Port Colborne

"The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless."

~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Imagination to the Rescue

A child sits bored and impatient, awaiting his doctor's appointment. Stiff seats lining white walls are occupied by adults thumbing through magazines strewn across a large table in the middle of the stuffy room. Aside from the reception staff, all is quiet. Conversation is kept to a whisper. Even coughs are muffled to avoid breaking the peace. He shuffles restlessly. If only there was something more exciting to do. Some fun to be had to pass the time. Something to break the monotony of sitting in a quiet room after a full day of school.  

Luckily, unlike in the classroom, our young friend needs only to pay attention enough to hear his name called. Beyond that, his mind is free to wander. Few things are as stunning as a child's imagination. 

Suddenly, the waiting room becomes a circus stage. The receptionist trades in her whites for a clown costume, and the snoring man in the corner awakens and leaps into the air to grab hold of a trapeze. What fun!  

Seconds before the grand finale, the clown looks over and calls his name. He rubs his eyes and finds the receptionist calling to him - no clown in sight. Where the trapeze swung now hangs a ceiling fan; below it, the old acrobat who only moments before had been flying through the air above his head, sitting with his mouth open, snoring once again. The spectacle is over, but thanks to his imagination, so is his wait.   

Imagination Comes to Life

Let's try another one. A woman sits in a row of vehicles lined up in front of and behind her own. It's been over ten minutes since anyone has budged. Sighing, she turns off her engine and stares out the window. She's bored and searching for something to break the monotony of the standstill traffic. Her mind begins to wander. 

Suddenly, something catches her eye. She slowly turns to the left to see... it can't be... a ship? A massive ship! From where? Japan? She rubs her eyes, thinking her imagination has gotten away from her. But the vessel is still there, towering over the line of vehicles as it crosses their path. 

Members of the ship's crew wave and smile as they pass. People step out of their cars to wave back and snap photos. She joins the crowd and finds herself beaming with excitement. The monotony has gone, and boredom is a thing of the past. She can hardly believe it. A large vessel from across the sea travelling right through this small town far away from the salty coastline. Incredible!

The first scenario is clearly an example of a daydream. Imagination saving our young friend from the mundane. Meanwhile, as imaginative as it sounds, the second scenario is real!

Imagination comes to life in the form of a large ocean vessel slicing through both town and monotony. It definitely isn't something you see every day. Well, not in most places anyway. 

Welcome to Port Colborne

As part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, scenes like this are witnessed almost daily in Port Colborne, where an active shipping route brings ships from around the globe, causing bridges to raise and heads to turn as they pass through the small community. 

Now, seeing a large ship pass by certainly is a spectacle, but that isn't all Port Colborne has up its sleeve. Beyond ships and canals, this buzzing town has much more to offer. From stunning beaches like Nickel Beach and Cedar Bay Beach lining Lake Erie's shores to cycle trails like the Friendship Trail and the Welland Canals Parkway Trail weaving through lush forest, Port Colborne has plenty to keep visitors busy during their stay. 

After some history? The Historical and Marine Museum has you covered. How about a bite to eat or a tasty drop of Niagara's finest? We have plenty of options, from the famous Port Colborne Poutine to the fresh catch of the day at local seafood restaurants. And topped off with exciting community events like the Canal Days Festival and a population of friendly folk, there is little left to be desired when visiting this fun wee town. 

No matter the season, there's always a reason to pay Port Colborne a visit. Don't just take our word for it, though. Come see for yourself, you won't be sorry. And we'll be right here waiting for you, ready to welcome you. 

So why wait? The unique experiences of Port Colborne are just a trip away. Plan your visit today.

Stay tuned and follow us on social media for updates on when the next part of this series will be released. And visit us soon! You'll be glad you did.

– Mike Bilodeau