If your girls’ weekend doesn’t start with a splash – literally – you are missing out! Our girls’ weekends away are all about experiencing more in Ontario, finding hidden gems and Petawawa was the perfect choice for that! Just over four hours from Toronto we found adrenaline-filled adventures, much needed relaxation, small-town charm and oodles of Canadian pride… so let me share why Petawawa is the Ultimate Ontario Girls’ Getaway!

1. Award-winning Quality Inn and Suites in Petawawa:

Centrally located in the heart of Petawawa, we chose the award-winning Quality Inn and Suites Petawawa for our home away from home girls weekend stay. Clean, cozy and welcoming we LOVED our visit. Jamie Moody, the general manager, greeted us on arrival which set the stage for our flawless experience. His attention to detail he was amazing. As an expert traveller, there are certain things I appreciate when selecting my hotels – breakfast included, pool & hot tub, location and loyalty programs are a few that top the list and Quality Inn and Suites in Petawawa had them all! Whether you’re looking for adventure, family vacation, downtime, or have military business – this is the place for you! And I definitely need to highlight that ALL of the staff were amazing, friendly and welcoming! Ready to book your stay?! Click here:

Amenities:

Quality Inn and Suites Petawawa had everything we needed and more!

  • Pool and hot tub:
    • Great hours open 7am – 10pm
    • Towels, benches, chairs and safety essentials
    • Outdoor patio with BBQ
  • Laundry facilities:
    • Pay per use washer and dryer
    • Laundry detergent and fabric softener single use dispenser machine
    • Folding area.
  • A mini market:
    • Snacks
    • Essentials for purchase to save a trip out of the hotel
  • Complimentary hot breakfast open from 7am – 10am
    • Rotating hot main dishes
    • A variety of cereals and baked selections
    • Waffle station
    • Yoghurts & hard boiled eggs
    • Fresh fruits and fruit salad
    • A variety of juices, coffee & and more!
  • Office Space:
    • Computer & printer
  • Fitness Centre:
    • Universal gym
    • Treadmill & elliptical machine
    • Water and towels
  • Free parking
  • Banquet and meeting space
  • Free-wifi

Location:

Quality Inn and Suites Petawawa is perfectly situated for families, friends or business stays. Centrally located, it is walking distance to:

  • Playgrounds:
    • Two large playgrounds for children with accessible features and a reading tree too!
  • Mini Putt:
    • Decorated in an animal themed
  • Baseball diamonds, beach volleyball courts & BMX course:
  • Main stream restaurants, stores and so much more!

Rewards Program:

  • Choice Hotels Canada offer the Choice Privileges program that include:
    • The lowest guaranteed price at over 7,400 hotels when you book directly with Choice Hotels
    • Free to join
    • Reward nights starting at 6,000 points
    • Unique partner offers
    • Tiered reward levels for even more rewards and savings!

Multi Award winning hotel:

  • Recipient of the prestigious 2025 Hotel of the Year Award
  • Recipient of multiple Platinum Guest Satisfaction Awards, (given to only the top 3% of hotels nationwide.)
  • Recipient of multiple Choice Hotels International Awards and more!

One of my favourite parts of our stay was that it was house keeping appreciation week so Quality Inn and Suites in Petawawa had a friendly animal towel competition going on for it. Two towel bears greeted us in our room on arrival and when I expressed my excitement about all of the towel talent we came home to a zoo of new towel friends! I LOVED them all, and our room!

My friend and I on the bed in our romm at the Quality Inn and Suite Petawawa by Choice Hotels Canada with a zoo of towel animals!

 

2. White Water Rafting with Wildnerness Tours:

A bucket list check, we started our weekend with a rush of adrenaline thanks to Wilderness Tours on our first ever white water rafting adventure! We were both super excited and slightly scared, thanks to the crazy “what if’s” created by our 40-something minds (we almost booked the kiddie 5+ ride). But, with 50 years experience we knew we were in great hands, and at Wilderness Tours suggestion we doubled down on our excitement, signed our waivers and geared up for the time of our lives! It was an epic experience that I would definitely do again and highly recommend. We conquered the waves under the expertise of our guide Joel, with thrills that set the tone for an unforgettable weekend!

A raft full of rafters taking on the white waters on the Ottawa River with the blue raft and yellow writing of Wilderness Tours

Included in our ticket:

  • Four hour White Water Rafting Tour
  • Expert guide
  • Safety briefing
  • Bus ride to staring point of the rapids
  • Helmets, life jackets, paddles and wetsuits (free in September)
  • Professional photographer/videographer (additional fee to purchase)
  • Hot chocolate, snack, washroom and campfire stop
  • Cliff jump and rest stop
  • Lunch after
  • Sample of local beer
  • Access to on site amenities including sauna, inflatable water park and more

There was an on-site store for items you may have forgotten to make your visit more enjoyable such as water shoes, bathing suits, GoPro rentals and more!

3. Petawawa Container Market:

After our fun filled morning, we headed back to our hotel. While parking, we spotted the recommended must-visit Petawawa Container Market across the street and quickly popped over to check it out. Open Fridays and Saturday this cute little market is a vibrant collection of local vendors that is perfect for picking up handmade goods, snacks, and souvenirs. Nearing 3pm they were starting to close so we headed back to our room to get changed.

4. Kayaking with the town at Petawawa Point Beach:

They say hindsight is 20/20 so the idea of booking a second paddle experience after four hours of rafting might not have been ideal but we are women of our word, so we were determined to try! Our guided kayak and SUP tour was booked through the Town of Petawawa – Dynamic by Nature and we met Colin and Ellie at Petawawa Point Beach. Petawawa Point Beach is a local gem that was actually on our list to visit because it’s here that the Ottawa and Petawawa Rivers meet. The beach offers beautiful sandy shores, calm shallow waters, and stunning views making it perfect for picnics, swimming and more! Luck was on our side gracing us with ultra calm waters and the peaceful conditions allowed us to take in the picturesque views until sunset which was another 4kms of paddling!

5. Downtime at our hotel:

Exhausted from our day, we had planned to visit Madameek’s for dinner thanks to their fantastic reviews, but it was a special celebration day in Petawawa and they were unexpectedly closed. A blessing in disguise we pivoted, grabbing some quick and easy take-out food instead. This gave a us a chance to relax and unwind in the hot tub before heading out on the town for Saturday night fun!

6. Dog House Brewing Company:

A girl’s weekend isn’t complete without a Saturday night out on the town and ours took us to Doghouse Brewing Company.  There we enjoyed an evening of local craft beer and live music. We met the owner, Brady, who shared a bit about what it was like growing up in a military family and town, the story behind his brewery and the story behind his craft sodas. The back of each can reads:

  • Behind every soldier is a family who supports them. This family will celebrate the highs whilst grieving the lows. This parent sacrifices their parent, child or friend so that all Canadians can live in peace. In Afghanistan alone 158 soldiers lost their lives. That is 158 families who had to grow up without a parent or loved one. Furthermore, a countless numbers of others returned with life altering mental and physical injuries. Toy Solider Craft Cream Soda is a non-alcoholic homage to those families who sacrificed for this Great Nation and whose lives will never be the same. For the complete story visit their website https://www.doghousebrewingcompany.ca/

We enjoyed our visit and they closed at 9pm so mindful of our energy levels we decided to call it an early night and headed home to our hotel for a good nights sleep.

7. Gearheads:

We started our day with a delicious hot breakfast at our hotel and then headed out to explore! There’s no better way to start a day then with some healthy active living, so when we learned that there was an E-Bike rental shop called Gearheads right beside the Quality Inn and Suites Petawawa we jumped at the opportunity to tour the rest of the town by e-Bike. E-Bikes are basically the same as riding a regular bike but with extra ease and speed (Up to 30 kms per hour). We travelled along the Algonquin trail to see the rapids, then headed over CFB Petawawa to see the Military Museum.

8. CFB Petawawa Military Museum:

Sadly we didn’t actually go in the museum this visit, but I would add it to a Petawawa visit itinerary. A historical review of the military of the area, the museum, where possible, makes the visit an interactive experience. Great for all ages, there are 3 collections showcased at CFB Petawawa Military Museum including the Garrison Petawawa Collection, the Canadian Airborne Forces Collection and the Canadian Guards Collection.

9. Mount Molson Dairy Bar:

Our next stop was at Mount Molson Dairy Bar where rumour had it that they have the best ice cream and views in Petawawa. A former ski hill, both the views and the ice cream did not disappoint. A nice break from cycling, Jen had a Heavenly Hash cone and I chose their seasonal Pumpkin Spice. After that we rode by noting two other recommended stops:Petawawa Terrace Provincial Park and Petawawa’s Heritage Village before arriving back at the hotel to get the car.

10. Ottawa Valley Coffee:

After a full morning of exploring we decided to check out Ottawa Valley Coffee for second morning coffee. To our surprise Ottawa Valley Coffee is SO MUCH more than coffee! They have a cute little shopping area with local products, children’s clothes, and jewelry. They also have a selection of 62 craft beers from over 30+ local craft breweries that are not found at the LCBO. Another interesting find was their vodka made from the sugars from milk called Vodcow. We did some shopping and then each had an Instagram-worthy latte and couldn’t resist taking a local craft radler for later.

11. The Shed:

Last but definitely not least we headed to The Shed for lunch before heading home. There we were welcomed by Bill, the passionate owner. Bill shared his story of how The Shed and it’s Canadian comfort food classics, like poutine and donairs, came to be. A retired veteran, he decided to bring a taste of home from Newfoundland to Petawawa. Located down the street from the base whose demographics are very East Coast heavy, the vibe of The Shed is catering to those missing home bringing a piece of home to them. Bill’s top sellers are the Halifax poutine and the Halifax donair, which we tried and loved. The magic being in his sauce that he makes himself, keeping the recipe a secret. We LOVED the imported crush sodas from Newfoundland ( my favourite was the pineapple and the East Coast music.. A seasonal business that opened July 1st, 2016, he opens each year on May 19th – October 19th. Fun fact, they cut approximately 500lbs of potatoes a day when open! We could have talked all day, but sadly after our feast it was time to head home.

12. Algonquin Park – The Lookout Trail (or Barron Canyon Trail)

On our way home, we stopped for a hike—at Algonquin’s The Lookout Trail for gorgeous scenic views. Barron Canyon Trail in Algonquin Park was also suggested as an option, but we will have to save that for another time! Either way both options offer incredible views making for the perfect end to your trip.

Final Thoughts

After staying at Quality Inn & Suites Petawawa we can see why they are an award-winning property. They exceeded every expectation and made our visit memorable. A great hotel is the foundation for an incredible trip and our girls weekend away was the perfect Petawawa getaway.  So, if you’re planning a girls’ weekend, this one should be high on your list and I hope you enjoyed learning Why Petawawa is the Ultimate Ontario Girls’ Getaway in my opinion!