Many people fell in love with Ontario cottage country after watching the sleeper summer hit Sterling Point. And really, who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by rustic wooden cabins and golden hour sunsets? It’s serving up serious Muskoka lake-life envy. While Sterling Point itself may be a fictional town, the gorgeous Muskoka scenery seen on screen is very real. And thankfully, you don’t have to venture two or three hours deep into cottage country to recreate some of that dreamy lake life. Lake Simcoe has a waterfront escape of its own much closer to Toronto!
Kempenfelt Bay wraps around Barrie’s shoreline, about an hour north of Toronto, and offers sparkling lake views, sandy beaches and gorgeous sunsets. But it has one major advantage over a remote cottage escape: you can get there by GO train, so it’d make a perfect day trip.
Begin the day right on the water at Centennial Beach: it’s one of the main hubs of Barrie’s waterfront and a perfect spot for a swim or a scenic picnic. It connects directly to the city’s shoreline trail, which stretches about 6.7 kilometres, so you can walk or cycle along the bay and admire the wide-open lake views (no private Muskoka dock required). Afterward, rent a jet ski or paddleboard and head out onto Lake Simcoe, or even better, go all zen and soak up the sun while lounging on the sand.
This lakeside escape also comes with a city detour. Downtown Barrie sits only minutes from the shoreline, so there’s no long drive from an isolated cottage every time you’re craving a night out.
Head to Common Good Cafe & Social House for a latte or a cocktail, depending on what kind of getaway this is, before strolling over to the bay and browsing the quaint little indie shops along Dunlop St. Make a pit stop at Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, the colourful local brewery where beer gets the art-project treatment. Free brewery tours are offered on weekends, making it an Insta-worthy post-beach stop before wandering back toward the water for sunset.
But to really live out the Sterling Point fantasy, head south to Innisfil, about 15 minutes from Barrie’s lakeshore, and turn your day trip into a full Lake Simcoe cottage weekend. There are tons of cute resorts and B&Bs to stay at, like Kempenhaus: the four-season cottage comes with a year-round hot tub and access to a pebbled beach. Its backyard faces the forest and the cottage sits beside a conservation area, making it feel like a true cottage-country escape!
Another good stay is Friday Harbour Resort: it’s built right on Lake Simcoe around a marina, with a waterfront Promenade lined with restaurants, cafés and boutiques. Grab some gelato and wander beside the boats, settle in for a lakeside meal or browse its weekend summer market. The Harbour’s 6.5-kilometre year-around trail winds through its Nature Preserve and connects back to the resort’s boardwalks and walking paths, offering the perfect dose of nature before you return to the marina.
Wrap up the weekend with one last stroll along the water, then pick up a souvenir from the massive roadside 400 Market (just as a little reminder that you don’t have to go all the way to Muskoka to come back with some amazing cottage-country memories).