Sun-Kissed in Lanark County: The Best Swimming Holes, Ice Cream, and Patios

The heat is on this summer, and the place to beat it is Lanark County.

When summer’s heat is bearing down, the hunt is on for the best spot to keep cool and bask in the lazy days of summer. Keeping cool might mean a day spent in (or on) the water, relaxing on a patio, or savouring a really good ice cream cone, but if you combine all three you’ve got a recipe for one amazing summer daytrip.

Get the most out of summer using our short list of some of the best spots to keep cool and maximize your fun in Lanark County.

Best Swimming Spots

Lanark County’s deep lakes and rushing rivers make it a prime spot lazing the day away on a sandy beach and taking a dip to cool off now and then. Pick up a picnic lunch and grab the sand toys before heading to one of these popular Lanark County swimming spots.

• Almonte Beach’s sandy shoreline is the perfect place to pitch your umbrella for a day at the beach. Public washrooms on-site.
• Bring the whole family for a picnic at Riverside Park in Carleton Place and swim in the Mississippi River or play at the adjacent splash pad. Washrooms and change rooms on-site.
• The Rideau Ferry Conservation Area has a long shoreline on the Lower Rideau Lake. Boat launch and change house on-site.
• In Lanark Highlands, Robertson Lake has a public beach that’s perfect for young children. Public washrooms on-site.
• Murphy Park in Smiths Falls is a shallow beach on the Rideau Canal. Young children can wade in the shallower water while older children can use the inflatable raft to jump into the canal. Public washrooms on-site.
• Cool off on a hot day by dipping your toes in the Tay River, with step-in access at Terrace on the Tay in downtown Perth next to Stewart Park. Grab a bite to eat from one of the pop-up eateries or brewery to savour on the patio.

Refreshing Ice Cream Shops

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! The only caveat to cooling off with an ice cream cone on a hot day is to eat it fast, before it melts. Find artisan, rich, and creamy ice cream cones at one of these shops.

• For decades the Balderson Village Cheese Store has been the go-to spot for a towering ice cream cone on a hot summer afternoon. Pick up a block of their famous cheese while you’re there.
• Your new favourite gelato flavour is waiting at North Folk Café in Perth – think fun flavours like Rose or Earl Grey (vegan options available too).
• The tiny Almonte Ice Cream Shop has been scooping ice cream for roughly 100 years in downtown Almonte. Enjoy your cone in a gazebo overlooking the Mississippi River, just feet away.
• The Cheddar Stop on Highway 7 in Carleton Place serves ice cream in shakes or cones, as well as frozen yoghurt. Browse their selection of homemade Ottawa Valley Fudge before checking out.
• In Carleton Place, Carp Custom Creamery’s ice cream is made daily in small batches and using local ingredients to create fun and unusual flavours.
• Pick up a cone from Sweet Scoops in Smiths Falls and enjoy it while sitting on a park bench in Centennial Park while watching the boats lock through the lockstations on the Rideau Canal.
• Scooping Kawartha Dairy ice cream, Scoops in Pakenham loves to bring in interesting flavours – try their Death by Chocolate or their Blue Buried Treasure.

Coolest Waterfront Patios

Whether you’re relaxing on a patio overlooking a rushing river or staying cool in the shade while people watching, a patio can help you chill out on a hot summer’s day. These restaurants and outdoor spots bring the concept of “patio life” to a new level.

• Bring a sweater for the patio at Joe’s Italian Kitchen in Almonte. Perched beside Almonte’s iconic waterfall this spot is cool no matter the season, and the view and soundscape are amazing.
• Also in Almonte, The Barley Mow has a prime location beside the Mississippi River, which is spectacular when the water is high.
• The Waterfront Gastropub’s patio in Carleton Place backs onto the Mississippi River with some good shade available from the towering maples nearby. Savour one of their iconic burgers for a coolly delicious meal.
• Across the river from the Gastropub is Boulton House, another Carleton Place favourite. Grab one of their umbrella-shaded couches overlooking the Mississippi River and lounge while you dine.
• The artistic mural on The Black Tartan Kitchen’s mural wall in Carleton Place is pretty cool and makes a perfect backdrop for an inspired selfie.
• In Perth, Mex & Co.’s patio is tucked beside the Tay Canal as it winds through Perth. The view and the food make this a popular spot all day (and night) long.
• The Lockmaster’s Taphouse in Smiths Falls gives you fabulous views of the Rideau River as it rushes past.
• Just outside of Perth in Rideau Ferry, CC’s on the Rideau’s patio backs onto the Lower Rideau River and is a popular spot for boaters, cyclists, and drivers to watch the river float past.

Bonus: People Watching Patios

• In Perth, Michael’s Table’s patio overlooks busy Gore Street in downtown Perth, and is the perfect people watching spot. Order one of their specialty and refreshing cocktails (or mock cocktails) for a perfect summer day.
• Do some people watching on The Stone Cellar’s cool and shady patio backing onto the Tay Basin.
• Located in the Old Post Office building, Café Postino in Almonte has an epic view down historic Mill Street in downtown Almonte. Stay cool in the shade from the building while enjoying true Italian fare.