This stately 1840s Georgian mansion is one of the finest houses in the Ottawa Valley. Although you could happily spend the day wandering the seven acres of manicured grounds and taking in the view of the Mississippi River, the inn’s impressive interior is equally inviting. Afternoon tea is served in an elegant living room furnished with antiques. The four guest rooms are also well appointed: the spacious Tait McKenzie suite features a four-poster bed, a claw-footed tub and a river view; another room is named after Dr. James Naismith, the Almonte native credited with inventing basketball. Lavish breakfasts are served in a dining room that features a massive 19th-century hearth and crystal chandeliers. Canoes and bicycles are available, and guests are invited to fish off the inn’s dock. Located by the river, Almonte’s Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (613-256-3754) shows how the rapid waters once powered local woollen mills.