Are We There Yet? Your 3 Night, 4 Day Classic Road Trip Itinerary

• Stretch your legs at Kings Mill Conservation Area, a former grist mill and dam or at O’Hara Mill Homestead, a historic logging route that’s ideal for picnics. Take a picture on the covered bridge here. 
• • Have one of 7/62 Craft Brewery’s loaded charcuterie boards with a sampling of beer on their patio to take advantage of the last of the warm weather. 
• • Grab an ice cream produced by nearby Kawartha Dairy (or a meal) from Madoc Dairy – Burnside’s Casual Dining, a local favourite.
• Hidden Goldmine Bakery is renowned for their homemade butter tarts, but all their baked goods are worth a stop here. 

• Back Forty Artisan Cheese, a small dairy and cheese shop, is located a short drive north of Sharbot Lake and is worth a detour. Visit their cheese shop and riverside bistro, specializing in wood-oven pizzas (check opening hours in advance).  
• Named for the Kick & Push Railway (now the K&P Trail), Kick & Push Brewing Company is a new and award-winning brewery specializing in North American and British Ale (winning gold for their British Extra Special Bitter in the 2022 Ontario Brewing awards). 
• Cardinal Café + Shop is perfect as a place to grab homemade soups, sandwiches, or donuts and other baked goods before getting back on the road. Their specialty coffees are great, too. 
• Stock up on cured meats and cheeses at Seed to Sausage, right in Sharbot Lake. 
• If the heat is high today, take a swim in Sharbot Lake at the public beach.  
• If you are craving a sit-down meal, Belong Sharbot Lake dishes up chef-prepared meals in a great setting.  
• Make the short hike on the Discovery Trail at Sharbot Lake Provincial Park, a one-kilometre trail that takes to a dramatic lookout over Black and Sharbot lakes. 

• Just outside of Maberly is River House Vineyard & Winery, a brand new winery and restaurant tucked amongst the lush hills of Lanark County.
• Stop for a bite at Fall River Café, a local favourite known for their fish and chips. 

• Family-friendly and with a dog-friendly patio, The Locks Restaurant can be your go-to for lunch or dinner in Perth.  
• Wander through Stewart Park, a truly magical park setting bordering the rushing Tay River. Look for one of Perth’s iconic arched bridges for a picture-perfect Instagram shot. 
• Chocolate lovers will want to plan a stop to Perth Chocolate Works in Code’s Mill. 
• Michael’s Table offers homestyle meals that will  
• Perth Major Outfitters rents canoes and kayaks to use while experiencing the Tay River.  
• Bowl for strikes at The Spare Room super cute retro five-pin bowling alley at the corner of Foster Street and Wilson Street.  
• Pose for a photo in front of “Big Ben”, a monument to Olympian Ian Millar and his horse, Big Ben.

• The hotel backs onto Perth’s crown jewel, Stewart Park, which is worth taking the time to explore. Get a picnic lunch from PICNIC in Perth, and enjoy it while overlooking the Tay River.
• Try out their on-site saltwater pool, steam room, hot tub, and spa featuring the renowned Aveda product line.

• Enjoy your complimentary breakfast downstairs in the on-site restaurant. 
• Take a last dip in the pool before getting started on your day. 

• Explore railway history at the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario! Check out their dining car to see the tasteful elegance that comprised railway travel 100 years ago, and don’t miss the dental car to learn more about dental services to remote communities.
• If you didn’t breakfast at the hotel, C’est Tout Bakery are known for their specialty coffees and make a mean eggs benny to boot.
• Every road trip calls for a sandwich to eat on the road that’s bigger than your mouth. Find yours at The Pickled Pig in the downtown.
• Next door to the Pickled Pig is Sweet Scoops, where you can get a towering ice cream cone to savour as your wander downtown.
• Smiths Falls Pedal and Paddle rents bikes and watercrafts by the hour or half day for you to use to explore the town and/or the waterway.

• Embrace your creative side by trying out the pianos scattered throughout the downtown core in Carleton Place. 
• Play a game of giant-sized chess beside the Mississippi River and snap some pics for Instagram. 
• Cool off with a dip in the Mississippi River at Riverside Park, and if you have kids, enjoy the on-site splash pad next to the beach for the best of both worlds.
• Book a tour at the Canadian Co-Operative Wool Growers (by calling 613-257-2704 ext. 4). More than three million pounds of wool arrives annually from across Canada to be graded here.
• Every road trip screams for ice cream – get yours at The Carp Custom Creamery, where they serve up delicious artisan small-batch ice cream.
• Carleton Junction has an on-site pump track for kids to try out their best moves and for adults to relax with a cup of coffee from Foundry Coffee Bar while they watch. 
• Sample craft beer at one of the two in-town breweries – Braumeister Brewing Co. or Stalwart Brewing Co.
• There is always time for donuts in Carleton Place – visit Maverick’s Donuts or Holey Confections to purchase a baker’s dozen for on the road.

• If you have been waiting to satisfy your ice cream fix, stop at the teeny tiny Almonte Ice Cream Shop on Mill Street, downtown Almonte. Take your ice cream treat to enjoy in the gazebo behind it, overlooking the Mississippi River.   
• Snap a picture on the lookout platform perched beside Almonte’s iconic waterfall.   
• Italian food lovers will want to dine at Café Postino in the downtown core. Their patio has a great vantage point looking down Mill Street.    
• Need a caffeine fix? Stop in at Baker Bob’s for a mean cup of coffee and a baked treat, or to Ottawa Valley Coffee, just a few doors down. While you’re here pick up something for breakfast tomorrow.

   
• Just a short drive from Almonte is the Middleville & District Museum, halfway between Almonte and Hopetown (hence the name, "Middleville"!). Explore local history in a cute as a button community.
• Look for the life-size bronze statue of Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, and get your picture taken on the bench beside him.    
• Your accommodation tonight has a barbecue that will beg for a thick juicy steak – stop at Don’s Meat Market right in the downtown core and pick up something for a delicious barbecue dinner tonight. They also sell produce so you can get everything you need here.    
• Cocktail hour must be spent at The Stirling, a cute cocktail bar and restaurant with a delicious menu.    
• Wander through Gemmill Park and then cross the street to visit the Metcalfe Geoheritage Park to explore the region’s geology.  
• Pick up a six-pack of beer from Base Camp Brewing Co. to enjoy tonight at your accommodation.

• If you will be staying in a cabin, contact your hosts to let them know you have arrived and to shuttle into your remote cabin or pod. 
• Did you pick up some coffee to take with you from one of your many stops today? Brew up a cup to enjoy while sitting out on your deck overlooking the wilderness. Breathe. 
• Watch the sun set over the rolling hills of the Ottawa Valley.

• Remember the breakfast you picked up from Baker Bob’s yesterday (or one of your other stops) now is the time to munch on a baked treat while you savour a hot cup of coffee from your cabin deck.
• Start your day off with a hike through one of the 30-kilometres of trails on the property.
• Use the solar shower to get ready for your day.

• Splash Valley Waterpark is Eastern Ontario’s largest floating water playground, complete with zip lines, golf, and more. There is so much to do you might want to spend the entire day here!  
• You should arrive in Cobden just in time for lunch – stop at the Chip Pit and pick up something to enjoy as you walk along the waterfront on Muskrat Lake. 
• Sour Joe’s Sourdough Bakery is located right in town and would be the place to grab something to take with you for your breakfast or snack tomorrow.   
• Grab something for supper tonight from the grocery store here, and more coffee to savour tomorrow morning from Grounded Brew Co.  
• Make the short drive to Hugli's Blueberry Ranch, a fun family-friendly spot that's about more than just blueberries! Pick blueberries in late summer, pumpkins in fall, and spend some time at their Family Play Park, featuring a Pirate Ship Maze, a pedal cart track, and alpacas and goats. Open May to mid-September.

• Breakfast awaits at Grounded Brew Co. in Cobden. Try their breakfast bagel, served with an egg, bacon and cheddar cheese. 
• Check in at Wilderness Tours and set off on the Ottawa River for a lazy river tubing experience. This can be an impromptu adventure that doesn’t need to get your adrenalin too high. https://wildernesstours.com/adventures/lazy-river-tubing/ 
• • Borrow a bike from Wilderness Tours and experience mountain biking on the network of trails totaling 60 kilometres on the BORCA trail. 
• Stop in at Whitewater Brewing Company's Riverside Brew Pub to sample a flight of craft beer and order a hearty lunch to savour while overlooking the Ottawa River.