Splash Into Summer!
South Eastern Ontario is a water-lover’s dream. With over 5,000 lakes, a myriad of rivers and Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal, to traverse and play on, it’s not a question of what to do – it’s what to do first!
1. Kayaking
Share an intimate guided tour of the 1000 Islands by kayak to explore the magnificence up close and personal. Glide through the water with a 1000 Islands Kayaking guide or on your own, paddling at your own pace to discover island life surrounded by nature. Guides can offer cultural significance along the way, and even prepare an island gourmet lunch!
Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) rentals are another way to get a new appreciation for the water in South Eastern Ontario. Rent SUP equipment from GoActive in Bay of Quinte, or Ahoy Rentals in Kingston.
READ ALSO: 8 Places To Add To Your Kayaking Bucket List
2. Cruising
Make waves with family and friends while seeing the 1,000 Islands in style aboard one of the region’s cruising boats. Creating traditions is easy on a cruise from one of the boat lines operating in the region: choose from seeing the fabled 1000 Islands complete with castles, opulent cottages and local folklore departing from Rockport, Gananoque, Brockville, and Kingston. Try out a pontoon tours of the Rideau Canal that showcases the this world heritage site in a photo-ready, on-water experience.
READ ALSO: 7 Unforgettable Cruising Experiences
3. Scuba Diving
After you see sights on water, revel in the mystery of what lies beneath the surface. Sunken ships dot the underwater landscape of the St. Lawrence River waiting to be discovered through fresh-water wreck diving. The 1000 Islands region is a scuba diver’s dream. Closer to shore, the Brockville Underwater Sculpture Park includes submerged sculptures off Centeen Park on Brockville’s waterfront. Underwater intrigue awaits further up the St. Lawrence near Cornwall as divers from beginners to experts can explore more than 40 dive sites from Glen Walter, to Iroquois, including the famed Lost Villages underwater cemetery, Rail Bridge and Lock 21—known as one of Canada’s top five shore dives.
4. Fishing
Reel in the big one for tall tales about the St. Lawrence River or Lake Ontario! Hire a fishing charter to get the inside scoop on the best spots to cast a line. World famous muskie have been hooked near shoals of the St. Lawrence by Gananoque while provincial records have been set in Lennox & Addington and Frontenac County. This isn’t just an anglers’ playground – it’s a verified fishing haven.
Walleye or pickerel fishing is serious business on the Bay of Quinte. This area is known as the walleye capital of the world, meaning this is the spot for some amazing trophy fishing.
5. Rent A Houseboat
Experience a new perspective on the water and stay overnight on it! Renting a houseboat is a unique way to explore the water and is simple for beginners – but leaves visitors vowing to return. Along the St. Lawrence River near Gananoque, Houseboat Holidays offers private charters that come with instruction, amenities, and even docking fees are including for Thousand Islands National Park islands. Or, rent a boat for a week or a weekend and traverse the Rideau Canal on your own.
6. Action-Packed Water Adventure
Try something adventurous and get wet at Westlake Wakeboard School – located on beautiful West Lake in the heart of Prince Edward County. Private professional wakeboard training is available, as well as a weeklong kids camp and even tube rides to the beach. Or maybe you’re interested in taking a trip to the beautiful Bay of Quinte to view the historic Trent-Severn Waterway.
Sailing is another coveted water activity here, with County Sailing Adventures departing on daily cruises and offering private sailing packages.
Of course, there is ample space on our waterways to try waterskiing, sailing, tubing, kitesurfing and just relaxing in a boat and enjoying the views.
Paddling
Through Rideau Tours out of Chaffey’s Lock along the Rideau Heritage Route, you can rent a kayak, canoe or paddleboard for total personal immersion in the stunning scenery along the twists and turns of the Rideau Canal. Paddle tours are also available, as are luxury paddling packages.
If backcountry canoe trips, river runs or local paddles are your style then feed your adventurous side in Bay of Quinte with Cruising Canoes. From group trips to solo kayak trips with the crew and evening Pint and Paddle events, Cruising Canoes provides Quinte with a unique experience on the water.
