, the drive is approximately two hours (80 kilometres/112 miles) northwest to Barrie.

Alternatively, from Michigan, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge (connecting Detroit, Michigan to Windsor, Ontario) is between a three and four-hour drive (360 kilometres/224 miles).

Check border wait times and find out what you need to cross the border into Canada.

By air

Most flights into Toronto land at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), approximately 30 kilometres (18 miles) northwest of the city centre. Several major car rental companies operate at Pearson Airport Terminal 1.

Know before you go

Equipment rentals and lessons

Most winter resorts in Ontario will provide equipment rentals, which often can be reserved in advance. In addition, many also offer ski and snowboarding lessons at various skill levels. Not all public skating rinks have rental services; check in advance before you visit.

Weather

Ontario is a four-season destination. Learn more about the weather in Ontario and get suggestions on what to pack and how to prepare for a winter trip to Georgian Bay.

Useful information about Ontario

Find out about currency, measurements, public holidays and other helpful things to know about Ontario.

Safety information

Emergencies aren’t always the first thing we consider when planning a vacation, but knowing who to contact in an emergency is important. 

Ontario Tourism Information Centre

Contact our travel counsellors to help you plan and book your trip to Ontario. You can also visit in-person at the Barrie Travel Information Centre located at 21 Mapleview Drive East.

Land acknowledgements

Barrie, Collingwood and Blue Mountain Village lie on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg peoples, which includes the Ojibwe, Odawa and Pottawatomi nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. The historical presence of the Wendat Nation and the Tionontati people of the Wyandot Nation in this region is also recognized.