PowerBoat Television Travels North to Ottawa on the Rideau Canal
Powerboat TV had such a great response from its episode travelling south on the Rideau waterway, they've come back to experience the cruise north to Ottawa, this time with host Jon Blaicher, his wife, friends and their little dog too!
PowerBoat Television is a weekly, half-hour program focusing on the boating lifestyle and has been North America's premiere recreational boating show for 29 years!
From fishing boats to luxury cruisers, great destinations, and helpful DIY segments, it covers what’s of interest to boaters at large and has been doing so since 1990! It broadcasts in HD across Canada on Global Television Saturdays at 11:00 AM EST. Check your local listings; you don't want to miss it!
PowerBoat Television featuring Le Boat
Tune into PowerBoat Television and watch host Jon Blaicher explore our newest destination, the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal in Ontario Canada.
Check your listings for the Global Television Network
Part 1 Smiths Falls and Merrickville:
- Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 11:00 AM & Sunday, March 14 at 6:30 AM
Part 2 Manotick and Ottawa:
- Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 11:00 AM & Sunday, March 21 at 6:30 AM
Don't miss these episodes where Jon, his wife, his friends, and his little dog, cruise along the chain of lakes, rivers and canals that make up the Rideau Canal. They travel on board our premier Horizon cruiser.
Learn more about this historical lock system and enjoy interviews with the Le Boat Canada Team and local businesses along the canal.
Part 1 Smiths Falls and Merrickville - Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 11:00 AM & Sunday, March 14 at 6:30 AM
SMITHS FALLS
The journey starts in the pretty little town of Smiths Falls. located in the heart of the Rideau, half way between Kingston and Ottawa. This town is the location of Le Boat’s base on the Rideau Canal, and is the ideal starting and finishing point for exploring whichever part of the canal takes your fancy. Here you'll find no shortage of shops and restaurants to explore. Discover craft products and designer labels before taking the time to relax and unwind over a glass of wine at one of Smiths Falls’ many restaurants or local beers from 4 Degrees Brewing Company, Smiths Falls’ very own craft brewery. Don't miss the visit to the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario. Featured in this Powerboat TV episode.
MERRICKVILLE
Dubbed the ‘Jewel of the Rideau’, it won’t take you long to see why Merrickville has been described as Canada’s most beautiful village. The town of Merrickville originally developed as a community based around the sawmill of William Mirik (later Merrick) during the early 19th century. Over the years the town prospered, firstly with the arrival of the Rideau Canal in the 1830s and then the appearance of the railway in the 1880s. In recent years Merrickville has reinvented itself as a vibrant artisanal community and popular spot for visitors to the area. Wander around its picturesque streets, lined with Victorian-era stone houses, and immerse yourself in the quirky shops, artist studios and characterful cafes that make this delightful town so unique.
Part 2 Manotick and Ottawa. Watch Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 11:00 AM & Sunday, March 21 at 6:30 AM
MANOTICK & LONG ISLAND
Wander around this pleasant village of Manotick and take in its quaint curiosities. Visit the Gingerbread Man Confectionary Shop for some old-timey Canadian sweets. Next, head to Watson’s Mill, this fascinating little working museum is one of the only remaining operating grist mills in North America and just oozes old-world charm. With no overnight moorings in Manotick itself, to get to Manotick, we recommend you moor at Long Island lockstation. Here, you’ll find one of the only swing bridges still in operation on the Rideau Canal. This is the perfect picnic spot to take a break, sit back, unwind and watch the world drift by.
OTTAWA, CANADA'S CAPITAL CITY
The Rideau Canal snakes its way through the heart of downtown Ottawa, allowing you to step off your boat and instantly be immersed in the city’s easy cosmopolitan vibe. Walk to Parliament Hill, home to Canada’s Parliament with its spectacular Neo-Gothic architecture. During the summer months, the front lawn of Parliament turns into the backdrop for the Changing of the Guard ceremony (takes place at 9:50 am each morning). In the evening, people gather again to witness the amazing sound and light show projected onto the Centre Block. Or, participate in a free guerrilla yoga class on the front lawn every Wednesday at noon
from May to August.
Ottawa is also home to an expansive collection of award-winning national museums that enlighten the downtown core. From the world’s largest indoor collection of totem poles, priceless world-class & indigenous art, dinosaur fossils and heroic tales from the nation’s military past (receive $2 off adult admission upon presentation of this guide at the Canadian War Museum), visitors are invited to experience the best of Canada all in one place. A particular highlight is the exceptional National Gallery of Canada – here you’ll be able to take in some of the finest art from Canada and around the world. Outside, you’ll discover a statue of a giant arachnid by Louise Bourgeois – while initially intimidating, the statue, titled Maman (French for mother), actually alludes to metaphors of spinning, weaving, nurture and protection as an ode to Bourgeois’ mother!
Discover the whole Rideau Canal: Watch the Episode travelling South
Want to know what it's like to cruise south into the Rideau Lakes and beyond? Click through to watch the full 30 minute episode. Steve Bull cruises south with his family on the chain of lakes, rivers and canals that make up the Rideau Canal, on board our premier Horizon cruiser. Learn more about this historical lock system and enjoy interviews with the Le Boat Canada Team, Parks Canada and local businesses along the canal.
Cruising on a Luxury Boat Rental in Ontario, Canada
Our Canadian boating vacations are the perfect way to discover the beauty of the Rideau Canal.
Running from Ottawa to Kingston, the Rideau is perfect for the romantic weekend getaway or mid-summer family adventure with the kids or group of friends. You may choose a short break of 3-5 days, a weeklong vacation, or even 10+ days spending lots of time experiencing everything this region has to offer.
Download the Canada Brochure
Travel close to home this year.
View the Canada brochure to learn about a vacation on the UNESCO Rideau Canal - a 202km stretch from Ottawa to Kingston featuring big cities, small artisan villages, spectacular nature, narrow rivers and wide open lakes. View it online in a searchable PDF viewer.
