All Blog Entries by Maha Shahbazian

The Heritage House Museum is a beautiful place to visit for Ontario residents. Guests can take a tour of the home which includes 8 period rooms that are furnished like the lifestyle of the times. You’ll see features like the two-story privy preserve, the indoor brick bake oven and unique mirror image facades.

There are beautiful gardens often frequented by picnickers and parkland to the Rideau Canal for taking a walk. Check out year-round exhibitions and art shows or attend special workshops and children’s programs. Here is a look at all that the Heritage House Museum has to offer.

Museum Details

The museum is located at 11 Old Sly’s Road in Smith Falls. You can check it out from May 1st through December 21st every day from 10:30am-4:30pm as…

Did you know about the local Ontario Waterway Cruises that you can take for relaxing fun? There are cruises include one to the Rideau Canal to experience a piece of history, the Kawartha cruise which showcases diverse engineering of the locks and railways while the Quinte Cruise offers a combination of both.

The company has been cruising for 30 years thanks to Lloyd and Helen Ackert who started the idea in 1981. Here is a look at what you can enjoy on the cruises from Ontario Waterway Cruises.

Kawartha Cruises

Climb aboard the Kawartha Voyageur to experience the Kawartha Cruise. You’ll take a 5 day cruise to one of Canada’s national historic sites, the Trent-Severn Waterway. You’ll start on day one viewing the Big Chute Marine Railway and…

The Historic Merrickville began as a registered charity back in 1965. It was in response to the community requesting the special heritage of the Village be maintained and the society was organized. Parks Canada decided to resort the Merrickville blockhouse that was constructed by Lt. Col. John By in 1832 as a key military defense for the new Rideau Canal and it was fully supported. Today, the historical society is run entirely by volunteers and 140 active members support the projects of this charity. Here is a look at what the Historic Merrickville is all about.

Historic Merrickville’s Start

Original members of the Society worked to maintain awareness for the heritage and history of Merrickville. Village of Merrickville leased the Blockhouse…

Whether you live in Kingston or you are just passing through, it is beneficial to know what the area has to offer you in terms of entertainment. Fortunately, there are so many things to discover in Kingston including historical artifacts and several marinas. Here are some of the top spots you should check out if you are visiting.

The Museums

There are a number of museums that are worth checking out for both educational and entertainment purposes. The Bellevue House was the home of Canada's first Prime Minister. The house and the landscape are kept just the same as it would have been when he lived there and has costumed staff. The MacLachlan Woodworking Museum is a place you can go to see antique carpentry tools.

The museum was created in the…

Gourmet food tours are becoming a popular trend in Canada’s capital. One of the best ways to learn about a city is exploring local food markets, neighbourhood produce and dishes and to meet the local talent. By taking a gourmet food tour, you can meet chefs, food artisans and try local cuisine.

One company that does the tours in the area is C’est Bon, who offer walking tours throughout the national capital region’s vibrant food scene. Here is a look at the current offerings for food with C’est Bon.

Where do the tours visit?

The tours require a minimum of five people. The tours explore Preston Street, the ByWard Market of Ottawa, Chinatown, Glebe neighbourhoods and Wellington West. Eddy Street in old Gatineau is another stop that’s made. These…

There are several parks along the Rideau Canal offering a wide variety of activities such as camping, swimming, and enjoying walking trails. There's a wealth of wildlife to see along the water and around the woods. The conservation areas can be great places that will give your family a lot to do together. Some of them are free and some of them will allow you to pay for an annual pass.

The locks on the Rideau continue to work the same way they did in 1832 when it first started to operate. There is still hand cranks used to close the doors. Even the stone blocks that are in the locks are some of the original ones. The locks all have picnic tables where you can go for a nice afternoon.

Activities You Can Enjoy

The Mill Pond Conservation Area is…

There are many great things about the Rideau Canal from its hiking trails to its picnic areas. A fun activity the canal offers is canoeing. There are easy to paddle waters because of the locks that are built there and many places to explore in your journey down the river.

The canal is a chain of rivers and lakes with locks to connect them through eastern Ontario. It is operated by the Parks Canada Agency and was built in the 1800s to help defend Canada with an accessible water way. You can canoe and paddle the entire waterway with no restrictions. There are many camping areas and places to stop in for picnics and hiking all along the locks.

This is flat-water paddling so if you are into rough water then you won't find that many extreme areas.…

The Rideau Canal Visitors Centre is the interpretation centre for the Rideau Canal system in Ontario. The historic Rideau Canal system is a National Historic site in Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage destination. The Visitor Centre offers four floors of exhibits in a 19th century stone mill and you’ll be presented with a 15 minute video during your visit. Here is a look at what to expect upon visiting the Rideau Canal Visitor Information Centre.

About the Visitors Centre

The Visitors Centre is located at 34 Beckwith St. South in Smith Falls. It’s at the foot of Beckwith Street. You can visit daily from 9am-4:30pm from May 16 through September 1st. The Visitors Centre is a self-guided experience. They don’t charge admission but ask for…

The Parliament of Canada is open to the public for free by tour year-round. It’s a place to discover history, functions and art of Canada’s Parliament. The building is iconic and houses the Senate, House of Commons and the Library of Parliament.

The Parliament is the office that examines the processes, conventions and players involved in making the Canada parliamentary system function. Here is a look at how Parliament of Canada works and how you can visit for free.

How does Parliament work?

The office houses the Senate, House of Commons and the Library of Parliament. Their work involves examining the processes, conventions and players that are involved in making the parliamentary system work for Canada. Senators and Members of Parliament play…

The Ottawa area is lucky to have so many great restaurant options for your next meal out. The neighbourhoods here offer a variety of culinary delights making the dining scene hard to beat. The last few years have brought many great additions as well. Here is a look at the best eateries in the Ottawa area.

Le Baccara

Le Baccara is a French-inspired delight in The Casino du Lac-Leamy offering gourmet dishes and an award-winning menu. You’ll experience the open kitchen layout where you can watch the chefs prepare your elegant dish. They have an extensive wine list to pair with your entrée and guests can even check out the wine cellar where you’ll see 500 varieties of the 13,000 bottle collection. Come see why they were awarded the CAA-AAA Five…