Love this place! Gives you access to the water directly and the view? STUNNING!…read more Always a great spot to catch a good sunset. Mostly usually less crowded so that's a plus too.

Today we went to Lake Simcoe public beaches. But calling them "public" is a stretch. Local people…read morehave taken over the beaches, placing heavily armed police to guard the parking areas and not allowing anyone they don't recognize. The "public" parking was half full, and they let in people they recognized but not strangers. The police were nasty, very aggressive, and threatened us. When I stopped a few times on the shoulders and entered one of their members-only parking lots to let my daughter use the washroom, they sent a police trooper in a vehicle to escort us from Simcoe County. This is the first time I was afraid for my life in Canada. Worse, this is funded by our tax money to defend public property from the public.

It is a nice quiet intimate Beach. I love that the shore is sand but I hated that the minute you…read moreenter the water it's all rocks. So I would suggest bringing water shoes They have a lifeguard that was out and watching and they have the shallow area and a deeper area sectioned off The beach is right behind the bike path so you can bike or go for a walk on the trail if you wanted to Parking is $10 an hour which I do feel is a bit extreme and when I arrived the parking attendant was giving out tickets so they do monitor whether or not you are paying for your parking Overall it's okay but for me I absolutely hate rocks in the water that was very uncomfortable for me even if I had shoes I would still feel all the pebbles under my feet and combined with the overpriced parking I would not go back

Great little beach! This one is located on the north side of…read moreKempenfelt Bay, which is part of Lake Simcoe off to the east. It's down a bit of a hill from the road, and you'll see a parking lot on the right which is where you park. While you can continue to drive down to the beach, there is no parking and you would be blocking emergency vehicles in the event of a problem. The bathrooms are pretty good here and there were lots of people on that warm and windy day in August. This is a great spot to keep in mind when in Barrie as it's close to downtown.

The good: Playground is really creative him for the kids…read more Pirate ship, lighthouse climbing tower to a slide and a zip line next to it. There's a small water pump play area into sand which gets super muddy, great for sensory play and bad for parents when they get back to the car. There's a board walk that you can easily stroll a sleeping tot around into the forested area that has beautiful fairy lights changing colour. There's shade brings relief in the heated summer. Lots of fun for kids. The long board walk beside the waters edge is a nice way to enjoy the afternoon. It slopes towards an unpatrolled beach where the waves roll in. Small restaurant has fast food on one side and ice cream on the next. Decent prices still considering there's nothing around by foot. Washrooms are clean but need a facelift. The bad: PARKING! Locals have a parking pass to avoid stress and get better spots. The town seems to not encourage outsiders with their hefty downtown Toronto parking prices. There's no street parking now and signs everywhere, so you're forced to pay at the meter and scan your license plate and QR code or the meter maid will be looking for you.

One of the most beautiful places in the Collingwood and Blue Mountains. Great place to just relax…read morein a quiet atmosphere. We went there for just about an hour. There is a view of the mountains as well but not really that amazing. When we went, it was cloudy and windy as well. I guess due to no structures blocking it, generally, it may be very windy here which might need to be factored in before going there (clothing etc).

Small beach off the beaten path…read more Minet's Point Park is a quiet beach in Barrie situated south of Centennial Park across the Kempenfelt Bay. We chose to come here for our annual beach trip as the other beach is always packed with festivities and crowds in summer. In contrast, this beach was quiet this past weekend with a good amount of beach space. There are a few picnic tables and a large kids playground with a few features similar to those at the bigger park. No BBQ is permitted. The beach is unsupervised but there is a buoyed area. Windsurfers were launching nearby while ducks roamed about. The only downside is the expensive parking at $15 hourly and $60 max for the day. Street parking is by permit only. Skip it or hit it? For a quieter beach day, this is a decent pick in Barrie.

Minet's Point Park is a city park with a beach included. It…read moreis unsupervised, so use at your own risk. Alongside the kids swimming area, marked with buoys, there is a boat launch used by kayakers and made it fun to watch as you laze around the waterfront. The parking lot is right there, in direct view of the beach which is outstanding. A treed field adjoins the parking lot so nature is right there to greet you as you step out of your vehicle and take in the greenery. There is even a small picnic area that can accommodate the party grillers in the crowd, the ones that make everyone jealous with their delicious smelling griddles. As if that weren't enough to make this spot super family friendly, there is a young kids play structure directly behind the beach to top it off. There are some stones mixed in with the sand here, and some can't handle that so if it bothers you, then bring crocks or something to wear into the water. The swimming was good here with clean water and just a few waves that day from power boats going by. The bathroom is located further away near the park entrance, and the mens side at least was filthy and stank. You should avoid going in unless you have to. The view is nice looking at the north side of Barrie, with a side view of the end of Kempenfelt Bay, the harbour front downtown area with all the action happening. Nice view!

Good n clean beach , less crowded ! Missing Timmy's here…read more............... Parking is $3/hr

Good clean very well maintained beach With Kayak paddling and other water sports Not very crowded…read more In fact an excellent place to go with kids Excellent the water slides for kids The parking is $3 per hour not bad The beach was full of people with life guards and Not overly crowded though Great a safe beach and very beautiful The only drawback being their washrooms which were badly maintained with toilet paper all over the floor messy seats etc A must visit with family

The parking lot is a short walk to the sandy beach. There are some rocks when entering the lake but…read morethey aren't a problem if you wear water shoes. The water is shallow and safe. In June the water is cold but your body will adapt quickly on a warm day. Power boats aren't allowed in the roped off swimming area. There are picnic tables and a general store that sells fast food and souvenirs. The bathrooms are fairly clean with flush toilets, sinks and mirrors. The park also has change rooms. They offer educational sessions for children at certain times. The only thing keeping me from giving this provincial park 5 stars is the reservation process. Once you reserve a day pass, you can't get a refund if the weather forecast changes to cold or rainy and you can't even move your reservation to another date. So your money is lost. But if you don't reserve in advance for a Saturday or Sunday in the summer, there's a chance they will be full. The website doesn't give a price for seniors. There is a discount but it's well hidden.

Sibbald's provincial park is a great place for families. They have activities throughout the summer…read moreteaching kids and families about the different things around the park. A few walking trails. Some nice little fishing holes close by.

This is a review for day-use only, as the park is actually closed for camping during this time of…read morethe year. There are a couple of day-use lots on the outside of the actual park for locals to use, I don't believe you can drive into the park proper to use it for day use. At the time we visited, Orillia was close to peak color, so it was a fantastic time. It was a nice day for a hike, and there were quite a few other people using the park as well -- there's a little beach area in the day use part as well as a playground and places for taking your dog on leash. We went and followed the trails in the park, there seems to be a few that can be used, one in the treeline and one along the lake. You can make a decent little loop of a couple of kilometers. There's nothing incredibly challenging about this little hike, to be honest, but the tree colors make for some gorgeous photos. I'll definitely want to come back and visit here and go camping during the season. A really lovely provincial park!

Couchingching Beach is a nice spot to spend a hot summer day. On a Sunday, I was still able to find…read morea grassy spot to relax, under some shade. Parking is plentiful and close to the beach. There's change rooms, a clean washroom, and a place to buy diner-y foods. For kids, there's a nice play structure and a small train you can ride. Overall, this was a nice beach for those staying in or around Orillia.

The weather was nice, and we wanted to take a nice stroll before we went on our long drive home, so…read moreeven though it was dark, we decided to go for a stroll here. This is a really nice park to go walking at all times of the day. There's a nice boardwalk along the waterfront, and some sandy beaches (which our dog wasn't allowed on, but they looked nice. It was all nicely maintained, with lots of places for trash and recycling, and not much trash to be seen anywhere. There are also plenty of benches for sitting and watching people and the boats on the water. It's also well lit, so walking at night was pleasant. There's also a cycle path that goes through the park, it's part of a larger system of paths that go all the way to Barrie and Midland.

Today we went to Lake Simcoe public beaches. But calling them "public" is a stretch. Local people…read morehave taken over the beaches, placing heavily armed police to guard the parking areas and not allowing anyone they don't recognize. The "public" parking was half full, and they let in people they recognized but not strangers. The police were nasty, very aggressive, and threatened us. When I stopped a few times on the shoulders and entered one of their members-only parking lots to let my daughter use the washroom, they sent a police trooper in a vehicle to escort us from Simcoe County. This is the first time I was afraid for my life in Canada. Worse, this is funded by our tax money to defend public property from the public.

De La Salle Park is pretty good considering how close it is to the city. They have washrooms,…read morevolleyball nets, picnic tables, trees close enough to the water to provide shade, and a walkway on the sand so you don't burn your tender tootsies. It gets busy quick so aim to be there before noon. If they run out of parking spots there is a guy who lives nearby who stands there advertising parking on his driveway for $20/day which is good compared to the $35/day you'll pay at the park on weekends ($7/hour). There are TWO pay stations so don't wait in line for 15 minutes like I did! The facilities were clean and the grounds were well-kept. The water was pretty murky until you get past the swim line, then it is much more clear. The beach was patroled by police and what looked like by-law officers. Overall we had a great time!

Earl Rowe Provincial Park is another Provincial Park in the area that I love to spend a nice Fall…read moreDay at. Why?? Because this park is just deserted! Hardly anyone there. The hiking trails are not as well marked as Bronte Creek, however it is not as big and so even if you do get lost, you always can find your way back! A lot of the dog owners in the area brings their dogs here to swim in the lake. The beach is off bound to dogs during the busy summer months. Though early spring time and fall, they are welcome to take a dip in it! Day Use charges does applies!

My go to, a must, every year, starting around may-early sept my family and i hit earl rowe since…read moreits the most quieter, cleanest , barely no animals just raccoons time to time, and spacious campsite. Around $46 a night, i believe wood is around $8-$11 per large bag so you need 2-3 bags a night if preffered