Best Ice Cream Shops Along the Rideau Canal

Pete’s Family Fare Restaurant- Ice Cream Booth -Take out stand

84 Gore Street E. Perth Ontario K7H 1J2 (613)267-4033

Around the corner from Pete’s Family Fare Restaurant on Market Square is their busy little ice cream booth – proudly serving Chapman’s Ice-cream in  wide range of flavors .  There is plenty of seating at the nearby picnic tables or walk just a few minutes and you will be at Stewart Park. Located behind the Town Hall, Stewart Park is the most distinctive landmark in Perth and home to the annual Stewart Park Festival.  The Tay River runs through Stewart Park and is met by green grass, weeping trees and beautiful landscape and bridges. Enjoy your ice cream and walking around, enjoying the peaceful landscape and beauty gardens.  

Perth Pie Co: 

12 Gore St E, Perth, ON K7H 1H5 (613) 200-8743 https://www.perthpieco.ca/

Nothing pairs better with ice cream than a nice slice of home made pie! The Perth Pie Co. is a local retail bakery operating from their location at 12 Gore Street East in Perth, Ontario, Canada. They make all of our baked goods from real ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible, and made entirely from scratch without the use of artificial flavorings or colourings, or preservatives. They are celebrating over 12 years in business! The  shop carries a variety of both sweet and savory pies  that changes daily, weekly, and seasonally. You can find pies, crumbles, tarts, cookies, biscuits, and squares along with a selection of take home, frozen goods such as, raw/frozen fruit and meat pies, pastry shells and crumbles that can be baked fresh in your oven at your convenience.

Vanilla Bean's Cafe & Creamery,

34 Main St, Westport, ON K0G 1X0

Located  just a 2 minute walk from Westport Harbour and at the top of the street, you can’t miss going for ice cream at the Vanilla Bean’s Café & Creamery. 

I love the Chocolate Peanut Butter and always ask for a pint to go so you can enjoy later from the top deck of your Horizon Cruiser.  

Westport Ice Cream and Candy,

Corner of Main Street & Bedford St.  

This other popular local spot located on the main street in Westport  features a wide variety of ice cream flavors as well as a full wall of candy, local fudge and maple syrup products to choose from! 

Be sure to pick up a bottle or two of locally produced maple syrup as a souvenir or for breakfast on your boat this week.        

Kilborn’s on The Rideau

10 Drummond St, Newboro, ON K0G 1P0 (613) 272-0114 

Just a 5-10 minute walk from Newboro lock station is a very unique shopping experience located in historic town Newboro. (ask the Lockmaster to point you in the right direction and follow the path into town) .  This store has it all -including , clothing, gifts, big shoe selection, small pantry of food items and a  small ice cream counter at the front of the store.   Kilborn’s gets its name from Col. John Kilborn, a prisoner of the United States in the War of 1812, who escaped and eventually came to settle in Newboro. Achieving the highest rank for a member of the militia, Col. Kilborn went on to become a representative in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, Postmaster and a judge.   The present-day dining room of Stirling Lodge is the main structure of his 1832 home.   Next to Kilborns is the historic Stagecoach Inn restaurant with a great patio. It is open year-round for both lunch and dinner.  Join them for steak, Prime Rib and great seafood, featuring Alaskan crab legs, lobster ravioli, and amazing Humboldt squid calamari every Friday and Saturday night. Please call for inquiries and to make a reservation  613-272-2900 (they also serve dessert!) 

Just minutes away from where you moor your Le Boat cruiser in downtown Ottawa is ByWard Market- a buzzing hub of outdoor farmers’ market stalls and specialty food shops selling Canadian cheese and maple-infused chocolate. It’s also known for its colorful street art and hip stores filled with crafts and clothes by local designers and also home to the icon BeaverTails (sweet fried pastries in the shape of a beaver’s tail), great restaurant and desert cafes.  

La Catrina Churros + Café Bar

ByWard Market, 105B Clarence St., Ottawa, ON K1N 5P5, (613) 421-9910

Ottawa’s only Mexican café and Churro Shop- Fall in love with their fresh made churro with a side of chocolate sauce and scoop of soft serve ice cream. A churro is a long piece of thick deep-fried dough, coated with cinnamon and sugar. It is a Mexican and Spanish dessert, popular for its crisp exterior and soft interior. Try it stuffed, dipped or traditional.  La Catrina is a nestled in the heart of Ottawa’s downtown ByWard Market and is a family-owned café and the city’s only churreria (churro shop). La Catrina specialize in authentic Mexican churros and have an espresso bar, a dessert display, drinks, ice cream and Mexican sandwiches. 

Piccolo Grande Gelateria

102-55 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5M3 (613) 241-2909

This five star rated artisan Gelateria & Escpresso bar is also located in Byward Market  where Hotel Martineau, built in 1872 . Their most popular flavours include  Bacio - Pistachio - Chocolate - Hazelnut - Chocolate Peanut Butter – Coconut.  They also offer vegan sorbet options including lemon, lime, passion fruit, grapefruit or cherry. Piccolo Grande - Little fat, Big taste. "Forse, la migliore gelateria nel mondo! - Based on an age old Italian tradition, Piccolo Grande have taken the charm of the Italian Gelateria, adapted it to the North American market and palate, creating a concept that has proved to be a gastronomic sensation, as well as a home grown success story for 30 plus years.  Piccolo Grande will always use the finest ingredients available; including imported traditional flavorings direct from Italy and are commitment to remarkable service backed up by quality craftsmanship in the pursuit of an authentic Italian experience in the heart of Ottawa.