Merrickville

Merrickville, a village of picturesque Victorian-era stone houses perched along the waters of the Rideau Canal, modestly claims to be Canada’s prettiest village, a claim not without merit. (It isn't a self-granted title; the national non-profit organization "Communities in Bloom" called them that in 1998.) As Merrickville is half an hour from the edge of urban Ottawa, it is a popular destination for summer day trips.

The nearest passenger rail is in Smiths Falls, Ottawa or Brockville. The nearest airport is Ottawa-Uplands (YOW), at the southern edge of that city. Merrickville itself is reachable from Ottawa by car or (seasonally) by boat.

By car

From Ottawa, take Highway 416 to Kemptville, then old Highway 43 one town westward to Merrickville.
From Brockville, take Highway 401 east to Maitland (exit 705) then head about half an hour straight north.

By boat

The Rideau Canal passes through the heart of Merrickville on its way from Kingston to Ottawa. Small craft can dock at Aylings Boat Yard or at the canal locks.

• Aylings Boat Yard

  phone: +1 613-269-4969
  address: 220 Forced Road
  Rentals, docking, ice, fuel and marine service. Rideau King boat tour of canal/locks $90/person, charters available.

The village itself is small and easily covered by bicycle or on foot; a canoe permits exploration of the local shore and the canal.

The best way to see Merrickville is by walking, popping into shops and admiring the heritage houses.

• Blockhouse Museum

  address: St Lawrence & Main St
  This tiny fortress, built in 1832, housed up to 50 soldiers who guarded the Canal. Restored in 1966, it now contains local artefacts and archives reflecting the history and industry of the canal and the surrounding urban and agricultural community.

• Industrial Heritage Complex

  phone: +1 613-283-5170
  address: County Rd 2, Merrickville lock station
  A group of historic buildings which serve as a museum of local Merrickville industry, Collection includes foundry tools and products, woollen mill machinery, home making products, furniture and machinery for power generation.

Paddlers may follow the Rideau Canal from Kingston to Ottawa, either going through each lock or portaging around them.
Walking trails:

• Rideau TrailKingston to Ottawa hiking trail system. Free maps of the trails can be downloaded from the website.

• Tip to Tip trail

  address: 673 River Road, Burritts Rapids
  Hiking trail from the canal, 4km or about an hour's walk.

Spa:

• Spa Sans Souci

  phone: +1 613-269-3222
  address: 306 St. Lawrence St.

Merrickville is filled with small boutiques operated by local artists, artisans and craftspeople.

Artwork

• Canal Gallery & Frame Shop

  phone: +1 613-269-3566
  address: 230 St Lawrence St.
  Original art, custom framing, books, prints, canvas transfers.

• The Grotto Artworks

  phone: +1 613-269-4302
  address: 110 Main Street E.
  Artists' gallery with local crafts (pewter, pottery, jewellery, wood turnings, woven silk scarves, soapstone carvings, gourds and glass) and original works of art in oil, collage, acrylics, watercolour and mixed media.

• Gray Art Glass

  phone: +1 613-269-7979
  address: 635 St. Lawrence St.
  Creative glass art made from recycled crystal. Studio and gallery open daily for demonstrations.

Fashion

• Dorée's Habit

  phone: +1 613-269-9322
  address: 212 St. Lawrence St.
  Women's clothing and accessories, unique selection of scarves, jewellery and purses.

• Rowland Leather

  phone: +1 613-269-3151
  address: 159 St. Lawrence St.
  These $160-260 leather handbags had been manufactured locally in a restored 1847 stone Kemptville Store building, with short-term B&B suites above the store being rented for $175/night (with continental breakfast) at www.merrickvillesuites.ca. The owner has since retired, but his merchandise is still available at the spa.

• A Touch of Whimsy

  phone: +1 613-269-2200
  address: 236 St. Lawrence St.
  Ladies clothing, jewellery and accessories.

Other items

• Alloy Foundry

  phone: +1 613-269-4755
  address: 117 Mill St.
  Oldest operating Canadian cast-iron foundry, producing anything from signs and plaques to street fixtures. Next to the locks.

• Miller's of Merrickville

  address: 323 St. Lawrence Street
  Country store and outdoor “Garden Fixins’ Courtyard” with vintage candles, hardware, clocks, tin barn stars, lighting, earth rugs, wreaths, garland, linen, hand-crafted decorations, pictures and frames, signs, toys, games and whimsical garden accessories.

• Mirick's Landing Country Store

  phone: +1 613-269-3559
  address: 106 St Lawrence St.
  Today's example of yesterday's country store; quilted bedding, braided rugs, framed prints and wall hangings, candles, furniture, books and decorative items.

• Mrs. McGarrigle's Fine Food Shop

  phone: +1 613-269-3752
  address: 311 St. Lawrence St.
  Cooking classes, Friday night take-out dinners, gourmet foods, kitchen gadgets and housewares. Mrs. McGarrigle's famous handmade Canadian mustards are manufactured on-site for export.

• Rideau Woodland Ramble

  phone: +1 613-258-3797
  address: 7210 Burritt's Rapids Road
  Trees, flowers, vines, seasonal gardening supplies, open mid-April to November "to capture the imagination of gardeners and collectors".

• Downtowne Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe

  phone: +1 613-269-2168
  address: 165 St. Lawrence St.
  Ice cream, ice cream cakes and confections made locally.

• Mainstreet Family Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-269-7976
  address: 112 Main St. West

• Yellow Canoe Café

  phone: +1 613-269-2833
  address: 108 St. Lawrence St.
  Licensed restaurant, café, bakery. Sandwiches, scones, soups, coffee, beer, wine, wide variety of desserts. Across from the Blockhouse at the Merrickville Locks.

• The Goose & Gridiron

  phone: +1 613-269-2094
  address: 317 St Lawrence St.
  Restaurant and pub, established 1856. Patio, pub fare, burgers, clam chowder, good draught beer selection on tap, large screen TV for sporting events, banquet room.

Merrickville has many small, charming bed and breakfast establishments. Two Millisle and Wolford -- are among the top 5% of Ontario B&Bs as reviewed by Janette Higgins, author of “Best Places to Bed and Breakfast in Ontario”.

• Baldachin Inn

  phone: +1 613-269-4223
  address: 111 St. Lawrence St.
  Harry McLean’s Pub serves imported and domestic beer and wine. Baldachin Fine Dining Room offers casual dining from 11am, with savoury and organic daily specials. Wi-fi in rooms, non-smoking, pets $10/night extra.

Bed and breakfast

• Millisle Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 613-269-3627
  address: 205 Mill St.
  1840s Victorian heritage home with verandah and all the grace and tranquility of the past.

Camping

• Merrickville Lockstation

  phone: +1 613-283-5170
  address: Main St. at St. Lawrence St.

• Lions Club Park Campground

  phone: +1 613-269-3702
  address: Main Street

The closest hospitals are the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital in Smiths Falls to the west and the Kemptville District Hospital in Kemptville to the east. Each is slightly over a quarter-hour drive from Merrickville at the posted speed limits.

Kemptville

An unincorporated village of 3500 people on the Kemptville Creek, a few kilometres south of the Rideau River, Kemptville is the only town on the Highway 416 freeway between Prescott and Ottawa. (It's closer to Prescott than it is to Ottawa.) The University of Guelph operated an agricultural campus in the village until 2015.

• Rideau River Provincial Park

  phone: +1 613-258-2740
  address: 2680 Donnelly Dr, Becketts Landing
  On Rideau system, canoeing, boating, camping.

• Saunders Country Critters

  phone: +1 613-258-1108
  address: 1058 County Road 44, Oxford Station
  Farm with private zoo and greenhouses; garden centre with 1500 varieties of annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables.

• Clothier Inn Motel

  phone: +1 613-258-0164
  address: 8 Clothier St E, Kemptville
  14-room downtown motel, refrigerators, Internet.

Mountain Township

• Sandy Mountain camp and golf

  phone: +1 613-989-2058
  address: 10152 County Rd 43, Mountain
  Nine-hole golf course, mini-golf, camping and RV park. Showers, toilets, convenience store, ice cream.

• Ottawa (downtown), north 75 km (45 mi)
• Kemptville, east 20 km (12 mi)
• Brockville, south 45 km (29 mi)
• Smiths Falls, west 22 km (14 mi)