There’s lots to see and do here in Ontario – heck, Simcoe County alone offers a smorgasbord of experiences which come alive in the summer. And this Friday morning, Barrie’s Travel Information Centre, just off the highway at Mapleview, will be grabbing the bullhorn and letting the whole world know.
The travel centre’s open house runs from 6 in the morning till 1 in the afternoon, with all kinds of fun activities to provide a taste of what summer is all about.
Kevin Forget is the promotion officer with the Barrie office, and tells BarrieToday folks want adventure with their summer vacations.
“It’s true they want time to just chill and relax, but more than that, they want experiences. So, folks coming into the office ask about resorting on the water, camping… also things like zip-lining, obstacle courses, all sorts of hands-on things they can do.”
Forget also points to one popular venue just north of Barrie.
“Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons is a spot where lots of people visited as youngsters – school trips and all that – but may not have been back to since. So it’s one of those ‘hidden gems’,” that central Ontario can boast to tourists from across the border… or even to ourselves.
This being Canada’s 150th birthday, there will also be some lacrosse-related activities, at Sainte-Marie and during Friday’s open house.
“After all, it’s where lacrosse started,” Forget points out about Canada’s national summer sport.
The open house takes place on a P.A. day for kids, and the office hopes to draw a number of them, giving them a glimpse of what they and their parents can see and do this summer.
“We’ll have an inflatable slide,” among other items at the open house.
Tourism has benefited from local residents wanting to stay in their own backyard, but also from American visitors trekking across the border with their stronger U.S. dollars, asking at the booth about resorting and camping, “that unique thing to do,” says Forget.
For starters, he points out the newly-constructed man-made lake at Horseshoe Resort. It’s set to open in July for swimming and other water-related activity.
The Weather Network will also be at the travel centre doing live hits throughout the morning.
The travel centre is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 21 Mapleview Dr. East, just off Highway 400. To learn more, click here.
