Rails and Rendezvous: Brockville Bound for Work and Play!

Let VIA Rail be your trusted transportation, and get ready for the perfect blend of work and play waiting for you in the heart of Brockville. The Brockville rail station sits on the Ontario-Quebec route, which makes it easity accessible from Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal .

Bid farewell to the uncertainties of wintry roads and embrace the comfort and convenience that VIA Rail brings to your adventure.Your travel time becomes an opportunity to tie up loose ends, answer emails, or refine presentations—all within the comfort that VIA Rail provides. 

Stay in Style in Historic Downtown Brockville

Arrive at the VIA Rail Station in Brockville, Ontario and catch a cab to the lovely and historic downtown Brockville to begin your stay at the Tall Ships Landing Coastal Resort. Not only do these vacation suites offer a stunning view of the St. Lawrence River, but they come outfitted with all the amenities to make your work vacay productive and relaxing! Each suite includes a full kitchen, ample space to get set up for work, nautical-themed fittings and furniture, and sweeping views of the river. 

Another accommodation we recommend with workspace in the downtown core is 48 King West Suites, which offers luxury loft suites for business and pleasure, as well as meeting space rentals available and is walkable to all downtown amenities. Travelling on points or receiving benefits from a certain brand of hotel when you travel for work? You’re in luck! Brockville has a number of branded chain hotels in their uptown, just a short cab ride away! Be sure to check out their full list of accommodations here.

Depending on your arrival date and time, after getting settled into your accommodations and checking in on some emails, head over to the Brockville Museum – just a short 6-minute walk away from the Tall Ships Landing. This quaint little museum offers a glimpse into the history of Brockville, including its industrial past and the crucial role the railway played in the development of the city. The museum has a variety of permanent exhibits as well as temporary/travelling exhibits, so there’s always something new and interesting to discover!

Head back over to Tall Ships Landing and tuck into some grub at Moose McGuire’s before calling it a night. Their Brockville location offers fabulous riverside views and a full menu to warm you up from being outside. Get toasty with one of their signature sandwiches with a side of soup, or indulge in their braised rib ravioli. No matter what you choose, you’re sure to be satisfied and only steps away from falling into your sweatpants afterwards.

Day Two

Start your day off on a good foot with breakfast at Tait’s Fresh Start Bakery & Deli. Serving the Brockville community for over 100 years, this little joint serves up fresh baked bread, a variety of sweet treats and a selection of hot beverages to get your day going. We recommend ordering one of their delicious breakfast sandwiches and then grabbing yourself some goodies to go, to treat yourself later – whether that be some of their cookies, squares or pastries, they’re all sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Check some things off your work “to-do” list, or if you have the time and want an opportunity to get some stretching in, pop over to Engine House Yoga & Fitness for a drop-in class. Depending on the day of the week, they offer a variety of classes for every comfort level, ranging from yoga foundations, slow flow, guided meditation, or chair yoga. For lunch, check out the Boboli Cafe for a delicious soup, sandwich and hot beverage to give you some fuel for the rest of your day. They also have a variety of delicious cakes and pies to choose from that you won’t want to skip to complete your meal! 

Unwind in the afternoon with a visit to the Heavenly Touch Spa. Located a convenient hop, skip and jump from Tall Ships landing, this spa has been helping clients relax for over 25 years. Go all out with their Holistic Healing Package, including a 1-hour reiki session, 1-hour hot stone massage, and a 1-hour reflexology session. Or build your own perfect package by combining some of their spa services for your personalised afternoon! Pick from facial treatments, relaxing massages, body wraps, and nail services to get yourself feeling refreshed and renewed. 

Finish off your day with dinner at 1000 Islands Brewing Company, located on King Street West in the heart of the downtown core, for a networking dinner or to treat yourself. This brewpub serves up a rotating, eclectic menu full of delicious pub fare, including vegetarian options. Indulge in their pear and pesto chicken flatbread, Mediterranean portobello gyro, oven-baked mac and cheese or a spicy jambalaya, and pair it with one of their in-house brewed craft beers. The atmosphere of the restaurant is enhanced by the wall of glass, allowing guests to look down into the brewhouse to see the process from grain to glass. Be sure to stop by their bottle shop before you head out to bring the flavours of Brockville home with you!

Day Three

Pull up a chair and your laptop to Richard’s Coffee House for a working breakfast in one of the oldest buildings in Brockville. Serving up hot coffee and delicious treats since 2017, Richard’s Coffee House has an extensive selection of breakfast sandwiches, baked goods like muffins, pastries and cinnamon rolls, or sink your teeth into a classic toasted bagel and cream cheese. They also have a wide array of specialty coffees, smoothies, and ways to customise your hot or cold drink.

Shop your way back to your accommodation along King Street. There are a number of wonderful businesses in the downtown area, so be sure to check out the full list, here are some of our recommendations to hit up along the way:

From Here to Infinity Gallery and Bookstore operates out of a historic 1840s building and features a selection of local artists, and fine books, and holds an archive of historical negatives/prints of photographs of the area.

Studio Even is a female-run design studio and gift shop showcasing homewares, clothing, jewellery and self-care products from over 25 Canadian makers and artists.

River West Co is a lifestyle boutique selling home goods, clothing and accessories, and kitchen products that would make great gifts for friends and family.

O’Mally Kourt Fudgery is the spot to satisfy your sweet tooth! Offering a wide selection of homemade fudges – including chocolate peanut butter, chocolate caramel cookie, smores and maple – as well as other kitchen goods and kids toys.

Prima Donna Fashion Shop is a women’s clothing boutique featuring professional and trendy clothing from luxurious European brands. This is the perfect place to update your work wardrobe!

Drop your goodies off in your room and pop over to Don’s Fish & Chips for an iconic Brockville staple for lunch. Boasting the title of Brockville’s best fish and chips for over 60 years, all their fish is hand-dipped in their secret batter recipe made from scratch each day before being fried to golden perfection. 

Spend the afternoon catching up on your emails, or depending on the day of the week, schedule in some time to pop downstairs and experience the Aquatarium. Learn all about the wildlife and aquatic animals that call the 1000 Islands home and explore their interactive exhibits. Be sure to stop by and visit the river otters Oliver and Brock, as well as their rescued rockstar resident, Justin Beaver. You can also get the opportunity to see the Aquatarium from above with their ropes obstacle course, a 45-minute adventure in the air!

Meet up with clients, coworkers or take yourself out for dinner at The Mill Restaurant, an Italian style restaurant in a 19th century grist mill that is a designated heritage building. Their menu is full of mouthwatering Italian dishes – start with a charcuterie board of cured meats and cheeses or seafood, escargot or a warm oven-baked brie. Dive into a main dish of cannelloni, juicy beef tenderloin or crispy eggplant parmigiana. The building itself was constructed in 1852, and the stone walls and warm wood beams add to the intimate atmosphere of the restaurant.

Day Four

Before heading back to the VIA Rail Station to head home, check out Sweet Ofelia Cafe & Market for a breakfast croissant with a Vietnamese twist, a sweet almond Danish, or a delicious fruit smoothie. They also have a wide selection of imported foods, treats and snacks to bring home with you! If you’re a fan of bubble tea, theirs is to die for!

If you’ve treated yourself to Business Class (and trust us, it’s worth it), prepare for a gourmet experience on your trip back home. Book first class and enjoy fresh meals onboard and choice of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. Priority boarding, extra legroom, access to exclusive lounges (at select stations), and attentive service are all part of the business package. The coffee on board is pretty great too—who doesn’t love a good cup of joe while taking in the views?

If you travel for business, you also might like this raily-y great trip to Kington for business meets pleasure and Work meets play, play, play, in the bay of Quinte.

We hope you’ve struck the perfect balance between work and leisure with our “blesiure” itinerarys. Your work week just got a whole lot more exciting, right? 

Until next time, happy travels!