The Petrie Islands, a collection of small sandbar islands, lie along the Ottawa River in the east end of Ottawa. It has a large swimming beach, recently created on the site of an old sand quarry, nature trails, and an interpretive centre run by the Friends of Petrie Island. Sadly, dogs were banned a few years back, so I no longer go there as much as I once did. It is, however, a fabulous place.

Check out the Friends of Petrie Island website at Friends of Petrie Island