Georgetown combines maritime history with specific opportunities to spend time on the water and outdoors. Once an important shipbuilding center, the town also offers a two-hour sailing tour, a memorial garden featuring a large ship’s wheel and a day-use park with access to the Confederation Trail. These themes offer different points of focus when choosing where to stay: harbor and local history, a tour on the water, and park and trail activities.
Harbor and shipbuilding history
Georgetown has the first harbor built on the Atlantic coast and one of the deepest harbors in North America. The first detail points to the harbor’s historic significance, while the second places its depth in a North American context. Georgetown was also once an important shipbuilding center. The harbor and shipbuilding history offer two connected but distinct perspectives on the town’s maritime character.
A.A. Memorial Gardens
The 3.8-acre A.A. Memorial Gardens was established in honor of Andrew Archibald Macdonald. It features Canada’s largest ship’s wheel, with a diameter of 12 feet. The dedication gives the site a commemorative purpose, while the ship’s wheel adds a concrete maritime motif. The tribute and the ship’s wheel are two distinct aspects of the gardens.
West Street Beach Walking Trail and Confederation Trail
The Georgetown West Street Beach Walking Trail is a day-use park with a picnic area, play area and lookout. It also serves as an access point for cycling and hiking on the Confederation Trail. For planning purposes, these are two distinct features: the park and its amenities, and access to activities on the Confederation Trail. Amenities can change over time, and trail conditions may vary seasonally. Check both before your visit.
Sailing tour with lighthouse views
In Georgetown, Tranquility Cove Adventures offers a two-hour sailing tour with seal watching and views of the historic Panmure Island Lighthouse from the water. The duration provides a specific timeframe for this experience. Seasonal availability may vary; check before scheduling.
In the wider Kings County destination
The wider Kings County destination offers additional nature and culture themes. Greenwich has three hiking trails ranging from 1.25 km to 4.5 km in length. The Greenwich Interpretation Centre features more than 20 exhibits on the natural and cultural history of Greenwich. The trails and exhibits offer different ways to explore: outdoors on the hiking trails or through the natural and cultural history presented in the exhibits.
East Point Lighthouse is known as “Canada’s Confederation Lighthouse.” From the top, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Guided and self-guided tours are offered at the lighthouse.
At the Roma at Three Rivers Historic Site, visitors can take part in an herb and food foraging hike along the site’s trails. The site serves early French cuisine, including bread from an outdoor oven; the food offerings may vary seasonally. The hike and the cuisine are distinct facets of this place in Kings County.
Discover more destinations: Cardigan, Souris, Morell, Murray Harbour, Montague
Return to the wider travel guide: Kings County.
