Arnprior sits where the Madawaska River runs into the Ottawa, about 45 kilometres west of Ottawa. It is a small town, but not a blank one: lumber money left stone civic buildings, the rivers give it a pleasant edge, and Gillies Grove preserves the white pines that once made this valley rich.
The best reason to come is Gillies Grove, a rare stand of old-growth white pine within walking distance of town. Pair it with the riverside trails, the beach at Robert Simpson Park, and the small Arnprior and District Museum under the clock tower.
Arnprior works best as a quiet half-day from Ottawa or as a stop on the road up the Ottawa Valley. It is not a big sightseeing town, but the forest, riverfront, and lumber-town bones make it worth more than a fuel stop.