TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL | Top 10,000 Places to Visit in Canada
Page Created by Brynn Hofsted & Alexandria Wright | Red River College 
| Photo: William Henry Grubbe, Barrie on Lake Simcoe, October 1853
The Spirit Catcher, situated on Barrie’s waterfront, was designed by sculptor Ron Baird for the 1986 EXPO in Vancouver. The Spirit Catcher represents the Aboriginal People of Canada and is influenced by the Aboriginal myth of the Thunderbird.
The 20-tonne Corten steel Spirit Catcher was donated to the Barrie Gallery Project (later the MacLaren Art Centre) in 1987.
Photo: Robert Snache – Spirithands.net from Rama First Nation, CC BY 2.0
The city’s parks, suburban developments and the downtown core are punctuated with art and installations that offer unique markers of place.
Download your copy of the Barrie Public Art Guide today and start your own guided tour around Barrie to experience the magnificent works created to enhance Barrie’s public spaces and connect the community through art.
Photo: Shlosha, 1974; Artist: Kosso Eloul; Stainless Steel
Nine Mile Trail is based on ancient aboriginal trails that occupied the area and was later named Nine Mile Portage, by the British Military in 1812.
Today, the trail is lined with adjacent sidewalks and signs to help guide visitors from beginning to end.
Photo: barrie.ca
The MacLaren art gallery holds over 4,000 pieces of contemporary art from Canada. They focus on highlighting Canadian artists that represent various religious backgrounds and indigenous heritage.
Photo: maclarenart.com
Barrie is located on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, the western arm of Lake Simcoe.
Centennial Beach is the perfect day trip for locals and visitors. People can enjoy a sandy beach, trails, beach volleyball, playground, and the beach is within walking distance from downtown.
Photo: Barrie.ca
Kempenfest is Ontario’s biggest and best waterfront festival. It occurs annually over the August long weekend and features over 400 artisans, an antique show, food demonstrations, children’s activities and live entertainment.
The festival is named after Kempenfelt Bay and began in 1971.
The festival includes a 2000-metre swim across Kempenfelt Bay, leaving from Centennial Beach.
Photo: facebook.com/Kempenfest
With almost 700 Google reviews and a 4.1-star rating, it’s no surprise Hooligans is a spot that people come to Barrie to see.
They pride themselves on their variety of casual dishes with fresh ingredients. The location also offers high-quality televisions for any sporting event and during the warmer months, customers can enjoy their rooftop patio that overlooks Kempenfelt Bay.
Hooligans are open Wednesday – Sunday, 5 pm – 11 pm.
Photo: facebook.com/HooligansRestaurantBarrie
Barrie’s Flashback Diner offers its customers a taste of the old days.
They guarantee amazing service, great food, big portions, and low prices. Their menu offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner and includes pancakes, omelets, burgers, wraps, and more.
Flashback Diner is open every day from 8 am – 3 pm.
Photo: Google Street View
One Forty Seven Italian Cuisine is a go-to for classic Italian dishes.
They offer dine-in services, pickup, and delivery. Their menu includes arancini, barese, gamberetti, stagione, and much more.
Enjoy fantastic sunrises on the shores of Lake Simcoe in Barrie.
You can realize how unique they are in Valery Shatrov’s Facebook account.
Photo: Valery Shatrov
