Comfortable home base in beautiful heritage town

Our home is tucked into a quiet, family-friendly neighbourhood on the edge of beautiful Perth, Ontario, just 45 minutes west of our capital, Ottawa. Set in the heart of cottage country and surrounded by lakes, forests, farms and rolling countryside, Perth is a charming heritage town that has often been called one of the most beautiful towns in Ontario. From our house, you can walk downtown for morning coffee, dinner, shopping, the Saturday farmers’ market (May through October), or an afternoon in beautiful Stewart Park. The Tay River winds right through the heart of town, passing historic stone buildings, patios and little bridges that give downtown Perth an almost European feel. Summer is when Perth really comes alive. There are night markets, outdoor events, theatres, patios, live music and the Stewart Park Festival — a fantastic, free three-day music festival held right in the park in July. Perth also has a surprisingly great food scene, with independent restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops, all within walking distance of our home. We live in true Canadian cottage country. As soon as you leave town, you’re surrounded by lakes, forests, winding country roads and beautiful rural scenery. Lanark County is dotted with lakes and rivers, so summer here revolves around the water — swimming, paddling, boating, fishing, or simply finding a quiet spot by the lake for the afternoon. There are also endless opportunities for hiking, cycling and exploring nearby villages and small towns. Perth is located in Lanark County, known as the Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario, with dozens of local maple producers and sugar bushes throughout the surrounding countryside. Winter brings a completely different experience. Perth becomes a snowy small-town escape, with plenty of opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, including nearby Murphy’s Point Provincial Park. And when you’re ready for a change of pace, Ottawa is close enough for an easy day trip, making Perth a wonderful home base for experiencing both rural Ontario and Canada’s capital. Our comfortable four-bedroom bungalow is especially well suited to families or those looking to work remotely. On the main level, we have a primary bedroom with a queen-size bed and two children’s bedrooms — one with a queen-size bed and the other with a large bunk bed. There’s an office workspace in the bright and sunny living room, as well as a second desk in one of the bedrooms, making it easy to work remotely if needed. Laundry (washer and dryer) is conveniently located just off the kitchen. Downstairs, the finished basement has a large family and TV room with a fireplace and pull-out couch, a full bathroom with shower, and a fourth bedroom with a queen-size bed. Our backyard backs onto greenspace, and has a deck and gazebo with comfortable seating and a hammock for summer evenings, as well as an inflatable spa/hot tub and trampoline. There’s also a small neighbourhood park and playground just down the street, and our streets are quiet and great for kids to bike, scooter and play. You’re welcome to use any of the bikes or scooters in our garage, and our big driveway is perfect for games and sidewalk chalk. If you’re looking for a home exchange that offers small-town charm, beautiful scenery, outdoor adventures and a true taste of Canadian cottage country while still being close enough to explore Ottawa, this is it.