| As much as I love the city (Toronto, that | | | | through downtown Barrie, I reconnected with |
| is), every once in a while I gotta get away | | | | my sister-in-law and my nephew next to the |
| and a few weeks ago I came up with the idea | | | | Spirit Catcher on the waterfront. Yolande and |
| of a little winter weekend getaway with my | | | | Jazz had met a young German exchange student |
| sister-in-law Yolande and my nephew Jazz. So | | | | by the name of Martin who is currently |
| I started surfing around the Internet to see | | | | completing a degree in Environmental |
| where we could go, and since I didn't want to | | | | Technology in Germany and managed to arrange |
| spend several hours driving, I settled on a | | | | an international coop assignment in a small |
| destination just about an hour outside of | | | | town north of Barrie.We had a fabulous |
| Toronto: I came up with the city of Barrie | | | | conversation and Martin mentioned how tough |
| whose surrounding areas include several ski | | | | it was to realize his dream of completing an |
| resorts.Yesterday was a gorgeous day, and at | | | | international coop program in Canada. But he |
| plus 8 degrees Celsius certainly not a | | | | succeeded and is spending 9 weeks here in |
| typical Canadian winter day. After checking | | | | Ontario. He said he loves the country and is |
| in at our overnight retreat, the Nicholyn | | | | taken in by the Canadian mentality. Of |
| Farms Bed and Breakfast just 15 minutes | | | | course, he also plans to explore Toronto, |
| outside of Barrie, we drove downtown to | | | | Montreal, Ottawa, Niagara Falls and New York |
| explore this growing city of 125,000 which is | | | | City during his short 9-week stint here in |
| located right on the shores of Lake Simcoe on | | | | Canada. Martin told us that at his young age |
| Kempenfelt Bay.Although our plans to go | | | | he had already travelled to 19 different |
| ice-skating fell through, Lake Simcoe was | | | | countries, and no matter where he goes he |
| frozen solid enough so we could take a walk | | | | loves to link up with people from different |
| around Kempenfelt Bay, and like many others | | | | places.And apart from just having a |
| on this gorgeous day we were able to walk and | | | | conversation, Martin, full of youthful energy |
| play on the frozen lake. I started off with a | | | | and mischief, was definitely up for a |
| brief walk through town to capture some of | | | | snowball fight and some horsing around, |
| the essence of this country town that has | | | | something that my 8-year old nephew greatly |
| become a popular bedroom community for | | | | enjoyed. It was fabulous to see the two of |
| commuters to Toronto. The completion of the | | | | them chasing each other on the frozen lake, |
| railroad connecting Barrie to the City of | | | | heaving snow at each other and laughing their |
| York (now Toronto) in 1865 and the | | | | heads off. On one hand there was blond and |
| construction of Highway 400 in the 1950s were | | | | blue-eyed Martin from Germany and on the |
| critical events that promoted this city's | | | | other there was my brown-skinned nephew of |
| growth. With its proximity to both Toronto | | | | Trinidadian heritage. Two total strangers, |
| and Ontario's Lakelands and 4-season resorts, | | | | from totally different backgrounds and |
| Barrie is ideally positioned for a quick | | | | cultures, connecting through fun and outdoor |
| winter getaway.[SAFETY WARNING: Please ensure | | | | activities. It doesn't get any better than |
| that you obey all weather warnings when | | | | that....After Martin had left, we continued |
| venturing out on frozen lakes. This year the | | | | our walk on Lake Simcoe and enjoyed our time |
| winter has been particularly mild and every | | | | in the warm sunshine like all the other |
| year several people fall through the ice and | | | | people on the frozen lake until the sun |
| drown. Please make sure that the ice is safe | | | | slipped down beneath the horizon.We took in |
| before you venture out on the lake!]In close | | | | the activities and watched float planes land |
| proximity to Barrie are 2 winter resorts, | | | | and take off, we watched the dog walkers, the |
| Horseshoe Valley Resort and Snow Valley, and | | | | ATV riders, even mountain bikers on the lake, |
| not much further away are Blue Mountain / | | | | and glanced at the ice-fishing huts in the |
| Collingwood (Ontario's largest ski resort) | | | | distance on the other side of the bay. One |
| and Mount St. Louis Moonstone. The forests | | | | young boy was playing catch with his father, |
| and lakes around Barrie offer plenty of | | | | and with real Canuck determination, was |
| opportunities for hiking, cross-country | | | | dressed in shorts. He figured +8 degrees |
| skiing and snow-mobiling. Its proximity to | | | | Celsius was enough to break out the summer |
| Georgian Bay, one of Ontario's favourite | | | | garb. That's the true Canadian spirit!Useful |
| getaway areas, makes Barrie a popular travel | | | | links for travel to Barrie: |
| destination close to Toronto. Lake Simcoe | | | | |
| itself is a major hub for | | | | Tourism Barrie |
| ice-fishing.Barrie's downtown is anchored | | | | |
| around Dunlop Street which holds a variety of | | | | Simcoe County Tourism |
| independently owned shops and retail outlets. | | | | |
| Many of the buildings along Dunlop Street | | | | Ontario's Official Travel WebsiteSusanne |
| date back to Victorian times and the city has | | | | Pacher is the publisher of a website called |
| made an effort to preserve and highlight its | | | | Travel and Transitions ( Travel and |
| architectural heritage.Barrie's waterfront is | | | | Transitions deals with unconventional travel |
| dominated by an impressive outdoor sculpture: | | | | and is chock full of advice, tips, real life |
| the Spirit Catcher, which was designed by | | | | travel experiences, interviews with |
| sculptor Ron Baird for the 1986 EXPO in | | | | travellers and travel experts, insights and |
| Vancouver. The sculpture was donated to the | | | | reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests |
| Barrie Gallery Project in 1987 and represents | | | | and many other features. You will also find |
| the Aboriginal People of Canada and the | | | | stories about life and the transitions that |
| Aboriginal myth of the Thunderbird. When the | | | | we face as we go through our own personal |
| Spirit Catcher was erected, it was blessed in | | | | life-long journeys.Submit your own travel |
| a special ceremony by the Rama Native Drum | | | | stories in our first travel story contest ( |
| Group of the Mnijikaning First Nation.In the | | | | and have a chance to win an amazing adventure |
| spirit of human understanding , we had our | | | | cruise on the Amazon River."Life is a Journey |
| own inter-cultural experience. After I | | | | Explore New Horizons". |
| returned from my little photographic tour | | | | |