RHR0018 Travel Planner Inside2014.4.Qxd
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Welcome to the Rideau Heritage Route T he Rideau Heritage Route from Lake Ontario in Kingston to the Ottawa River winds its way through historic sites, charming villages, quaint attractions and spectacular recreation areas. This guide will provide you with travel information to plan your visit. Climate: Moderate with four distinct seasons. Average winter temperature -8º C (17º F), average summer temperature 24º C (75º F). Currency: Canadian dollars. U.S. currency is accepted and may be exchanged at community banks and trust companies. Look for businesses offering “Fair Exchange”. Language: English primarily, with numerous services available in French. Transportation: VIA Rail – (888) 842-0588 www.viarail.ca Greyhound Bus – (800) 661-TRIP www.greyhound.ca Coach Canada – (800) 461-7661 www.coachcanada.com Air Canada Reservations (for flights into Kingston or Ottawa International Airports) (800) 247-2262 Where We Are Located The Rideau Heritage Route is located in the Eastern part of Ontario, Canada and is accessible to domestic, International and U.S. visitors. Not to scale. Consult a detailed map. Not to scale. Consult a detailed map. Urban Ottawa North Rideau Central Rideau South Rideau Urban Kingston Lockstation Provincial Park Travel Information Along the Route Produced by: Rideau Heritage Route Tourism Association (RHRTA) Ottawa 800-363-4465 Graphic design by: North Grenville (Kemptville) 877-258-4838 1dea Design + Media Inc., Kingston Merrickville 613-269-2229 Special thanks to: Smiths Falls 800-257-1334 Cycle Ontario Alliance, Direction Ontario, Lanark County 888-452-6275 Ontario Parks, Ontario Trails Council, Parks Kingston 888-855-4555 Canada, Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve Parks Canada 888-773-8888 RHRTA cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions in the materials For more information check us out at contained herein. www.rideauheritageroute.ca By email: [email protected] www.rideauheritageroute.ca Bienvenue au Circuit patrimonial Rideau. Un guide de vacances est disponible en français. The Rideau A UNESCO World Heritage Site The Rideau Canal, including Fort Henry and the Kingston Fortifications, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2007. It was inscribed to this prestigious list because it remains the best preserved example of a slackwater canal in North America, and is the only canal dating from the early 19th century to remain operational along its original line with most original structures intact. It is also indelibly linked to a significant stage in human history - the fight to control the northern part of the North American continent. For more information on UNESCO and the World Heritage Site designation, visit whc.unesco.org. Photo Credits: Inset Left: Merrickville, Locks in Merrickville Inset Right: Parks Canada, Shoal Tower, Kingston Bottom: Parks Canada, Jones Falls Top: RHRTA, Cycling at Kingston Mills Locks Inset Left: Ken Watson, Old Stone Mill Inset Right: Merrickville, Signs in Merrickville Table of Contents 4 Life by the Water 22 Outdoor & Recreation 6 Story of a Nation - Boating ........................................... 23 - Marinas .......................................... 24 - History of the Canal.................. 8 - Golfing Along the Rideau...... 25 - Museums ........................................ 8 - Overnight Mooring ................... 25 - History Comes Alive................ 10 - Additional Recreation.............. 26 - Historic Plaques ........................ 10 - Ontario Provincial Parks.......... 27 - Tours of the Rideau................. 11 28 A Day in the Countryside 12 Colours & Flavours - Heritage Walking Tours........... 30 Along the Rideau - Paddling Routes.......................... 38 - Visual Art Experiences & - Cycling Routes............................. 4 Shopping ..................................... 13 - Hiking Trails................................... 4 - Driving Tours ................................ 5 - Fall Colours ................................ 13 - Dining ........................................... 13 56 Accommodations - Maple Syrup Experiences..... 14 - Flavours of the Rideau ......... 15 58 RHRTA Partnerships - Gourmet Picnics ...................... 16 18 Celebrations & Diversions - Recurring Events...................... 19 - Featured Events By Season.. 20 - Celebrate Canada Day............ 21 Life by the WATER B y power of sail, motor or a paddle, the Rideau Canal is an amazing boating destination. Having 47 locks at 24 lock stations, the Canal is a chain of beautiful lakes running 202 kilometres from Lake Ontario in Kingston to the Ottawa River in Ottawa. The canal is a mecca for boaters and is well marked with buoys, making it very easy to navigate. Planning on touring the Rideau could not be easier or more fun. The Rideau Canal’s 24 lockstations are all accessible by road, and can therefore be reached by vehicle, bicycle or on foot. Most lockstations have parking spaces and bicycle racks, public washrooms and picnic areas for the convenience and enjoyment of visitors. 4 Quote: Mark Stevens, Power Cruising Magazine “…I find myself dancing Photo Credits: Top: Ken Watson, Launching a Boat at to the rhythms of the Chaffeys Lock Bottom: Ken Watson, Morning Paddle Rideau as I watch the sun Near Davis Lock Left Inset: Merrickville, Boat in Basin climb over a ridge.” Right Inset: Simon Lunn, Enjoying a Voyageur Canoe Trip on the Rideau Water For more information on boating and marinas see page 23 & 24. Life by the 5 Story of a NATION 6 “As the War of 1812 raged on, the Photo Credits: Top: C.T.R. Bridge at Kingston Mills British government looked to the Left Inset: Simon Lunn, Watsons Mill, Manotick Bottom: Fort Henry, Fort Henry Tatoo Rideau River as a safe alternative Middle Inset: Simon Lunn, David Boyd - Town Crier for the Township of Rideau Lakes route and commissioned Colonel Right Inset: Ken Watson, Old Stone Mill in Delta John By to build them a canal.” Nation Story of a T he story of the Rideau Canal is a central chapter in the history of Canada. The Rideau links Kingston, first Capital of a United Canada, to Ottawa – the current seat of federal government in this country. The region is home to many world class cultural and federal institutions, as well as a variety of heritage and natural attractions – making it one of the premiere tourism experiences in North America. Pioneer stories come to life at the Billings Estate Museum, Laurier House National Historic Site, Bellevue House National Historic Site, Delta Mill, the Rideau District Museum, the Heritage House Museum, Watson’s Mill, and the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum. Fort Henry, the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, Fort Frederick and the Murney Tower Museum narrate early Canadian naval and military history. The story of the canal itself is presented by the Rideau Canal Museum and at the lockstations. Several blockhouses, lockmasters’ houses and other out-buildings at the Ottawa, Merrickville, Jones Falls, Chaffeys and Kingston Mills lockstations feature museums and interpretive displays that provide unique insight into the canals’ past. 7 H istory of the Canal The Rideau Canal was built between Kingston and Ottawa during the years 1826 to 1832. Its intended purpose was to provide safe passage to personnel and supplies during war time. Military man, Lieutenant Colonel John By of the British Royal Engineers was dispatched from England to create the canal. He was beset by difficulties, including the rugged terrain, disease ridden bogs, and an overly optimistic budget. Nevertheless, in seven years time, he had built a 202 kilometre canal linking a beautiful chain of lakes and rivers from Kingston to Ottawa. It remains as North America’s largest operating 19th century canal. The Rideau never had to fulfill its military purpose, but it did become an important trade route. The communities along its shore began to thrive due to its existence. In the 1850’s the advent of the railway reduced the amount of commerce on the canal, but steamboats and pleasure craft began to discover its beauty. Today, Parks Canada maintains the Rideau Canal as an historical haven to the steady stream of tourists exploring it by land and by water. Most of the lockstations are still operated by hand, preserving the tradition started in 1832 by Colonel By. Photo Credits: Left: Sharon Matthews-Stevens, Colonel By Overlooking His Engineering Masterpiece in Ottawa 8 Right Inset: RHRTA, Sign for Rideau Canal Museum useums M Nation Our museums provide an unwavering link to our region’s rich cultural history. Bellevue House National Historic Pump House Steam Museum Site of Canada 613-542-2261 23 Ontario St., Kingston 613-545-8666 35 Centre St., Kingston Story of a Rideau Canal Visitor Centre Blockhouse Museum 613-284-0505 613-269-4034 St. Lawrence St., 34 Beckwith St. S., Smiths Falls Merrickville Rideau District Museum Bytown Museum 613-273-2502 29 Bedford St., Westport 613-234-4570 Ottawa Locks, Ottawa Rideau Hall Fort Henry National Historic 866-842-4422 1 Sussex Dr., Ottawa Site of Canada 613-542-7388 Smiths Falls Railway Museum 1 Fort Henry Dr., Kingston of Eastern Ontario Heritage House Museum 613-283-5696 613-283-8560 90 William St. W., Smiths Falls 11 Old Slys Rd., Smiths Falls Watson’s Mill 613-692-6455 Laurier House Dickinson Square, Manotick 800-230-0016 or 613-992-8142 335 Laurier Ave. E., Ottawa Lockmaster’s House Museum Chaffeys Locks MacLachlan Woodworking Museum 613-542-0543 2993 2 Hwy. E., Kingston Murney Tower Museum 613-544-9925 Kingston Old Stone Mill Museum 613-928-2658