A Cruisy Countryside Escape in Rideau, Brockville & Gananoque
The backroads of 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways are filled with farm stands, markets, wineries and unexpected discoveries. Follow this itinerary for a day of local flavours, rural experiences and small-town charm.
Local flavours
If you’re doing this trip on a Saturday from late spring through early fall, you can start the day with a visit to the Brockville Farmers’ Market. At any time of year, you can grab breakfast at one of Brockville’s many cafés before hitting the open road. On your way out of town, don’t miss Hall’s Apple Market, where you can pick up apples—of course!—along with baked treats and locally made foods.
Your next destination is the Spencerville area, where you can hang out with farm animals and learn how they’re cared for at Happy Little Farmstead or Little Foot Alpacas. Keep heading north and you’ll be able to sip local wines at Green Gables Vines in Oxford Station.
By this point, you’ll probably be hungry! You could stop at quaint Brigadoon Restaurant in Oxford Mills, creekside Salamanders in Kemptville, or one of the many restaurants and cafés in pretty Merrickville (where you could also visit Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Food Shop for award-winning, locally made mustards).
Restored and ready for afternoon adventures, you have many more options. You could head west to the Lombardy area to hand-feed the chickens at Second Stories Sanctuary or pick strawberries at Miller’s Bay Farm. Further southwest, you could pick raspberries, blueberries or strawberries at Mensen Farm near Delta, where you could also stop at Bastard Coffee House for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
After a busy day, point your car back to Brockville, where you’ll find lots of restaurants and accommodations to round out your journey. Or continue a few more kilometres to Maitland, where you can stay in a luxury villa and take a cooking class the next day at Feast On®-certified Maison Maitland.
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Along the way
Brockville, Gananoque, Kemptville and Prescott are among the largest communities in 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways, and they are where you’ll find the greatest range of shops and services.
In Brockville, you can explore several gardens, including one laid out by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead at Fulford Place National Historic Site. Once a month in summer, shop for local goods at the Twilight Tuesdays Makers Market. Take a scenic boat trip with 1000 Islands and Seaway Cruises. Shop independent boutiques along King Street.
Feeling hungry? Pop into one of these great independent restaurants and cafes:
- Boboli Café
- Buell Street Bistro
- Cosie’s British Tearoom and Café
- Don’s Fish and Chips
- Even Provisions
- Meringue Patisserie
- Pastry King’s Princess
- Richard’s Coffeehouse
- Sweet Ofelia Café and Market
- 1000 Islands Brewing Company
- 1000 Islands Pizzeria
Gananoque, Kemptville & Prescott
Gananoque also has beautiful gardens, including one of Canada’s largest outdoor contemporary sculpture parks. Stop by Panache Bakery and Cafe for baked goodies (including gluten-free items), sandwiches and salads, or Pistachio Cafe for delicious vegetarian fare. Riva serves up fine Italian fare. And you can explore the 1000 Islands on a boat cruise with City Experiences.
In Kemptville, enjoy a full slate of house-made brews and gourmet pizzas at the Kemptville Brewing Company. Pick up British-style treats at The Crusty Bakers or breads baked in an 1885 wood-fired oven at Grahame’s Bakery. Or sip a hot beverage at Bubba & Bugs Coffee Bar or Brewed Awakenings.
In Prescott, fuel up with hot drinks and fresh pastries at Katarina’s Coffee Shop. Don’t miss Little Barcelona, a restaurant and store known for high-quality Spanish pantry goods, cheeses and meats. Visit Shakespeare’s Gardens, featuring flowers, plants and quotations from the Bard’s plays. In summer, enjoy theatre in a waterfront amphitheatre during the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, and check out the shops and dining options in the Prescott Pop-Ups in the RiverWalk District.
- Athens: Pick up fresh breads and pastries at Big Waters Bakery, and check ahead to see when warm donuts will be available at Willard’s Bakery. Visit the Glen Elbe Learning Centre (by chance or appointment) to see vegetable and flower gardens, greenhouses, an arboretum, woodland trails and more. Shop for lavender and attend festive events at Aflori Acres.
- Burritts Rapids: This small community has a lockstation on the Rideau Canal, a swing bridge and historic architecture along a quiet main street. Head to Rideau Woodland Ramble to get inspiration from the display gardens and pick up plants to bring home.
- Chaffey's Lock: With its lockstation and other historic buildings, Chaffey's Lock offers a glimpse into Rideau Canal history. Swing by The Opinicon, a landmark for some 150 years, for ice cream, lunch or dinner, and to enjoy the landscaped gardens (seasonal).
- Delta: The Old Stone Mill National Historic Site hosts milling demonstrations, blacksmithing classes and other special events. Stop for coffee and fresh-baked treats at Bastard Coffee House, a unique, antiques-filled café.
- Elgin: Admire the Red Brick Schoolhouse, built in 1887. Don’t miss The Tipped Ship, an eclectic emporium filled with art, vintage pieces, gourmet foods, jewellery and more.
- Johnstown: Drop by King's Lock Distillery to taste their organic, artisanal vodka, gins, whiskies, rum and coolers. Next door, Windmill Brewery offers live music and other events to enjoy as you sip their craft beer.
- Jones Falls: See the Jones Falls Lockstation on the Rideau Canal and hike nearby trails. Pick up dough and baked cookies at Nut Free Gourmet at the Hotel Kenney, where you can also have a meal in one of the hotel’s dining venues.
- Lansdowne: Enjoy a meal at the Ivy Lea Club, on the St. Lawrence River shore, and explore its beautiful gardens. The Tipsy Goat is a unique market for local foods and other products, combined with a coffee, beer and wine bar.
- Lyn: Take a self-guided tour of the Garden of Hope and Faith Walk, a pathway through an acre of manicured contemplative gardens, bronze statues, and a waterfall and pond.
- Lyndhurst: Along with Ontario’s oldest stone bridge, Lyndhurst is home to an unusual plaid house and to a charming gift shop, The Green Gecko.
- Maitland: By appointment, visit the Maitland Garden of Hope, a private, 1.5-acre garden with more than 5,000 perennial flowers, flowering shrubs and grasses in themed gardens designed to attract birds, butterflies and bees.
- Mallorytown: Book a tour of Sherwood Forest, a 16-acre property of forested walking paths and formal gardens. Enjoy beers, pub snacks and wood-fired pizza at ArBru Solar Brewery (ask about the winter dome experience).
- Merrickville: Picturesque Merrickville on the Rideau Canal often shows up on lists of Ontario’s prettiest villages. Head to Gather Brewery and Glassworks to enjoy a flight of beer or take a glass-blowing workshop—or both—along with pub snacks. Stop by the Village Bean Coffee House or the Yellow Canoe Café for soups, sandwiches, baked goodies and gourmet hot beverages. Swing by Merrickville Cookies for a sweet treat or Violet’s on Main for fresh bread and other bakery items.
- Newboro: Positioned at the narrows between Upper Rideau Lake and Newboro Lake, Newboro is known for great fishing. Pop into Kilborn’s to shop for everything from footwear to furniture, and Newboro Soap Company for eco-conscious bath and body products. Plan ahead to take an art class at Stone Manor Studios.
- North Augusta: Grab a casual bite at the Dairy Barn and Western Grill.
- Oxford Mills: Brigadoon Restaurant, housed in a 19th-century home, serves afternoon tea and other elegant meals in a timeless setting.
- Portland: Located at the Upper Rideau Lake, pretty Portland offers great fishing and boating. Shop for art at the Chandelier Tree Gallery. Enjoy breakfast or lunch at Recess Café, housed in a former school, or enjoy the view from the waterfront patio at the Galley Restaurant.
- Rideau Ferry: Enjoy a meal and live music on the riverfront patio at CC’s on the River. Just up the road, catch a movie at the Port Elmsley Drive-In.
- Rockport: In this pretty hamlet on the St. Lawrence River, admire the view from the patio while having a meal at Cornwall’s Pub or book a Rockport Cruises boat tour through the 1000 Islands.
- Seeley's Bay: This charming waterfront community on the Rideau Canal offers beautiful scenery, marinas, and opportunities for boating and fishing.
- Spencerville: In summer, visit the historic Spencerville Mill and Museum. The family-run Village Pantry is famed for its cinnamon buns, fresh bread and hot pizza.
- Westport: This lakeside village is known for its beautiful harbour, charming downtown area, arts community and pretty gardens. Raise a glass and enjoy pub favourites at Westport Brewing Company. Vanilla Beans Café and Creamery serves up hand-rolled bagels, ice cream, coffee, sandwiches and more.
Let someone else take the wheel while you enjoy the journey. A 1000 Ways creates curated experiences that connect visitors with local farms, food producers, wineries and artisans throughout South Eastern Ontario. With transportation, planning and insider knowledge included, these tours offer an easy and memorable way to experience the region's rural charm and culinary culture.
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