Activities

Carleton Place, in Lanark County, is a favored travel and vacation destination, known for its arts, crafts, fine dining, cultural events, festivals, and historic sites, all in a spectacular natural setting and only 25 minutes from Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Perth, Lanark, Almonte and Pakenham.

Ottawa is arguably the most visitor-friendly capital in the world. Small enough that everything worth seeing is within a brisk walk or an inexpensive cab ride, the city is also large enough to have something to offer nearly every taste whether it be cultural, culinary, athletic or historic.

As Ottawa has grown, so has its cultural diversity. There are many theatre companies including the Great Canadian Theatre Company and Ottawa Little Theatre which operate in the city. Ottawa is also home to the National Gallery of Canada and the National Arts Center, not to mention the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canada Science and Technology Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization which is located across the Ottawa River in Hull.

While Ottawa's downtown core is home to many of the city's major attractions including Parliament Hill and the National Gallery of Canada, it is a vibrant community unto itself with a large residential element and several shopping centres including the pedestrian Sparks Street Mall and the Rideau Shopping Center.

Across the river from Parliament Hill is Ottawa's twin city Hull. Located in the French-speaking province of Quebec, Hull has grown up struggling to find an identity under the shadow of the nation's capital. Besides having many fine French restaurants, Hull is also the gateway to Gatineau Park, a wonderfully bucolic getaway run by the National Capital Commission. The Park itself has many fine bike paths, picturesque lakes and points of interest including the Mackenzie King Estate and Meech Lake.

Further to the west of the downtown core are the suburban neighborhoods of Bells Corners, Barrhaven and Kanata, Stittsvile, Carleton Place www.carletonplace.ca/Visiting_Here/Tourism.aro, and SmithsFalls. While Barrhaven and Bells Corners are mostly bedroom communities with a smattering of restaurants and hotels, Carleton Place boast a population of 9500 with access to waterways, fishing.