Posted 31 Jul, 2019
Cottage Country Destinations near Barrie
Living in Barrie has more advantages than you think. Sure, it’s got amazing living conditions, beautiful scenery, incredible amenities, and a great new townhome development, but there’s one other hidden benefit that not many people know about. Barrie is awesome because it places you close to the most gorgeous selection of cottage country areas anywhere in the world.
Barrie is uniquely positioned as the gateway to the north. Nestled snugly into the side of Lake Simcoe, it’s a conduit through which most cottage-goers from the city will pass through to reach their ultimate lake-side destination.
So, in the spirit of this marvellous fact, we’ve put together a list of all the best cottage country areas Barrie puts within your reach.
Majestically Green Muskoka Cottages
Although its current form looks far different from its heyday in the 70s and 80s, the Muskoka Lakes have long been a staple cottage destination for many fun-loving lake-dwellers. Sitting among the stony shoulders of the mighty Precambrian shield, the billowing leaves of dense coniferous forests, and the gently blowing winds of summer fun, Muskoka is a favoured cottage destination for many. While its properties have been significantly developed in the last 30 years, and the shores now resemble the over-built remains of a cottage-mansion contest held between all the residents of the lake, it still holds a natural charm that remains uniquely its own.
Renting a cottage for a weekend on Lake Muskoka is now easier and more accessible than ever thanks to the advent of online booking apps and all the various services that exist. Owning a cottage on Lake Muskoka, however, will likely require a substantial conglomeration of resources on your part. But, if the price tag isn’t an issue and you don’t mind having a few neighbours, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cottage country more serene or beautiful.
Gorgeously Pristine Georgian Bay Cottages
If you were to continue to drive on past Muskoka on your journey north, you soon find yourself among the starkly beautiful shores of Georgian Bay. This area usually finds itself frequented by a hardier sort of cottager, the kind who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty, doing some heavy lifting and taking the path less travelled.
As it’s an archipelago cottage destination, island cottaging is just as common as its mainland counterpart. Georgian Bay is technically part of Lake Huron (one of the great lakes) and as such, it contains a much larger volume and surface area of water than most other cottage country locales. This means more space for your dollar, more beauty per square foot, and a reduced human presence when compared to other cottage country destinations.
Haliburton and Huntsville Cottages
For all those who believe that cottaging should remain pure and separate from the overabundance of extreme development and all the latest trends, you may want to turn your gaze to the both the Haliburton and Huntsville areas. These are cottage countries you’ll find slightly off the beaten path, where a vast collection of smaller lakes reside.
These areas are perfect for people who prefer the quiet and comfort of a quaint lake-side setting over the hustle and bustle of more populated lakes. Typically, both renting and ownership are more affordable than the Muskokas, and while it’s somewhat more of a longer drive than these other areas, it is certainly worth the time and effort once you’re sitting beside a quiet lake where the only sound you hear is the soft lapping of waves upon the shore.
Lovely Lake Simcoe Cottages
This is where living in Barrie really pays off, at least in terms of access to your paradisiacal cottage spot. Lake Simcoe boasts a huge number of gorgeous cottage properties that are practically right in your backyard. Peppered along the substantial shores of your nearby Lake Simcoe, these cottages often see a consistent flow of boaters, and vacationers gracing its choppy waters, but don’t let that dissuade you. The lake itself is so big that there’s plenty of room for everybody, and such a large unified body of water makes it easy to navigate with even a rudimentary knowledge of the area.
Cottages in this area tend to occupy the mid ranges in terms of price point for both renting and buying, but, at least when it comes to renting, there are always several highly affordable options.