(about Brockville, ON Canada, last edited on Oct 02, 2007)
Does it ring any bell if I mention the “City of the 1000 Islands”? Yes, it is the city of Brockville I was thinking about, one of the oldest and most beautiful communities in Ontario whose connection to the islands has made it famous.
You can easily find it on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, an hour's drive south of Canada’s capital, Ottawa.
Named after the British general Sir Isaac Brock, this city exudes a small-town feel giving the traveler the comfort and the piece of mind he’d expect to have in his holiday. And this piece of mind is really guaranteed in one of Canada's safest communities and a hassle free city that is the eastern gateway to the 1000 Islands. There is a wealth of great outdoor opportunities offered by the islands, the waterfront and the St. Lawrence River which dominates the city.
Brockville is set in one of the most picturesque areas in the world. You will find here more than 1,800 islands all connected by a 37km stretch of roadway and path running along the river called the Thousands Islands Parkway. You’ll need quite a few days to explore them all! But you will find that any of them makes for a perfect hideaway. You’ll feel like you can have an island only for yourself and you may even experience a Robinson Crusoe feel except that you can get back to the real world whenever you want.
St. Lawrence River is a magnet for many diving enthusiasts who find here excellent opportunities for fresh-water wreck diving among the best in the world. There are plenty of wrecks to explore and the services are excellent as there are well equipped boats to offer divers all necessary equipment and guidance to the place where they can find the sites.
St. Lawrence River is also excellent for scenic trips offered by tour boats and makes for one of the most loved activities around. You will have the chance to sight see on the river that is the most important trade routes in the world. Whether you decide to enjoy the view from the water or from the waterfront you can get wonderful sights. The parks on the waterfront are excellent spots to relax on a bench and watch the river and the boats pass by. Greater activity and a big number of boats can be seen on the weekly sailing races which prove to be quite entertaining for the locals and the tourists alike. Another great spot for boat watching is the Blockhouse Island. You can watch the steel freighters from this spot.
Another much loved outdoor activity is biking as it offers amazing views while visiting Brockville, Rockport and Gananoque.
The downtown area is also a great place to explore wit great shopping opportunities and it is also connected to nature having plenty of parks and walking trails. The view consists of stately mansions, elaborate fountains and other historic sights. One of them is historic Fulford Place house museum, the former home of Senator George T. Fulford who became one of the area's richest industrialists. You can trace the place’s history by taking the Brock Trail set along the waterfront and through city parks stretching for about 6kms.
When you come to Brockville your greatest challenge will be deciding what to do first but from leisure family day trips to extreme sport adventures, qualified guides and outfitters offer specialized tours to meet any skill and thrill level. Brockville has a selection of several days' worth of outdoor activities so go and enjoy!
