Why Prescott, Ontario, makes a great day trip from Ottawa

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Hands up, all of you who’ve motored right past the road signs for Prescott, Ontario, as you turn off Highway 416 onto Highway 401. That used to be me, too, until I finally checked out this community on the St. Lawrence River. And here’s my report: Not only is Prescott a nice place to break up a long road trip, but it’s also a worthy day trip destination in its own right.

But first, a wee side trip.

Spencerville, Ontario: A pretty mill

If you’re en route from Ottawa and you’ve brought a picnic, pull off Highway 416 at exit 12 (County Road 21) and head to the village of Spencerville.

The village’s big attraction is the 19th-century Spencerville Mill and Museum (11 Water Street), which you can tour in July and August. The mill also hosts live music and special events from spring through fall, including a popular canoe poker run (taking place on Saturday, May 27, in 2023). And it has a pretty covered picnic area overlooking the mill and the river.

From Spencerville, it’s about a 15-minute drive into Prescott.

Prescott, Ontario: History, beaches and Shakespeare

So what can you do in Prescott, Ontario?

Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site

It’s fascinating to learn about a little-known episode of local history at the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site (Windmill Road). In 1838, a group of Upper Canadian rebels fled to New York state and connected with a secret group of Americans called the Hunters, who believed that many of the British colonists to their north were eager for independence and just needed a little encouragement.

In November 1838, the combined group tried to invade the town of Prescott. When they were repelled, they tried again a little bit further downstream, and succeeded in capturing Windmill Point and its tower, which served as a valuable lookout.

A bloody battle between the invaders and the British raged from November 12 to 16, with casualties on both sides. The British eventually won, and a number of the invaders were imprisoned, shipped to an Australian penal colony or executed.

Outdoor adventures in Prescott, Ontario

If you’ve brought your bike, you can hop onto the Prescott section of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, a 3,600-kilometre-long, province-spanning route that cuts right through town. Families may gravitate to RiverWalk Park (at the south end of Centre Street) or Centennial Park (at the south end of St. Lawrence Street); both parks have a play structure and picnic tables, and Centennial also has a boat launch and Kelly’s Beach.

And about a kilometre west of downtown, scuba divers can check out a sunken 1860s wooden twin sidewheeler at the bottom of the St. Lawrence River at the Rothesay Dive Site (1671 County Road 2 at Merwin Lane, Augusta).

However, one of my favourite things to do in Prescott is just hang. I like to meander through Shakespeare’s Gardens, planted with flowers mentioned in you-know-who’s plays, ending up at the adjacent Sandra S. Lawn Harbour and Marina (191 Water Street East). Then, I just plunk down on a blanket, dig out a book, and settle back to watch boats large and small go by on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Heaven.

The St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival

“So why does Prescott have a Shakespearean garden?” I hear you ask. The answer: The town is home to the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, a professional summer theatre festival on a pretty outdoor stage overlooking the river (next to the Sandra S. Lawn Harbour). The festival presents at least one Shakespearean play a year, as well as a range of other shows.

In 2023, the season runs from July 8 to August 16, and the festival is staging A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as visiting productions of Alice in Wonderland by the Guild Festival Theatre and Hamlet by Ottawa’s A Company of Fools.

Fort Wellington: Bring out the big guns

Disclosure: I toured Fort Wellington as a guest of Parks Canada, which did not review this post.

Initially, I wasn’t in any hurry to visit Fort Wellington National Historic Site (370 Vankoughnet Street). When it comes to forts, I tend to think, “Seen one, seen ’em all.” But when I took the tour, I was pleasantly surprised (as I often am, when visiting historic sites). I learned a lot about the fort’s role in defending Upper Canada during the War of 1812, and checked out the carefully preserved remains of a huge gunboat from that era. And kids aged six to 11 can take part in the fort’s Xplorers Program, which includes a booklet full of child-geared activities and fun facts.

One of the coolest programs at Fort Wellington is currently on hiatus, but do check fort’s website before you go to see if this activity is being offered again. If luck is with you, you can sign up to fire a real 19th-century muzzle-loading cannon, while dressed in a reproduction uniform.

You have to register far in advance for this summer program, and there’s an extra fee. But, honestly, it was one of the most entertaining activities I’ve ever tried at a historic site, even though there’s not much to it. You dress up in a heavy woollen outfit, get a safety briefing, touch an igniter to a fuse and then—kaboom! I must have jumped 10 feet high. P.S.: There’s no ammunition in the cannon.

Shopping and dining in Prescott, Ontario

Prescott is relatively small, so big chains—Tim Hortons, McDonald’s, Canadian Tire and so on—tend to dominate when it comes to restaurants and stores. That being said, there are still a few places you can go for some local flavour (pun intended).

Try Katarina’s Coffee Shop (513 King Street West) for hot beverages, cakes, cookies, sandwiches, ice cream and light meals. The double-baked croissants and fancy cupcakes are highlights. You can eat on the small patio or head to Kelly’s Beach, right around the corner. The Red George Public House (197 Water Street West), housed in a heritage stone building, has good pub food and a deck overlooking the St. Lawrence (well, you have to look across a parking lot first, but it’s still a nice view).

As for shopping, Quality Creations (278 King Street West) is a co-op of local artisans and crafters with an eclectic selection, while Olde Magick (121 King Street West) sells cauldrons, tarot cards, crystals, divination supplies and all things Wiccan.

Finally, you can dine on authentic Spanish dishes and shop for high-quality imported Spanish foods for your home kitchen in a most unexpected place. You’ll find El Rebost de les Mil Illes (991 Industrial Road, Unit D) in the middle of an industrial park just off Highway 401, but do not let the location fool you.

The name means “The Pantry of the Thousand Islands” in Catalan, the native language of owner Marc Gomez Segu. He launched it to import and distribute high-end products such as Joselito ham, olive oil from 1,000-year-old trees, bomba rice and Spanish saffron. (Do not miss the Ar de Arte tinned products. They are not your supermarket cans of tuna! I’m still thinking about the tinned scallops in garlic and chili oil.)

During COVID, Segu added takeout meals and opened a shop for home cooks. And in 2023, he expanded by opening a Spanish restaurant.

A side trip to a distillery

This might be the shortest side trip you ever take. King’s Lock Craft Distillery (5 Newport Drive, Johnstown) is officially in the community of Johnstown, but that’s just a five-minute drive east of downtown Prescott. As well as making small-batch vodka, rum, rye, gin and moonshine, the distillery hosts concerts and other event.s

Tips on travelling to Prescott, Ontario

Prescott, Ontario, is 90 kilometres south of Parliament Hill. Take Highway 416 south to the end, then take Highway 401 west (briefly) to exit 716. It is possible to cycle to Prescott along back roads, but that’s an ambitious day trip. There is no public transit between Ottawa and Prescott.

To extend your stay, you can use the map below to find accommodation. (Disclosure: If you use this map to book accommodation, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

If you do plan to stay longer in the area, find out what you can see and do in nearby Morrisburg and Iroquois, and learn some quirky facts about nearby Brockville.

For more information on Prescott, drop into the summer-only visitor information centre (181 Water Street East), or see the websites for the Town of Prescott, the Downtown Prescott BIA and the South Eastern Ontario regional tourism organization.

Looking for more ideas for things to see and do in our region? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or pick up a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide, from which this post is adapted.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.