We love road trips. A fun way to see your community before going on adventures farther from home. Here’s a list of new and exciting things to do within 90 minutes of the Nation’s Capital.
Upper Canada Village (45 minutes south near Morrisburg) Step back in Fairs & Finer Things
time where costumed interpreters re-enact 1860’s life in homes, shops and
farmyards. uppercanadavillage.com
Thousand Islands Boat Cruise (1 hour south-west in Gananoque) Cruise the
islands and tour the romantic turn-of-the-century Boldt Castle built by the
proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC. ganboatline.com
Westport Charm (1.5 hours west on Big Rideau Lake) Wander the charming
boutiques, art studios and antique shops. Relax at the Sundari Day Spa or
spend the night at The Cove Country Inn. coveinn.com
Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield
Steam Train (Gatineau)
Hop aboard Canada’s
oldest operating Steam
Train for a 5-hour, 64 km
guided tour of the
Outaouais Region with a
2-hour stop in scenic
Wakefield. steamtrain.ca.
Stay overnight at the
Wakefield Mill Inn & Spa.
wakefieldmill.com
Merrickville (45 minutes south) Local artists abound with over 100 heritage
properties – voted ‘Canada’s Most Beautiful Village’ in 1998. Don’t miss the
Merrickville Antique and Artisans Show Aug 27. ontariotravel.net
Old Chelsea (15 minutes north-east) Begin the day with a hot coffee at Les
Saisons. Then wander the shops before a relaxing massage at Le Nordik –
Nature Spa (lenordik.com) followed by a vegetarian lunch on the patio of
Soup d’herbe.
Montebello (1 hour east) Get up close and personal with buffalo, black
bears, red deer, wolves and more at Parc Oméga (parc-omega.com). Then,
enjoy a picnic lunch or make a reservation at Fairmont Chateau Montebello
for a more luxurious dining experience. fairmont.com
Kingston (1.5 hours west) Take in the waterfront by sailboat, kayak, canoe
or bike. Sip wine on a patio or shop the boutiques. Visit Fort Henry for a
glance into the War of 1812. tourism.kingstoncanada.com
Heritage Perth (1 hour west) Wander through artisan shops, the Farmer’s
Market (Sat) and the Wildlife Reserve. Try the Good Wood Oven for
pizza. beautifulperth.com
Bon Echo Provincial Park (2.5 hours west) With a 1.5 km rock face that
rises 100 m above Mazinaw Lake, the park is incredibly photogenic. Hike,
canoe or simply relax on a sandy beach. ontarioparks.com
Prince Edward County (2.5 hours south west)
The ideal wine and dine getaway, spend the night at The Inn at Huff Estates
Winery, enjoy a round of golf at Wellington Golf Course or stretch out in
the sand at Sandbanks Provincial Park. prince-edward-county.com
