Boating holidays on the Rideau Canal

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Overview

Along the Rideau you’ll discover an abundance of wildlife. With Beavers, Otters, Turtles, Ospreys and the famous Canada Geese just some of the fantastic fauna you be able to spot while you drift gently along the Rideau. So remember your binoculars and camera, because this region is a nature lovers dream.

Top highlights:

• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada
• Spotting wildlife on the Tay Canal

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your vacation

• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theaters, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.
• Beveridge’s Locks: When the Rideau Canal was built, there was no water connection to Perth, so the residents constructed the Tay Canal. This area is known as “Haggart’s Ditch” and features some of the best wildlife viewing on the Rideau on the way to Perth.

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Overview

Canada is a paradoxical place, able to combine pristine wilderness with vibrant local culture. Find yourself taking in the natural wonders of Ontario as you make your way gently down the Rideau before unearthing the lively local culture of Perth with its quaint boutiques and lively markets.

Top highlights:

• The beautiful 200 year-old town of Perth, where there’s something for everyone
• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your vacation

• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theaters, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.
• Beveridge’s Locks: When the Rideau Canal was built, there was no water connection to Perth, so the residents constructed the Tay Canal. This area is known as “Haggart’s Ditch” and features some of the best wildlife viewing on the Rideau on the way to Perth.
• Perth: Linked to the Rideau Canal via the Tay Canal, Perth is a beautiful 200 year old town renowned for it’s limestone architecture. The town has something for everyone: festivals and events, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, hiking, trail-riding, museums, genealogy, camping, heritage inns, provincial parks, conservation areas, golfing, horse riding, artisans, farmer’s markets, great harvest foods, docking facilities, shopping and studio tours. Perth has a wide variety of restaurants and unique boutiques.

Due to water hazards and challenging navigation, cruising along the Tay Canal to Perth is only suitable for those who have previous boating experience. Please follow the advice of the base team during your pre-departure briefing on whether you can navigate this stretch of the canal. If  you are advised not to navigate, you can still visit Perth by mooring at Lower Beverages lock and taking a short taxi ride.

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Overview

Take in all that Canada’s capital has to offer on your first night before making your way down the Rideau River to explore the stunning Canadian Countryside and the welcoming little town of Manotick. This is the perfect city and countryside, short-break combo.

Top highlights:

• Art, culture and history in Canada’s stunning capital city – Ottawa (and don’t miss the famous Byward Market)
• Picnicing on Long Island
• One of North America’s only working grist mills, in Manotick

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday.

• Ottawa: Canada’s capital has at its center Parliament Hill, with grand Victorian architecture and museums like the National Gallery of Canada, with noted collections of indigenous and other Canadian art. The park-lined Rideau Canal is filled with boats in the summer. Historic Byward Market and old town is near the canal and offers a wide choice of restaurants, shopping and outdoor entertainment. 
• Long Island: Long Island Locks is an idyllic location for picnicking, fishing, exploring and boat watching. 
• Manotick: Manotick is a charming town with plenty of restaurants and shops to keep you entertained. A highlight is Watson’s Mill, a fascinating working museum that is one of the only remaining grist mills in North America.

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Overview

Picturesque Victorian stone houses, local craft shops and a thriving artisan community. It is easy to see why Merrickville was voted Canada’s most beautiful village. Let yourself wander around this chocolate-box town and delve deeper into this regions charming local culture.

Top highlights:

• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada
• Merrickville’s homemade ice cream and mustards along the Rideau Canal

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your vacation 

• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theaters, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.
• Merrickville: Merrickville is Canada’s prettiest village. The village centre consists entirely of picturesque Victorian-era stone houses perched by the waters of the Rideau Canal. Merrickville is home to many local arts and craft shops, museums, restaurants and specialty stores serving some of the best local handmade ice cream or gourmet mustards on the Rideau Canal.

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Overview

Gently cruise the vast lakes, mighty forests and hidden islands of the Southern Rideau. The perfect playground for any lover of the outdoors. Find yourself paddling the Big Rideau Lake, going on a hike in Foley Mountain Conservation Area or playing golf on one of Portland’s two golf courses.

Top highlights:

• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada 
• The remarkable operating structure of the Jones Falls lock 
• Golf courses and swimming beaches in Westport

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your vacation

• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theaters, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.
• Beveridge’s Locks: When the Rideau Canal was built, there was no water connection to Perth, so the residents constructed the Tay Canal. This area is known as “Haggart’s Ditch” and features some of the best wildlife viewing on the Rideau on the way to Perth.
• Rideau Ferry: Straddling a thin strip of water between the Big and Lower Rideau Lakes, Rideau Ferry is the spectacular scenic gateway to the southern Rideau. A hub for live music and festivals throughout the summer, stop here for the biannual Vintage Boat Regatta first held here in 1897.
• Portland: Portland is a small village located on Big Rideau Lake.There are many things for the landlubber to see and do in the Portland area. There are several unique stores in town, including antiques and collectables. The Cataraqui all-season trail passes just a bit east of town, golf courses are located nearby, one of the local B&Bs offers horseback riding, and cheese lovers will want to visit local cheesemakers and wineries.
• Westport: Westport is a charming village. There you will find public docking facilities and a full range of land-based accomodations. The city offers a lot of activities: shops, two golf courses and swimming beaches. Nature lovers will be able to enjoy a hike in Foley Mountain Conservation Area which has spectacular views of the area.
• Newboro: The Village of Newboro is a popular destination spot for anglers wishing to land one of the big Largemouth Bass that populate Newboro Lake. It is also a popular stop for boaters since Newboro is located adjacent to the Newboro Lockstation on the Rideau Canal. It’s a good spot to restock supplies or have a quiet lunch or dinner at one of the local restaurants or inns. Be sure not to miss Kilborn’s, a unique shopping experience located in the heart of historic Newboro and the adjacent dining room in an original 1832 residence.
• Chaffey’s Lockstation: Chaffey’s Lockstation stands on beautiful isthmus of land lying between Indian Lake and Opinicon Lake. The Chaffey’s Lock and Area Heritage Society was formed in 1980 to oversee the development of the Lockmaster’s House Museum and to preserve the heritage of the village and surrounding area.
• Jones Falls: Jones Falls must be one of the prettiest lockstations along the Canal. The lockstation is home of the “Great Stone Arch Dam”. Jones Falls has a flight of 3 lower locks. The turning basin separates the locks from the upper lock. This is the highest lift of any lockstation on the canal.

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Overview

Sometimes the best things in life are those little luxuries. Discover them with a cruise on the Northern Rideau. Combine some retail therapy in Canada’s prettiest village, Merrickville, with a visit to one of Canada’s top gardens, the Rideau Woodland Ramble in Burritt’s Rapids. Paradise is real, and you’ll find it here!

Top highlights:

• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada 
• Birdwatch amongst the beautiful nature of Upper Nicholsons 
• The “Tip to Tip Trail” in Burrits Rapids 
• Picnicking in Long Island

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your vacation

• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theaters, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.
• Merrickville: Merrickville is Canada’s prettiest village. The village center consists entirely of picturesque Victorian-era stone houses perched by the waters of the Rideau Canal. Merrickville is home to many local arts and craft shops, museums, restaurants and specialty stores serving some of the best local handmade ice cream or gourmet mustards on the Rideau Canal.
• Upper Nicholsons: For historians and bird-watchers this is a great place to visit. Upper Nicholsons features one of four remaining Unequal Arm, a center bearing timber swing bridge, on the Rideau. Then just up the road you’ll discover McGuigan’s Cemetery (448 County Road 23, aka Burritts Rapids Road), one of the oldest burying grounds on the Rideau. You will be touched by the poignant headstone of Margaret Davidson, the 2 year old daughter of one of the contractors for Clowes Lock, who died in 1829.
• Burrits Rapid: Tie up at Burritts Rapids Lock Station, then take a walking tour of the village and experience early Canada through centuries old heritage buildings or walk the “Tip to Tip Trail”, a 2 km nature walk.
• Long Island: Long Island Locks is an idyllic location for picnicking, fishing, exploring and boat watching.

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Overview

This cruise allows you to combine Canada’s bustling and vibrant capital city, with the beautiful Rideau River with its spectacular nature and wildlife and its welcoming artisan towns that are full of history and small-town character.

Top highlights:

• Merrickville’s homemade ice cream and mustards along the Rideau Canal
• Birdwatch amongst the beautiful nature of Upper Nicholsons
• The “Tip to Tip Trail” in Burrits Rapids
• Art, culture and history in Canada’s stunning capital city – Ottawa (and don’t miss the famous Byward Market)

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday.

• Ottawa: Canada’s capital has at its center Parliament Hill, with grand Victorian architecture and museums like the National Gallery of Canada, with noted collections of indigenous and other Canadian art. The park-lined Rideau Canal is filled with boats in the summer. Historic Byward Market and old town is near the canal and offers a wide choice of restaurants, shopping and outdoor entertainment.
• Manotick: Manotick is a charming town with plenty of restaurants and shops to keep you entertained. A highlight is Watson’s Mill, a fascinating working museum that is one of the only remaining grist mills in North America.
• Long Island: Long Island Locks is an idyllic location for picnicking, fishing, exploring and boat watching.
• Burrits Rapid: Tie up at Burritts Rapids Lock Station, then take a walking tour of the village and experience early Canada through centuries old heritage buildings or walk the “Tip to Tip Trail”, a 2 km nature walk.
• Upper Nicholsons: For historians and bird-watchers this is a great place to visit. Upper Nicholsons features one of four remaining Unequal Arm, a center bearing timber swing bridge, on the Rideau. Then just up the road you’ll discover McGuigan’s Cemetery (448 County Road 23, aka Burritts Rapids Road), one of the oldest burying grounds on the Rideau. You will be touched by the poignant headstone of Margaret Davidson, the 2 year old daughter of one of the contractors for Clowes Lock, who died in 1829.
• Merrickville: Merrickville is Canada’s prettiest village. The village centre consists entirely of picturesque Victorian-era stone houses perched by the waters of the Rideau Canal. Merrickville is home to many local arts and craft shops, museums, restaurants and specialty stores serving some of the best local handmade ice cream or gourmet mustards on the Rideau Canal.

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Overview

This one-way cruise between Ottawa and Smiths Falls allows you to make the very most of Canada’s capital and gives plenty of time to discover the scenic Rideau River at the leisurely pace it deserves.

Top highlights:

• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada
• Merrickville’s homemade ice cream and mustards along the Rideau Canal
• Birdwatch amongst the beautiful nature of Upper Nicholsons
• The “Tip to Tip Trail” in Burrits Rapids
• Art, culture and history in Canada’s stunning capital city – Ottawa (and don’t miss the famous Byward Market)

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your holiday.

• Ottawa: Canada’s capital has at its center Parliament Hill, with grand Victorian architecture and museums like the National Gallery of Canada, with noted collections of indigenous and other Canadian art. The park-lined Rideau Canal is filled with boats in the summer. Historic Byward Market and old town is near the canal and offers a wide choice of restaurants, shopping and outdoor entertainment.
• Long Island: Long Island Locks is an idyllic location for picnicking, fishing, exploring and boat watching.
• Manotick: Manotick is a charming town with plenty of restaurants and shops to keep you entertained. A highlight is Watson’s Mill, a fascinating working museum that is one of the only remaining grist mills in North America.
• Burrits Rapid: Tie up at Burritts Rapids Lock Station, then take a walking tour of the village and experience early Canada through centuries old heritage buildings or walk the “Tip to Tip Trail”, a 2 km nature walk.
• Upper Nicholsons: For historians and bird-watchers this is a great place to visit. Upper Nicholsons features one of four remaining Unequal Arm, a center bearing timber swing bridge, on the Rideau. Then just up the road you’ll discover McGuigan’s Cemetery (448 County Road 23, aka Burritts Rapids Road), one of the oldest burying grounds on the Rideau. You will be touched by the poignant headstone of Margaret Davidson, the 2 year old daughter of one of the contractors for Clowes Lock, who died in 1829.
• Merrickville: Merrickville is Canada’s prettiest village. The village center consists entirely of picturesque Victorian-era stone houses perched by the waters of the Rideau Canal. Merrickville is home to many local arts and craft shops, museums, restaurants and specialty stores serving some of the best local handmade ice cream or gourmet mustards on the Rideau Canal.
• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theatres, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.

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Overview

Get in touch with the friendly Canadian culture with a cruise to Seeleys Bay and Newboro. Be sure not to miss Kilborne’s, a unique shopping experience located in the heart of historic Newboro – and the adjacent dining room in an original 1832 residence.

Top highlights:

• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada
• Mesmerising cycle views from Rock Dunder in Seeley’s Bay
• Golf courses and swimming beaches in Westport

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your vacation

• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theaters, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.
• Beveridge’s Locks: When the Rideau Canal was built, there was no water connection to Perth, so the residents constructed the Tay Canal. This area is known as “Haggart’s Ditch” and features some of the best wildlife viewing on the Rideau on the way to Perth.
• Rideau Ferry: Straddling a thin strip of water between the Big and Lower Rideau Lakes, Rideau Ferry is the spectacular scenic gateway to the southern Rideau. A hub for live music and festivals throughout the summer, stop here for the biannual Vintage Boat Regatta first held here in 1897.
• Portland: Portland is a small village located on Big Rideau Lake.There are many things for the landlubber to see and do in the Portland area. There are several unique stores in town, including antiques and collectables. The Cataraqui all-season trail passes just a bit east of town, golf courses are located nearby, one of the local B&Bs offers horseback riding, and cheese lovers will want to visit local cheesemakers and wineries.
• Wesport: Westport is a charming village. There you will find public docking facilities and a full range of land-based accomodations. The city offers a lot of activities: shops, two golf courses and swimming beaches. Nature lovers will be able to enjoy a hike in Foley Mountain Conservation Area which has spectacular views of the area.
• Newboro: The Village of Newboro is a popular destination spot for anglers wishing to land one of the big Largemouth Bass that populate Newboro Lake. It is also a popular stop for boaters since Newboro is located adjacent to the Newboro Lockstation on the Rideau Canal. It’s a good spot to restock supplies or have a quiet lunch or dinner at one of the local restaurants or inns. Be sure not to miss Kilborn’s, a unique shopping experience located in the heart of historic Newboro and the adjacent dining room in an original 1832 residence.
• Chaffey’s Lockstation: Chaffey’s Lockstation stands on beautiful isthmus of land lying between Indian Lake and Opinicon Lake. The Chaffey’s Lock and Area Heritage Society was formed in 1980 to oversee the development of the Lockmaster’s House Museum and to preserve the heritage of the village and surrounding area.
• Jones Falls: Jones Falls must be one of the prettiest lockstations along the Canal. The lockstation is home of the “Great Stone Arch Dam”. Jones Falls has a flight of 3 lower locks. The turning basin separates the locks from the upper lock. This is the highest lift of any lockstation on the canal.
• Seeley’s Bay: Seeley’s Bay is a charming town with a great community park with playgrounds, tennis courts and picnic tables. Here you’ll be delighted to discover a little sliver of the region’s history at the Tepee in Centennial Park (just up Bay Street from the moorings). This modern day tepee commemorates the original Tepee of ‘Granny Seeley’, who ran a trading post and conducted business with Aboriginals and European settlers during the 1800s.

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Overview

Stopping off at Newboro and Seeleys Bay this itinerary is perfect for any budding angler looking to catch one of the region’s Largemouth Bass. For those less piscis-ly minded, this cruise also takes in the charming artisanal community of Merrickville and pulsating culture of Kingston. The perfect cruise for mixing nature, adventure and culture.

Top highlights:

• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada 
• Merrickville’s homemade ice cream and mustards along the Rideau Canal 
• Catch fresh Bass in Newboro 
• Golf courses and swimming beaches in Westport
• Learn what Canadian soldiers experienced in 1839 in Kingston Mills

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your vacation

• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theaters, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.
• Merrickville: Merrickville is Canada’s prettiest village. The village center consists entirely of picturesque Victorian-era stone houses perched by the waters of the Rideau Canal. Merrickville is home to many local arts and craft shops, museums, restaurants and specialty stores serving some of the best local handmade ice cream or gourmet mustards on the Rideau Canal.
• Beveridge’s Locks: When the Rideau Canal was built, there was no water connection to Perth, so the residents constructed the Tay Canal. This area is known as “Haggart’s Ditch” and features some of the best wildlife viewing on the Rideau on the way to Perth.
• Rideau Ferry: Straddling a thin strip of water between the Big and Lower Rideau Lakes, Rideau Ferry is the spectacular scenic gateway to the southern Rideau. A hub for live music and festivals throughout the summer, stop here for the biannual Vintage Boat Regatta first held here in 1897.
• Portland: Portland is a small village located on Big Rideau Lake. There are many things for the landlubber to see and do in the Portland area. There are several unique stores in town, including antiques and collectables. The Cataraqui all-season trail passes just a bit east of town, golf courses are located nearby, one of the local B&Bs offers horseback riding, and cheese lovers will want to visit local cheesemakers and wineries.
• Westport: Westport is a charming village. There you will find public docking facilities and a full range of land-based accomodations. The city offers a lot of activities: shops, two golf courses and swimming beaches. Nature lovers will be able to enjoy a hike in Foley Mountain Conservation Area which has spectacular views of the area.
• Newboro: The Village of Newboro is a popular destination spot for anglers wishing to land one of the big Largemouth Bass that populate Newboro Lake. It is also a popular stop for boaters since Newboro is located adjacent to the Newboro Lockstation on the Rideau Canal. It’s a good spot to restock supplies or have a quiet lunch or dinner at one of the local restaurants or inns. Be sure not to miss Kilborn’s, a unique shopping experience located in the heart of historic Newboro and the adjacent dining room in an original 1832 residence.
• Chaffey’s Lockstation: Chaffey’s Lockstation stands on beautiful isthmus of land lying between Indian Lake and Opinicon Lake. The Chaffey’s Lock and Area Heritage Society was formed in 1980 to oversee the development of the Lockmaster’s House Museum and to preserve the heritage of the village and surrounding area.
• Jones Falls: Jones Falls must be one of the prettiest lockstations along the Canal. The lockstation is home of the “Great Stone Arch Dam”. Jones Falls has a flight of 3 lower locks. The turning basin separates the locks from the upper lock. This is the highest lift of any lockstation on the canal.
• Seeley’s Bay: Seeley’s Bay is a charming town with a great community park with playgrounds, tennis courts and picnic tables. Here you’ll be delighted to discover a little sliver of the region’s history at the Tepee in Centennial Park (just up Bay Street from the moorings). This modern day tepee commemorates the original Tepee of ‘Granny Seeley’, who ran a trading post and conducted business with Aboriginals and European settlers during the 1800s.
• Kingston Mills: This is the site of the first mill built on the Rideau, the King’s Mill, built here at Cataraqui Falls in 1784. The site today features a lovely set of three locks, a turning basin, a detached upper lock and the Robert Anglin Visitor’s Centre. Kingston Mills Falls is located on the outlet of Colonel By Lake, an artificial lake created by the damming of the Catraqui River. The falls is just below the dam.
• Kingston: Kingston is located on Lake Ontario at the mouth of the southern end of the Rideau Canal. It’s known as the “Limestone City” for its grand 19th-century buildings, including the lakeside Kingston City Hall. The grand house and gardens of the Bellevue House National Historic Site commemorate Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Fort Henry, built in the 1800s, holds military demonstrations throughout the summer and is the site of a fabulous rooftop restaurant providing a panoramic view of the beautiful historic city and the Saint Lawrence River.

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Overview

This cruise will allow you to enjoy some of the spectacular nature that lines the Rideau Canal, from the Otter to the Osprey, as you make your way to Ottawa. Here, you’ll be able to take in all that Canada’s capital has to offer before gently making your way back to Smith Falls for a second chance to spot any animal you may have missed on the way up!

Top highlights:

• The Heritage House Museum of Smiths Falls which delves into the lives of a family living in 1860s Canada
• Merrickville’s homemade ice cream and mustards along the Rideau Canal
• Birdwatch amongst the beautiful nature of Upper Nicholsons
• The “Tip to Tip Trail” in Burrits Rapids
• Art, culture and history in Canada’s stunning capital city – Ottawa (and don’t miss the famous Byward Market)

Example itinerary:

The following is only an example, you can explore this area in whichever order you want, so long as your boat is back at the end base at the end of your vacation

• Smiths Falls: Located in the Heart of Eastern Ontario on the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls offers a unique mix of leisure and recreational activities set against a backdrop of history and nature. Smiths Falls has a rich heritage, and today offers museums, theaters, art galleries and outdoor adventures including hiking, biking and fishing.
• Merrickville: Merrickville is Canada’s prettiest village. The village center consists entirely of picturesque Victorian-era stone houses perched by the waters of the Rideau Canal. Merrickville is home to many local arts and craft shops, museums, restaurants and specialty stores serving some of the best local handmade ice cream or gourmet mustards on the Rideau Canal.
• Upper Nicholsons: For historians and bird-watchers this is a great place to visit. Upper Nicholsons features one of four remaining Unequal Arm, a center bearing timber swing bridge, on the Rideau. Then just up the road you’ll discover McGuigan’s Cemetery (448 County Road 23, aka Burritts Rapids Road), one of the oldest burying grounds on the Rideau. You will be touched by the poignant headstone of Margaret Davidson, the 2 year old daughter of one of the contractors for Clowes Lock, who died in 1829.
• Burrits Rapid: Tie up at Burritts Rapids Lock Station, then take a walking tour of the village and experience early Canada through centuries old heritage buildings or walk the “Tip to Tip Trail”, a 2 km nature walk.
• Long Island: Long Island Locks is an idyllic location for picnicking, fishing, exploring and boat watching.
• Manotick: Manotick is a charming town with plenty of restaurants and shops to keep you entertained. A highlight is Watson’s Mill, a fascinating working museum that is one of the only remaining grist mills in North America.
• Ottawa: Canada’s capital has at its centre Parliament Hill, with grand Victorian architecture and museums like the National Gallery of Canada, with noted collections of indigenous and other Canadian art. The park-lined Rideau Canal is filled with boats in the summer. Historic Byward Market and old town is near the canal and offers a wide choice of restaurants, shopping and outdoor entertainment.