Romantic Barrie, Ontario
Barrie has yet again been voted the most romantic city in Ontario and it’s not difficult to see why. The waterfront and the marina attracts many people. Watching the waters of Kempenfelt Bay and the lazy boats plying the waters from this vantage point is certainly romantic.
The bay is not all about romance, though. The Serendipity Princess attracts 40,000 people to cruise along the bay every year and brings visitors around the beautiful city and the local landmarks. The Serendipity Princess is an experience in itself, since it’s a paddle wheeler that has three decks with a patio on the top level that fits 260 passengers every trip.
A plus with the waters of the bay? It’s so clean that you can swim in it, fish in it, or boat in it. You can do just about anything in it.
There’s something happening every week in Barrie, be it an art exhibit, a theater performance, or a live band coming out.
The nightlife will keep you up until the wee hours, with solo artists or bands performing in bars and pubs all over the city. When the sun comes up, the museums and the art galleries will keep you busy as well. With the varied offerings that are presented to you, you’ll be sure to find something that you will like.
One museum that contains the history of the first European community in Ontario is Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. It’s the site of a seventeenth century fortress and monastery for the French Jesuit missionaries. After ten years, the Jesuits were forced to burn their home and leave.
The original site has now been recreated according to the findings of archeological research and the complex of twenty five buildings is open to the public. You can take part in presentations that were common in the seventeenth century, including historical cooking, candle making, clothing and medicine, and storytelling, among others. Souvenirs of this unusual museum are available at a beautiful gift shop.