Brockville: Local history and experiences by the water

Brockville combines a vivid local history with a wide range of experiences along the St. Lawrence River. When planning your trip, you can choose from museums and historic buildings, walking and cycling paths, and excursions on the water. You can also tailor your search for a vacation rental to the aspects of the city that interest you most.

Local history and distinctive buildings

The Brockville Museum explores the social and industrial history of Ontario’s first incorporated town. Themed and interpretive exhibits tell the story of Brockville’s development; the collection focuses on the city. Key themes include “Made in Brockville” and “The People of Brockville”. Younger visitors can explore the galleries through play and hands-on activities. This gives families a concrete point of reference when deciding whether to include a museum visit in their trip.

Fulford Place is an Edwardian mansion built in Brockville between 1899 and 1901. At 1,860 square metres, or 20,000 square feet, the house offers an impressive sense of scale and architecture. Inside, original tapestries, paintings, sculptures and ceramics collected by the Fulfords on their travels around the world are on display. The house and its collection offer two distinct perspectives: the design of a grand historic home and the works of art the family gathered.

The Brockville Arts Centre also adds a cultural highlight. It is a designated heritage landmark in the historic downtown and features a remarkably well-preserved 700-seat auditorium. The Brockville Railway Tunnel is Canada’s first railway tunnel. Those interested in local history and architecture will find these distinctive subjects to explore alongside the museum exhibits.

Experiences along the St. Lawrence River

There are different ways to experience the waterfront. 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises departs from Brockville’s scenic waterfront and offers classic sightseeing cruises lasting 1.5 or 2.5 hours. These two stated durations let you choose between a shorter and a longer excursion on the water.

At St. Lawrence Park on the western edge of the city, on King Street West, you can enjoy views of the St. Lawrence River and the colourful boats on the water. The park offers camping and picnicking, as well as a beach for swimming. Blockhouse Island is another place to watch ships and enjoy panoramic views of the river. Both spots appeal to travellers who want to include waterfront views and time outdoors in their stay.

Divers can access the St. Lawrence River and nearby shipwrecks from Centeen Park via dive platforms and a dedicated staircase. There is also an underwater sculpture park. The islands in the City of Brockville are open to the public and accessible by private watercraft. Day and overnight docking are available in summer; campsites on some islands can be reserved in advance. These options suit a range of travel plans, from enjoying river views to spending time on the water or staying overnight on an island.

Getting around on foot and by bike

The Brock Trail is a 7-kilometre route for walking and cycling. It starts at Brockville’s waterfront in the historic downtown, is paved, and is suitable for bicycles, rollerblades, wheelchairs and strollers. This lets you plan around your preferred way of getting around without limiting the trail to a single use. Brockville is also part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, a 3,600-kilometre cycling network with signed routes through 155 communities. Rotary Park features Ontario’s first paved bicycle pump track and connects to the Brock Trail.

For activities directly on the water, public boat launches are located at the foot of Home Street and Henry Street. At St. Lawrence Park, there is a kayak launch at the park’s southwest corner. Together with the trails and diving opportunities, these offer different ways to make your stay active. When choosing a vacation rental in Brockville, you can first consider whether local history, cycling and walks, or experiences on and in the river will be the focus of your trip.

Explore more places

If you’re looking for more destinations to include in your trip plans, you’ll find Westport, Kemptville, Prescott, Mallorytown, Gananoque, Merrickville, Leeds And The Thousand Islands and Johnstown.

For the overview of the wider region: Leeds And Grenville United Counties.