Growing up in Barrie, I lived and roamed around the North End. With the benefits of a 15 minute walk to the Mall & easy access for my parents to head down to Base Borden, the north end is where I started in Barrie, but I ended up purchasing a home in the South End in the Holly / Ardagh Area.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not the great outdoor enthusiast, but what I do love about this end of town is all of the Bluffs, EP land, and the treed lined subdivisions. In this neck of the woods of Barrie, you have the Holly Meadow Rec Centre, plenty of shopping, many of the top rated Elementary Schools & High School options. In the Ardagh Bluffs, there is also 17 km of recreational trails. Go for a run with friends, bring your canine friend.
In the Ardagh / Holly Area, house prices can vary from the high $300,000s for townhomes and up to over $1 million with the higher end subdivision of Cumming Drive, which is surrounded by the Bluffs and executive homes.
If you are looking for a great neighbourhood, I would highly recommend the West end of Barrie.