5 WORTH THE DRIVE
Enjoy summer days afloat
MISSISSIPPI RIVER PADDLEWHEELER, 1000 ISLANDS
Indulge your inner southern belle as you gaze out at the mansions on the Admiralty Islands from the deck of the Island Queen, a Mississippi River paddlewheeler. Buffet lunch is served on this three-hour cruise. For a more romantic option, try a three-hour dinner cruise and watch the sunset from the glass enclosed Bateau Mouche-style Island Star. Live music serenades you throughout the trip on both boats. Dinner cruise special event nights are planned throughout the summer (at no extra charge), including wine tastings, big-band night, Bollywood night, comedy night, Broadway night and a Beatles tribute. Where: 1000 Island Cruises. Crawford Wharf, downtown Kingston. Cost: Lunch cruise is $56 (adults) and $39 (children 4-12 years). Dinner cruise is $72 (adults) and $ 55 (children 4-12 years). Note: Reservations recommended, especially for dinner cruises. Lunch cruises; daily at 12:30 p.m. Dinner cruises; Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Parking: No parking at the dock. Park downtown. Directions: From Hwy. 401, take exit 623 and go south on Hwy. 15. Turn right at Hwy. 2 Contact: 613-549-5544, 1000islandscruises.ca
HOUSEBOAT ON BIG RIDEAU LAKE
For a unique take on cottage life, how about living on a houseboat cruising around the Rideau Canal and the Rideau Lakes? This small family-run business rents five houseboats at its private marina, varying in size from 32 to 40 feet. Each is air-conditioned and fully equipped, and some are dog friendly. Anchor your floating cottage for the night in a quiet bay, at a marina or tie up at a lock (lock pass included in the price). No worries if you don’t have a boater’s licence or experience. The owners provide a permit as well as a two-hour training course. Where: Big Rideau Lake Boat Rentals, 15 Water St., Portland, Ont. Cost: Weekly rentals range from $1,200-$2,200 depending on boat and time of year. Price includes insurance. Cheque or email transfer only. $2,000 refundable damage deposit (via credit card). Note: Season goes from May long weekend until the end of September. Kayak and Sea-Doo rentals available. Parking: At the marina Directions: Take Hwy. 7 to Carleton Place and then Hwy. 15 Contact: 613-812-7653, bigrideaulakeboatrentals.com
CANOEING AND KAYAKING IN GATINEAU PARK
Summer in Gatineau Park brings to mind hiking and beaches. Add boating to the list. You can launch your own canoe, rowboat or kayak at Lac Philippe and Lac La Pêche, but if you don’t have one of your own, rentals are available from kiosks right on the beach. Fishing is allowed (only from boats) so bring along a rod (and a fishing permit) and try your luck at catching largemouth and smallmouth bass. Where: Lac Philippe and Lac La Pêche, Gatineau Park Cost: Rentals range from $18 for 1.5 hours to $50 for eight hours. Tandem kayak rentals begin at $25 for 1.5 hours. Credit card mandatory for deposit. Note: Boat rentals include two paddles and two life-jackets. Extra life-jackets and paddles are $1 per hour or $3 per day. No reservations (except for groups of 10 or more). Dogs are not permitted near water. Motor boats not allowed. Parking: $11 a day (cars) at beach parking lots. Directions: Exit Quebec Hwy. 5 north at Chemin Old Chelsea. Turn left and then right onto Chemin Scott for Visitor Centre. Contact: ncc-ccn.gc.ca
SIGHTSEEING ON THE OTTAWA RIVER
The iconic sights of Ottawa — the Parliament Buildings, the Canadian History Museum, Rideau Falls — are more impressive seen from the water. Start in Ottawa, disembark in Gatineau to visit the Canadian History Museum, and then take a return boat to Ottawa. Sunset cocktail cruises Friday and Saturday nights are adult-only and feature live music, dancing and a cash bar. Sunset Sunday cruises are family-oriented. Where: Capital Cruises daily departures from two locations — Jacques Cartier Park Wharf on Rue Laurier in Gatineau and Rideau Canal lock, downtown Ottawa. Cost: Sightseeing cruise is $22 (adults), $19 (seniors and students), $12 (children) and $55 (family). Cocktail cruise is $25. Note: Cruises are 75 minutes. Check website for schedule. Reservations are required for cocktail cruises but not taken for sightseeing cruises. Parking: Paid and street parking at both locations. Directions: Access the Rideau Canal dock from path beside Parliament Buildings. Access Jacques Cartier Park from the Portage or Alexandra Bridge. Contact: 613-241-8811, capitalcruises.ca
ADVENTURE CRUISES ON THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY
This exhilarating alternative to a traditional sightseeing cruise, affords you views of the St. Lawrence Seaway such as Boldt and Singer castles, from a 54-passenger, high-speed Wildcat catamaran. With rock music playing in the background, a licensed bar, Captain Andy as your tour guide and the wind in your hair, touring has never been this much fun. Another unique spin on sightseeing is the alternate Thursday night pub crawls, with the Wildcat stopping at bars throughout the 1000 Islands. Where: 1000 Islands and Seaway Cruises. 30 Block House Island Pkwy., Brockville. Cost: Two-hour cruise $59.95 (adults). One-hour cruise $32.50 (adults). Pub crawl (adults only) $59.95. Note: Reservations recommended. Book online. Cash only for onboard purchases. Passports not required. Daily departures during July and August. Weekends only in off-season. Not wheelchair accessible. Pub crawl begins at 5 p.m. and ends at midnight. Parking: Limited free on-site parking. Free municipal parking on weekends and holidays. Directions: Take Hwy. 416 to Hwy. 401. Take exit 698 (Brockville/ North Augusta) and follow signs to downtown waterfront. Contact: 1-800-353-3157 1000islandscruises.ca