The best summer ever. That’s what you’re after. We’ve got everything you need for a summer packed with envy-inspiring, shareworthy outdoor adventures. Conquering this list will not only earn you bragging rights, it will make you feel alive. Get to know our backyard and share your adventures with us @
brucegreysimcoe
Go ziplining
Mouth wide open, wind whipping in your hair, red light blinking on your GoPro and your best friend laughing on the zipline beside you; it’s the perfect way to start the summer.
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures in Collingwood lets you ride side-by-side on the Thunderbird Twin Zip Line. Just down the road, Blue Mountain Resort has the
Wind Rider Triple Zips that lets up to 3 riders zip at once. In the Barrie area,
Horsehoe Resort offers ziplining in their summer lineup too.
Conquer the high ropes
60 feet off the ground, legs shaking trying to reach the next obstacle, your friends heckling/cheering you on below. Ropes courses test your limits and make you feel like a full-on hero when you’re done. Blue Mountain is home to two ropes courses, the
Woodlot Low Ropes and the
Timber Challenge High Ropes. Which one you choose depends on how you feel about heights and how much time you’re looking to spend in the treetops.
Horsehoe Resort offers treetop trekking adventure and you can test your boundaries on
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures Eco Adventure Tours. Heading to the Bruce Peninsula? Sauble Beach has a brand new aerial park, called
Ascent Aerial Park opening this summer and in Tobermory, you can check out the
Little Cove Adventures ropes course.
Snorkel a shipwreck
Pack your waterproof camera and go beneath the turquoise waters of Georgian Bay to explore Tobermory’s shipwrecks and the Fathom Five National Marine Park. The best way to start? Check out
The Divers Den in Tobermory for guided snorkelling trips.
Even closer to the GTA, the wreck of the Mary Ward lies off the coast of Craigleith (about 15 minutes west of Collingwood) in the waters of Georgian Bay. Notoriously hard to find,
Free Spirit Tours will guide you here by sea kayak, where you can then snorkel and learn about the wreck.
Bike down a mountain
Let’s face it, pedaling uphill sucks. Going downhill on the other hand is flat-out awesome and adding technical trails through the forest just brings things to another level. Ride the gondola up like a boss before pounding downhill over rocks and roots. The right equipment (a full-suspension bike and a set of good body armour) will have you selling your car on Kijiji for a DH bike.
Horseshoe Resort offers rentals, lessons and some amazing downhill trails.
Climb the Niagara Escarpment
Chalked fingers crammed into the tiniest cracks of the Niagara Escarpment, climbing shoes impossibly gripping the wall, a view for days when you finally remember to look. Sure, your grandma makes you take scenic drives but earning your view after climbing is so much better. Since safely learning to rock climb requires equipment and instruction, there are several great outfitters in the region who can get you going.
Free Spirit Tours based in Collingwood often leads climbing lessons at Metcalfe Rock. Owen Sound’s
At Last Adventures can help you get started at Metcalfe and beyond and accomplished climber Leslie Timms operates
On the Rocks and can help introduce you to the sport.
Take it off-road
Channel your inner braaaaap by adding an engine. The smile on your face as you pick mud out of your nether regions will stay for weeks. BruceGreySimcoe has some great spots to get a taste of the dirt. At Horsehoe Resort (near Barrie), their
Yamaha Adventures program offers both ATV and off-road motorcycle tours and lessons for total beginners and experienced riders.
Closer to Owen Sound, near Williamsford,
MotoPark has a long history in Canadian motocross. They hold races throughout the season for some of the best riders in Ontario but this is also an awesome place to learn to ride. With lessons and rentals available, you can also camp on site and make it a learn-to-ride getaway.
Ready, set, go
The best summer ever awaits so get going. Have questions? Contact us at
info@brucegreysimcoe.com or connect with us on
Facebook,
Instagram and
Twitter or
Youtube