Stretching between the Ottawa River and Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario’s Highlands, the Ottawa Valley is a beautiful four-season destination for outdoorsy activities, beautiful views, and tasty bites along the way. Whether you’re traveling from Toronto, Montreal, or upstate New York, this is the perfect place to disconnect from your busy schedule and enjoy quality time with friends and loved ones.
Wondering how to plan your Ottawa Valley adventure? We’ve put together a full itinerary to guide you as you journey through this region. Let’s get going!
Day 1: Renfrew, Scotch Bush, Burnstown and Arnprior
Ottawa Valley Coffee
Where: 239 Raglan St S, Renfrew, ON (View map)
Before you set off for the day, we recommend a stop at Ottawa Valley Coffee in Renfrew. This community hub aims to provide residents with high-quality, locally-sourced coffee, craft beer, baked goods and handmade local products. The welcoming and relaxed setting is the perfect spot to catch up with friends or just enjoy a quiet moment before a busy day.
On the menu, you’ll find lots of tasty treats along with sandwiches crafted with local sourdough or Kettleman Bagels. The fridges are stocked with craft beer from over 30 local brewers.
Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork
Where: 1358 Scotch Bush Rd, Bonnechere Valley, ON (View map)
Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork is a family farm in Scotch Bush, a small community in the Township of Bonnechere Valley. Owners Marshall and Kathleen both bring a broad base of academic backgrounds and real-life expertise to their farm, which focuses on regenerative agriculture. If you’re not familiar with regenerative agriculture, it’s a method of farming that goes beyond traditional farming methods to prioritize the health and vitality of our soils, promote biodiversity, and contribute to the overall well-being of our local ecosystem.
In a practical sense, this means planting crops that give nutrients back to the soil, growing certain crops side-by-side to get the best out of them, and allowing certain meadows to run beautifully wild in order to allow pollinators to do their work. The end result is high-quality, nutrient-rich produce that contributes to the long-term resilience of our land and community. Touring the farm is an incredible way to learn more about how your food is produced.
In addition to the farm, Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork also offers agritourism packages that include hands-on farming, dining in the restored 1860s heritage barn hall, and stays in the cozy farmhouse near the dairy goat herd.
Neat Coffee Shop
Where: 1715 Calabogie Rd, Burnstown, ON (View map)
Neat Coffee Shop is hiding a secret: not only is it a great spot to stop for coffee and breakfast, but it’s also one of Ontario’s most unique music venues!
Their 90-person capacity event room has played host to some of Canada’s biggest names, like Tokyo Police Club, Born Ruffians, Chantal Kreviazuk, Bif Naked, The Sheepdogs, and many more.
The café serves breakfast favourites from 8-11am before transitioning to a menu of wraps, sandwiches, salads, and wood-fired pizzas that are named after musicians and songs. They even offer on-site accommodations for small or large groups. If you’re planning a visit to the area, it’s well-worth looking up their event schedule and planning your trip around one of their upcoming shows!
Cold Bear Brewing Company
Where: 100 Madawaska Blvd, Arnprior, ON K7S 1S7 (View map)
Cold Bear Brewing Co. opened its doors in Arnprior in May 2023 and the brewery has quickly become a hub for neighbours in search of community. The taproom is a great spot to stop for a couple of hours and relax with friends over a pint or two.
On the menu, you’ll find craveable bar snacks like pretzels with mustard, charcuterie skewers, and chips with homemade dip (it sounds simple, but we dare you to eat just one!). Their beers are crafted with local ingredients that support a community of hard-working producers in and around the Ottawa area.
Lumbertown Ale House
Where: 123 John St N, Arnprior, ON (View map)
Lumbertown Ale House is Arnprior’s only gastro pub, and they carry that title with pride. The menu features dishes made with fresh, local ingredients, like Thornloe Heritage Cheese and Carve Premium Ontario Beef. This Feast On® certified restaurant works closely with Ontario craft breweries and local farmers to source the very best spirits, beer and produce that highlights the bounty of Ontario.
The batter for their crowd-pleasing fish & chips is made with Whitewater Brewing Company’s Farmer’s Daughter, a blonde ale that is hand-crafted using fresh Canadian ingredients. The flaky haddock paired perfectly with the housemade tartar sauce. Don’t forget to save some room for the sticky toffee pudding at the end of your meal!
Day 2: Pembroke and Cobden
The Nook Creperie
Where: 26 Pembroke St W, Pembroke, ON (View map)
The Nook Creperie offers up a little taste of Paris in downtown Pembroke. This beautiful French bistro-inspired spot serves a wide variety of savoury and sweet crêpes with fusion-inspired fillings and toppings, all made from scratch.
The Nook also serves a curated range of wines, craft beer, and interesting cocktails to pair with your crêpe. Brunch is served until 2pm on weekends, making this the perfect way to start Day 2!
McGuire’s Doughnuts
Where: 178 Albert St, Pembroke, ON (View map)
Located just down the street from Nook Creperie, McGuire’s Doughnuts is whipping up tasty treats with a lot of love and a little bit of science. As owner Connor McGuire told CBC in 2019: “You have to know the dough. Temperature and humidity affects the rising of the dough, which is a huge part of this recipe.”
The shop’s offerings change frequently in accordance with the seasons, so there’s always something new to try! Don’t miss the apple fritters on Wednesdays.
Whitewater Brewing Company
Where: 78 Pembroke St, Cobden, ON (View map)
Whitewater Brewing Co. opened its doors in 2013 with the goal of creating high-quality, sustainable beer made with local ingredients. The brewery is doing their part to protect the environment by using renewable energy to brew their beer and run the kitchen, and they proudly hold the title of Canada’s first Climate Neutral Certified brewery.
The Lakeside Brew Pub serves a rotating menu of seasonal dishes crafted with local, high-quality produce and ingredients. In addition to their beer, the bar menu also includes drinks crafted with Whitewater’s two artisanal spirits, Broken Paddle Whisky and Paper Boat Gin. There’s always something going on in the pub, with frequent music nights and trivia to help build a sense of community – check their website for upcoming events!
Nomada Tacos
Where: 205 Church St, Pembroke, ON (View map)
Tucked away on a side street in Pembroke, Nomada Tacos is serving up Mexican street cuisine in a bright and colourful space. The menu is full of delicious street-style favourites, like chunky guac, elotes, margaritas, and of course, tacos of all kinds!
We loved the pescado taco with grilled fish and chipotle mayo and the classic, succulent pork carnitas taco topped with pickled red onions. For those with a daring palate, the house-made diablo hot sauce is a must-try.
Where to Stay in the Ottawa Valley
Somewhere Inn Calabogie
Where: 5254 Calabogie Rd, Calabogie, ON (View map)
Somewhere Inn in Calabogie is no run-of-the-mill accommodation; after all, how often does an inn’s front desk also double as a wine bar? But Somewhere Inn isn’t a regular place to spend the night: it’s a cool place to spend the night. Both of their properties (there’s also one in Collingwood) are built as a means to escape from everyday life. In Calabogie, their revived 1970s boutique motel overlooks the stunning lakes, forests, and mountains of Calabogie and the Ottawa Valley.
On the large tree canopied grounds, you’ll find the aforementioned check-in desk/wine bar, lawn games, and hammocks galore.
The Scandi-inspired rooms are designed with groups in mind, with large living spaces, lots of seating, and vintage touches throughout.
The Scandi vibes continue outside, where a sauna and cold plunge circuit await the brave. At night, the communal fire pits are a perfect spot to spend some time under the stars with friends old and new.
