Day Trippers: Fields, Flavours & Small Town Stops in Prescott Russell

South Eastern Ontario / Sud-Est de l'Ontario

Prescott-Russell's scenic backroads, small villages and productive farmland make it an ideal destination for a leisurely day of discovery. Along the way, you'll find family farms, markets, local food producers and welcoming communities where it's easy to slow down and experience the countryside at its own pace. Keep a cooler in your car for this trip, as you'll likely be picking up plenty of local products to bring home.

For all of the suggestions below, check websites or call ahead to confirm times to visit, as some operations are seasonal or have limited hours. Summer Saturdays are an ideal time to try this itinerary, although many of these stops can be enjoyed throughout the year.

 

Start your morning with coffee and treats on the patio overlooking the river at Café sur la Rive in Plantagenet. Swing by Mariposa Farm to pick up meats, cheeses, vegetables and more in the farm store (Saturdays only).

Heading east, you’ll come to another good stop for local meat, L’Orignal Packing. After adding to your cooler there, continue into the historic village of L’Orignal. There, you could visit the L’Orignal Old Jail, Canada’s second-oldest prison, which now runs escape rooms and other special events. 

Your next stop is the picturesque village of Vankleek Hill, which hosts a year-round farmers’ market on Saturdays. If you don’t get lunch at the market, pick up coffee, wraps, baked goodies and even dog treats at The Broken Kettle Bakery and Barkery. 

For local beverages, check out Beau’s Brewing Co., Dunrobin Distilleries and Vankleek Hill Vineyard. Visit Garden Path Homemade Soap for bath and body products made with botanicals grown onsite, and let the kids burn off excess energy at Ouimet Farm Adventure.

Ten minutes east of Vankleek Hill, you can pick berries, grapes and more (depending on the season) at Les Fruits du Poirier and take a farm tour. Then, hop back in the car and drive west to St-Albert to learn about cheese making—and buy squeaky-fresh curds and much more—at St-Albert Cheese. 

If you’ve worked up an appetite (and a thirst), make your next stop the Broken Stick Brewing Company in Hammond, where you can have dinner and try the local beers at the Dandy Lion Brew Pub. You can stay overnight in one of the “eco-glamping” yurts or tiny homes (or pitch your own tent) at the adjacent Hammond Hill campground, or head to Casselman or Clarence-Rockland to find a hotel. 

Small Town Stops Along the Way

The city of Clarence-Rockland is the largest community in Prescott-Russell. Popular with commuters from nearby Ottawa, it’s growing quickly and offers a wide range of retailers, restaurants and services. Take a self-guided tour of this city’s heritage sites, making sure not to miss the soaring interior of Très-Sainte-Trinité Church, completed in 1919. 

Feeling hungry? Try Rosalynn’s Bistro and Catering for Italian specialties and take-home meals. Café Joyeux roasts its own coffee and also serves tea and baked goodies. On the edge of the city, you can pick your own blueberries at Canaan Blueberries or buy honey at Canaan Road Honey. 

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