Barrie Outdoor Activities

Since 1994, the bike enthusiasts at Cyclepath have delivered prompt service and knowledgeable advice alongside an extensive inventory of bicycles and parts from top industry brands. Patrons can peruse the racks of bikes by Norco and Devinci or check out the lineup of parts and accessories by Shimano, Axiom, and Topeak. Cyclists in need of service and repairs can employ the expertise of the in-house mechanics. These cycling savants provide owners with a free estimate and a full run-down of the work that’s needed, ensuring that customers can stay within their budget or realize that it might be time to trade in for a penny-farthing, which costs a penny.

At County in the City, samples of more than 50 different wines cascade across tongues to introduce them to some of the most beguiling flavours of Prince Edward County, a major part of the Ontario wine scene that Wine Spectator magazine dubbed the "world's least-known great wine zone." Approximately 20 small-batch and family-owned wineries will showcase their bottled arsenal throughout the evening, including many vintage and specialty wines that cannot be found on store shelves. Since it's illegal to deny possums housing in your wine cellar if it's empty, the event helps guests out by offering a Try and Buy program, which lets them sign up to have favourite selections shipped directly to their doorsteps.

The best climbing gyms have a strong sense of community, and Toronto Climbing Academy's diverse group of beginner and expert climbers engender an encouraging atmosphere throughout the gym. With 11 distinct climbing areas, climbing walls that simulate real-world climbs, and scaling route difficulty, the vast academy accommodates climbing styles of all types. Inverted caves are a siren's call to skilled boulderers, while large holds and 120 extended routes challenge beginners and experts alike. Training tools such as a campus wall—a wall that works only the arms—supplement workouts between climbs. The gym's classes prepare novices for tougher routes with lessons in the fundamentals.

Tour de Green Belt weaves waves of participants through Rouge Park, a scenic stretch of Ontario's Greenbelt. Originally established as a fresh-air festival on wheels, the event has since amended its "Bikes Rule, Feet Drool" decree to include hikers and joggers, as well. Multiple cycling and running routes provide majestic views of the area's natural terrain, and designated stops along those routes encourage further exploration. At Bob Hunter Memorial Park, cyclists celebrate a Canadian environmental hero, and at a newly created wetland, racers can snag cups of water at rest stations or sip from marshy puddles just like the original marathon runners of old. Once across the finish line, participants gather to mingle and refuel on a freshly prepared lunch crafted from locally sourced foods.

Vaughan Sportsplex sprawls its diversified athletic facilities across a 20,000-square-foot plot of land on Woodbridge's Westcreek Drive. Competitive and recreational athletes report to three indoor sports fields to engage in myriad sports from friendly touch football sessions on FIFA-rated X-Treme turf to more unique diversions such as full-field Nerf dart lazer tag. Vaughan Sportsplex also organizes league competition open to nearly all ages and skill levels, including adult competition in co-ed volleyball or men's soccer as well as kids' leagues in floor hockey and competitive sand-castle demolition.

Surrounded on all sides by graffiti art and exposed brick, 416 Skateboards' indoor skate park gives skaters space to launch themselves off of wooden ramps, leap from one ledge to the next, slither down a railed incline, or practice walking down stairs. Between battles with gravity, guests can consume pop, hot dogs, and chips at the snack bar. A staff of seasoned instructors—including Tom DiMaio, an avid skater who holds certification in first aid and CPR—stands by, ready to help novices find their footing during one-on-one and group lessons and summer camps.