Ontario- Lanark County: Discovering Your Backyard- An Historical & Foodie Tour

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Almonte and Perth

This morning we will depart Westgate Shopping Centre for our journey to Lanark County. We will begin with a visit to the Aquatopia Water Garden Conservatory. This conservatory maintains an eco-friendly tropical greenhouse and indoor botanical garden oasis year-round.

Next we will visit the charming town of Almonte in Mississippi Mills.  Your Travac Tours Director will bring you to Equator Coffee, award-winning Hummingbird Chocolate, and the Vodkow Dairy Distillery, where delicious spirits are created from milk sugar. We will embark on a guided tour of the North Lanark Regional Museum, learning about the Almonte train wreck, the region’s once-thriving textile industry and the workers who helped shape it, as well as the history of Mississippi Mills.  We will also explore a variety of regional cultural artifacts, from the pioneer era until present day. We will then visit Almonte’s picturesque downtown core where you will have a chance to explore Mill Street’s unique boutiques and historic architecture and view the town’s Hallmark Christmas movie shooting locations.  After free time for lunch ($) and to explore Almonte’s Riverwalk, we will visit the Old Town Hall and several monuments integral to Almonte’s history dedicated to the Almonte Train Wreck of 1942; Dr James Naismith, the inventor of basketball; and Dr Robert Tait McKenzie, distinguished sculptor and physician.

We will then make our way to Perth, voted the prettiest town in Ontario.  We will visit Top Shelf Distillers, known for reviving a centuries-old whisky tradition and for their fabulous moonshine and desert liquors.  You will have the opportunity to taste their cocktail of the month, tour the facility, and sample a tasting flight of Rideau, Maple and Sherry Cask whiskies.

After an enjoyable day, we will head to The Best Western Perth Parkside Inn overlooking Stewart Park for check in. Enjoy your included dinner before relaxing in the peace and quiet of your hotel room. (D)

Overnight at the Hotel Best Western Plus Perth Parkside Inn & Spa or similar.

Day 2

Perth, Smith Falls, and Carleton Place

After breakfast and check out at the hotel, we will begin our day with a walking tour of Perth.  We first explore Stewart Park, learning about Big Ben’s and Ian Miller’s remarkable achievements and important connection to the town.  We will then make our way to Codes Mill on the Park, one of Perth’s most significant landmarks and a designated historic site, to see evidence of the skilled craftsmanship of the early stonemasons of Perth.  Afterwards we will continue on to the Perth Town Hall, constructed in 1863.  We will visit its historic Council Chambers, old courtroom, and original jail cell, learning about the evolution of Perth’s local government and how the town hall has shaped the town’s civic life for over 160 years.  Finally, we will visit Perth Pies Co., Crystal Palace, Mammoth Cheese and the Perth Library before departing Perth for Smiths Falls. On our way we will pass The Old Perth Shoe Factory and Last Duel Park, where the last fatal duel in Canada was played out in 1833.

Upon our arrival in Smith Falls, we have a guided tour of the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, a National Historic Site dedicated to preserving the history of the railway.  Departing Smith’s Falls, we will pass by the lock system on the Rideau Canal as well as the former Hershey Factory on our way to Carleton Place.  Upon arrival, there will be free time for lunch ($) before we embark on a guided tour of the Carleton Place Town Hall, built in the Richardson Romanesque style of architecture popular in North America in the latter quarter of the nineteenth century.  We will continue our walking tour past Moore House, a log cabin formerly owned by one of the first settlers in the area and one of the oldest remaining buildings in Carleton Place.  We will then visit the Carleton Place Gallery, a fine art exhibition space featuring work by local and Ottawa-area artists, before heading to the Wool Administration Warehouse– a renowned wool processing facility. Constructed in 1890 of local limestone, this building contained the roundhouse and engine repair shops for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) until 1939. In 1940, the building was purchased by the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers. Wool arrives here from across the country and is graded before being shipped out in compact bales. It also houses a lovely shop with a variety of wool, alpaca, bamboo, and cotton products.

Our final stop of the day will be at the legendary Carp Custom Creamery for handcrafted ice cream made from local ingredients.  After a sweet treat to round off the tour, we will head back to Ottawa.  Expect to arrive in the early evening.  (B)

Itinerary and hotel subject to change.

back to top

Hotel Information

Hotel Best Western Plus Perth Parkside Inn & Spa or similar

Hotel website

Hotel Address

82 Peter St
Perth, ON
K7H 1S2
(613) 326-0082



back to top