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Visiting Port Colborne, Ontario in Niagara Region
Things to do at Port Colborne when visiting Niagara Falls and its region. Home to the longest lock in the world
Port Colborne is the historic canal city, located 30min south of Niagara Falls and west from Fort Erie. The city features an interesting blend of the old and new sites and culture, and offers a variety of things to do at the canal-side boardwalk, historic shopping district and scenic sandy beaches. This is why this Niagara city is great holiday destination.
Driving to Port Colborne provides and enjoyable ride, alongside Welland Canal and its lock while passing by towns like Thorold and Welland.
History of Port Colborne
The city was named first as Sugarloaf and back in 1832, Gravelly Bay. It was renamed to the present Port Colborne after Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada in 1833.
Its position on the Lake of Erie and at the entrance to the Welland Canal made the Port in 1880 an important summer tourist spot.
Port Colborne is famous for its location on the St. Lawrence Seaway’s Welland Canal, making the city one of Canada’s largest inland Ports.
Things to do at Port Colborne
For attractions, events and popular things to do, visit the Visitor Information Centre located at the corner of Mellanby Avenue and Main Street West, in the heart of Old Humberstone. Here are some popular activities:
- Once you cross the Welland Canal and take the West Street South, you will enter a historic shopping area that dates back to 1800s, and with the canal-side boardwalk makes it ideal for the afternoon stroll.
- Historical and Marine Museum is recreation of the town's history, another point of interest with a canal display, an operating blacksmith's shop log school house and a tea room. The museum organizes many special events throughout the year.
- Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival in August, on the Civic Holiday weekend, is celebration of the community's marine heritage, town's connection to the Welland Canal and one of the longest canal locks, Lock 8. The Festival provides fun for the whole family, from Tall Ship cruises to a Boat Parade of Lights and beautiful fireworks display over the Welland Canal.
- If you follow the Cement Plant Road south to Lakeshore Road, turn east and you will see the Shrinking Mill, an interesting attraction as it gets smaller the closer you get.
- Summer theater, Showboat Festival Theater is located at the Roselawn Complex on Fielden Avenue.
- For waterside lunch choose Sugarloaf Harbour and Restaurant.
- Port Colborne is where the Merritt Trail starts, an established track along the Welland Canal. The track, which is a great opportunity for hikers and cyclists, stretches for 45 km and ends at the Port Dolhousie.
- Jogging, walking or short drive along Lake Erie, to Fort Erie using 14 km The Friendship Trail, part of the Trans-Canada Link Trail.
- Leisure ride along The Welland Canal Recreation Trail, from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and passes through Welland, Thorold and St. Catharine's. This is an easy route except the smaller section when the trail climbs the Escarpment at Thorold. Watching the ships in the Welland canal is especially interesting.
- Explore Nickel Beach with more than a mile of white sand, ideal for windsurfing, swimming and sunbathing. Find also shady picnic areas, sand dunes and Fowler Toad, a protected species. Nickel Beach is situated at the end of Welland Street.
- Birdwatching during spring and fall migration periods, including waterfowl, Whistling Swans, and how gulls, terns and cormorants are nesting on the shoreline near Nickel Beach... and also Common Terns, Ring-billed Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants and Black-crowned Night-Herons.
- Sailing and boating during the summer months is one of the popular things to do, where Sugarloaf Harbour Marina, located at the city waterfront, hosts lively and exciting events.
Note: Did you know that Port Colborne is the flour milling capital of Canada.?
Driving directions to Niagara Falls from Port Colborne
Take Highway3 east, toward Fort Erie and then from this southern town in Niagara peninsula along Niagara Parkway to Niagara Falls. This route is the most scenic drive which will take you right in front of the mighty waterfalls or Canadian Horseshoe Falls on one side and Queen Victoria on the other.The above route is our recommendation, but if you want more direct route, take Highway 140 to Welland, turn on Regional Road 27 through the tunnel under the Welland Canal. Turn right on Highway 406 following directions towards St. Catharine's.
Picture is courtesy of city of Port Colborne
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