Stories
A deeper understanding of the places, people and landscapes that shape eastern Ontario.
Some places are easy to visit.
Understanding why they matter takes a little longer.
These stories explore the history, geography, culture and people behind the destinations you’ll encounter throughout A 1000 Ways experiences.
How to Experience the Rideau Canal Beyond the Locks
Most visitors experience the Rideau Canal one lockstation at a time.
They watch boats rise and fall. Walk across hand-operated lock gates. Stop for lunch in a canal-side village before continuing to the next destination.
It’s a wonderful way to spend a day.
But it isn’t the whole story.
The Rideau Canal is more than a chain of locks. It is a landscape shaped by geography, engineering, ambition, and the communities that grew because of the waterway itself. Some of its most remarkable stories are found not at the locks, but in the places between them.
Understanding those places changes how you experience every mile of the canal.
This guide explores the landscapes, villages, and defining moments that reveal why the Rideau Canal became one of Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites and why travelling beyond the locks offers a deeper understanding of one of the country’s greatest engineering achievements.