Unexpected Journeys

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“The gift of an experience”

Surprise road trips for adventure lovers! 🚗 Woman & Indigenous-owned 🇨🇦 Voted ✨Ottawa’s Best Experience✨

Book your journey now! 👇

-journeys.com

10/10/2026

Same place. Different season. 🍂❄️

And just as beautiful either way.

📍 Blakeney Rapids • Mississippi Mills, Ontario

Tucked between Almonte and Pakenham, this little gem is one of those places that’s worth visiting more than once.

A network of wooded trails and charming footbridges leads you alongside the rushing waters of the Mississippi River, with beautiful views of the rapids along the way.

And here’s a little behind-the-scenes look at Unexpected Journeys…

When I’m searching for stops to include in our surprise road trips, I look for places that offer something special in every season. Places you can go back to as the seasons change for a whole different experience each time.

Blakeney Rapids is exactly the kind of place I love discovering. 🌿it can be found on our “Bridges, Rapids and Trails” journey.

✨ Save this one for your next 🍂 road trip and go back this winter! ❄️

Your invitation is waiting.

✨ This is exactly the kind of place I’m always looking for.📍Pipelines Path — Témiscaming, QuébecA little unexpected. A l...
10/02/2026

✨ This is exactly the kind of place I’m always looking for.

📍Pipelines Path — Témiscaming, Québec

A little unexpected. A little off the beaten path. And absolutely worth stopping for.

This beautiful trail winds alongside the old pipelines that once carried water from the dam above to the generating station below with 208 stairs, forest views and more than a few “wow” moments along the way.

Places like this are why I always encourage people to take the slower road, turn off the main highway and leave a little room for discovery.

And if you’re heading this way, pair it with the drive along Highway 533 from Mattawa to Témiscaming. It’s one of those stretches of road I could talk about forever.

Details:

▫️527 m trail
▫️208 stairs
▫️Moderate difficulty
▫️Free to visit
▫️About 4 hours from Ottawa
▫️Start at the marina or the end of Marina Street

✨ C’est un endroit incroyable!

Save this hidden gem for your next road trip.

Because sometimes the best parts of a journey are the ones you weren’t expecting.

Your invitation is waiting. ❤️

Thanks to Adventures with Josie for sharing this special place with me!

Bonjour Québec

This might be one of the most Canadian fall experiences we’ve ever done. 🍁🍒The Cranberry Plunge at Muskoka Lakes Farm & ...
09/27/2026

This might be one of the most Canadian fall experiences we’ve ever done. 🍁🍒

The Cranberry Plunge at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery in Bala lets you step right into a working cranberry bog during harvest season…waders and all. 🍒

It’s been on our bucket list for years!

Details:

🍒 Sept. 26–Oct. 26, 2026
💰 $22 booked ahead / $25 at the gate
🥾 Waders are provided
⏰ Allow about 1 hour
📏 You must be 4’6” or taller

✨Make it a day: explore the trails, visit the winery, take a wagon tour, check out their harvest menu, pick up some goodies from their sweet shop.

📍 Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery
Bala, Ontario

Save this for your fall adventures and send it to the person you’d want to do this with. 🍂

Some of the best moments are unexpected.

09/24/2026

Want the ultimate fall view without the hike? 🍂🍁

The Fall Colours Chairlift Experience at Calabogie Peaks is back for 2026, and it’s such a fun way to take in the Ottawa Valley colours from above.

Details:

📍 Calabogie Peaks Resort
30 Barrett Chute Road, Calabogie, Ontario

🍂 WHEN
Saturdays + Sundays from September 19–October 11
Plus Thanksgiving Monday, October 12

⏰ HOURS
9:00 AM–3:00 PM
The final ride up the mountain leaves at 3:00 PM.

🎟️ TICKETS
Adults 18–69: $20
Youth 7–17: $15
Seniors 70+: $16
Children 6 + under: FREE
Prices include HST.

🚡 WHAT TO EXPECT
Ride the chairlift to the summit, take in the panoramic fall views and explore the designated trails at the top.

You can hike back down OR take the chairlift back down. Just keep in mind that downhill chairlift capacity is limited, so you may have to wait a little longer for your ride back.

🥾 WHAT TO BRING
Wear good footwear if you’re planning to explore the trails, a water bottle and your camera. A picnic for the top of the mountain.

One more reason I love this spot?

🍁 It’s one of the stops included on one of our Unexpected Journeys.

Our surprise road trips are filled with places and experiences like this. You get the itinerary, but you don’t find out where you’re going until you open each stop along the way.

Save this for your fall adventures and send it to someone who needs a fall road trip. 🍂

Calabogie Peaks Resort

09/22/2026

Happy first day of FALL 🍂

And officially, my favourite road trip season.

If you love winding country roads, hidden gems, cozy local stops, beautiful views, campfires, small towns and discovering places you didn’t even know existed… you’re in the right place.

Follow along for plenty of places to add to your fall road trip list. 🍁

There’s so much waiting to be discovered.

Your invitation is waiting.

09/17/2026

🍎 Apple picking season is here!

And really, is there a better excuse for a fall road trip? 🍂 Not an apple picker like me 🤭? Most orchards have farm stores, seasonal activities and photo op after photo op. Oh, they have hot apple c***r! 🍎

Pick an orchard, take the back roads, grab a coffee somewhere local, stop for a fall walk and make a day of it.

Here are some apple orchards to add to your fall list:

🍎 Mountain Orchards - Mountain
🍎 Old Huntley Orchard - Carp (not a pick your own but an adorable farm store and featured in this reel)
🍎 Cannamore Orchard - North Dundas
🍎 pinewoodorchard - Kanata
🍎 mcgregororchard704 - Renfrew
🍎 Orléans Fruit Farm - Orleans
🍎 Potager Eardley - Gatineau
🍎 Halls Apple Market - Brockville
🍎 The Phillips Family - Avonmore

A little reminder before you head out: picking dates and varieties can change quickly, so check directly with the orchard before making the drive.

🍂 SAVE this list for your next fall day out and SEND it to the person you want to go apple picking with.

And if you’d rather have someone else plan the road trip, that’s exactly what I do. 😉

Your invitation is waiting. ✨

09/13/2026

CONTEST CLOSED 🍂 THE ULTIMATE CALABOGIE FALL GIVEAWAY 🍂

We’re celebrating everything we love about fall in Canada. Those colourful road trips( our specialty), discovering somewhere new, supporting local businesses and making a whole day (or weekend!) out of exploring close to home. 🇨🇦

So we’ve teamed up with some incredible local businesses to give ONE lucky winner a Calabogie fall getaway.

You’ll win:

🍂 A 2 night stay at Somewhere Inn (valid for a year - mid week stay in a king room)
🍂 Breakfast at Oh-el-la Café
🍂 Two $50 gift certificates to Calabogie Brewing
🍂 Two fall chairlift passes at Calabogie Peaks
🍂 An Unexpected Journey exploring the Calabogie area PLUS two more Unexpected Journeys of your choice
🍂 $50 prepaid Visa
🍂 Two cozy trekking tuques from Blondie Apparel

Basically… we’ve planned your fall getaway for you. ❤️🍁

TO ENTER:

1️⃣ Follow
Unexpected Journeys
Somewhere Inn
𝐎𝐡-𝐞𝐥-𝐥𝐚
Calabogie Brewing Company
Calabogie Peaks Resort
Blondie Apparel

2️⃣ Like and save this post

3️⃣ Tag the person you’d bring along in the comments - Each tag ‎ = 1entry

4️⃣ Share this post to your IG stories and tag Unexpected Journeys or on your Facebook stories ( if your account is private send us a screenshot of your stories) for 10 extra entries!

Contest closes Sunday, September 20th at midnight. Winner will be contacted directly by this account. Open to Canadian residents.

This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram.

Sometimes the best adventures aren’t far away. They’re waiting right here at home. 🍁

Your invitation is waiting.

Good luck! 😊

09/09/2026

After planning surprise road trips for over 5,000 groups, I’ve learned that the best road trips aren’t always about how far you go. 🍂

They’re about taking the scenic road with something warm in hand. Finding a place you didn’t know existed. Taking time to picnic in an inspiring spot and leaving enough time to wander.

That’s exactly what I try to build into every Unexpected Journey.

The route is planned.
The hidden gems are found.
The little details are taken care of.

You just choose the day, open your first note and see where it takes you. 🍁

Save this for your next fall road trip or send it to the person you’d take with you.

✨ 💌Your invitation is waiting.✨

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Ottawa And Area
Ottawa, ON

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