Discovery Harbour — Attraction in Penetanguishene

The museum itself is generally well-curated and has great potential. However, I’m giving 1 star because of a very disappointing and disrespectful interaction with one of the staff members, which left a negative impression on our visit.

At the first ship we visited, the young woman overseeing the exhibit was openly rude and dismissive. When I asked her a simple question about the ship’s route, she immediately frowned, avoided eye contact, and acted as if I had inconvenienced her. Her tone and body language were cold and clearly showed that she did not want to engage.

Throughout the brief interaction, she sighed, rolled her eyes, and made it clear that she was irritated simply because we asked a question. Instead of trying to help or show even basic politeness, she distanced herself and went back to reading her book in the corner—clearly uninterested in speaking with visitors.

To make matters worse, she didn’t even know the answer and had to ask her colleague, who was polite, professional, and actually took the time to explain things clearly. We appreciated his help very much.

Whether the young woman is a volunteer or paid staff, it is not acceptable to treat visitors this way—especially those who are genuinely interested in learning. I strongly suggest assigning this role to someone who is more welcoming and better suited to working with the public. I hope this feedback is taken seriously to improve the...

Lots to do, especially during special events. Good value ticket prices if you buy them online. Ample parking + shuttle bus due to the special event. Easily accessible bathrooms.

My son and I visited Discovery Harbour for one of the Long Ship events during one summer weekend. There was a big War of 1812 battle re-enactment with many people participating. There were dozens of white, army tents pitched in neat military rows near the lake. We got to see canons, soldiers from the British and American sides and both sides "fighting" it out in historic formation. There were also other historic figures such as a barrel cooper and field surgeon. It was very exciting.

In addition to the battle, there were merchants hawking their wares, historical displays and the permanent exhibits on the grounds, such as the remains of the hull of the Tecumseth. And of course, there were also the the tall ships.

We were able to go below two of the tall ships and it was really interesting to see the differences between a modern sailing ship and the historical replica of the one from the 1800s.

Note: I have modified some of the photos of the soldiers to help maintain their privacy. I just applied some artistic filters to the...

Discovery Harbour is a virtual treasure trove of knowledge, history, special events, theater, piers, nature, food and beverages. It was a great pleasure to see the Tall Ships that were docked there in 2019. At times, staff will not only be dressed in period costumes, they will enact daily life and/or memorable events. Every staff/security member I met was pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable. Thank you all for making my visit a memorable one! Beautiful location, lots of things to do and see for every budget. Don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself and let me know how you feel about Discovery Harbour. Please check the website or call for COVID-19 hours, restrictions and/or other pertinent information. Be safe and enjoy...