DAY TRIPS

Since retiring, Maxine and I have become avid day trippers throughout Eastern Ontario. Our trips usually focus on a light lunch at one of the many small tea rooms to be found in the many towns, villages and hamlets to be found in the area.  We also explore local historical sites, craft shops, antique stores or other interesting sites on the way to or from our lunch spot. 

            Needless to say, we frequent the back roads, often lose our way, meet lots of friendly and helpful people and generally enjoy ourselves.  In a way it reminds us of our attempts to get to know the various countries we have been posted to during our career in the Foreign Service, only this time we are learning more about our own home territory.

            You will also find the odd bakery, vineyard, restaurant or other unusual destination tucked in with the tearooms.  In sharing these tours we hope others will add their own discoveries so that when visitors arrive, or someone suggest a drive in country on a fine sunny day, you will have an answer to the question “where will we go?” Stay tuned, we will be adding more!

            TOUR ONE

            For starters, you might wish to begin with a short drive to the village of Manotick to visit Watsons Mill and The Miller’s Oven. While not, technically, a Tea Room the Millers Oven is a great little place for lunch or a snack, and run by seniors for the benefit of seniors.   

            To get to Manotick, take River Road (Regional Road 19) south to the traffic light at the junction of regional Road #8 (also called Mitch Owens Drive). Turn right toward the town of Manotick, cross the first bridge, and watch for Dickenson Street at the foot of the second bridge. Turn left on Dickenson Street and you will see the Mill on your left.

Watson’s Millwww.watsonsmill.com is a stone grist and flour mill, typical of the mills that provided prosperity to many of the villages in eastern Ontario in the mid-to-late late 1800’s.  The mill is open daily from early May until late October. There are guided tours and flour and bread made in the mill are occasionally available for purchase, as are handicrafts and souvenirs. Check the website for exact times and for special events that are held throughout the season.

            As you leave the Mill, it is a short walk to the left to The Millers Oven at 1137 Mill Street (613-692-4304). The Tea Room  is run by senior volunteers ,with the assistance of local students and grandkids with all proceeds going to support charitable programs, including those for seniors in the area .It is open from 9 to 4 seven days a week. Scones, muffins and home-made pies are always available-there is a lemon meringue pie with the highest meringue topping we have ever seen- , and lunch usually consists of soups, quiches and sandwiches. Prices are moderate, with soup, sandwich, tea and dessert usually coming in at under $15.00. It is a first-come, first served operation, so get there early for lunch if you want to get a piece of the lemon meringue pie.  It goes quickly.

            While in the vicinity you might want to check out Sun Tech Greenhouses at 5541 Dalmeny Road, which runs into Regional Road 19 just before you make the turn to Osgoode. Just head back over the bridges to River Road (regional road #19) and turn right (south).  Sun Tech is a hydroponic growing facility providing fresh, local tomatoes (and other vegetables) year round. Check out the web site at www.suntech.ca Telephone (613) 692-3388.

On your way to Sun Tech, there is a great little outdoor terrace restaurant right on the east bank of the Rideau River/Canal.  The name of the restaurant is “KELLY’S LANDING”. It is on Regional Road 19, just south of Manotick at 1980 River Road.  It is easy to miss, because the front is a gas bar/convenience store, but don’t let that stop you.  There is an entrance at the right front corner of the building which will lead down a few stairs to the dining area.  The terrace is also accessible by a flight of stairs on left side of the building.  This is a great spot to have lunch or an evening drink and watch the boats go by.  Best in fair weather, although there is a smaller enclosed dining area.   

TOUR TWO

Continuing our close to home tours, this one will take you to the village of Meltcalfe, which is in now incorporated into the City of Ottawa, and the Metcalfe Farmers Market.

You can reach Metcalfe by heading south on Bank Street (Hwy 31)      to Regional Road 6.  Turn left and head into the village.  At the 4 way stop (8^th Line Road), turn right and you will find the market on your left, in front of Osgoode High School 

            The market has been operating for 13 years and insists that all products offered for sale by the vendors must be made, grown or created by them.  There are both outdoor and indoor vendors; one of which is the small “Sunflower Café” where you can rest your feet while enjoying a hot or cold drink along with the home-made pastry or cake that you just bought. The market is open Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon from May to October.  Check out the website www.metcalfefm.com.

            If you are a gardener, you can stop in at Continental Mushroom and pick up some mushroom compost before you leave Metcalfe.  Continental Mushroom is located at 2545 9^th Line Road, Metcalfe. Detailed directions on the web at www.continentalmushroom.ca or telephone (613) 821-4769

TOUR THREE

This tour will take you south and west to the village of Balderson, between Perth and Lanark, and the Crossroads Tea Room. Check the website for the current menu at www.villageofbalderson.com/crossroads/menu.html. The Village of Balderson is a day destination itself with an antique store attached to the Tea Room, the historic Balderson Cheese outlet as well as a chocolate store, ice cream stand, children’s clothing, ladies wear, Amish furniture, a bakery and a country store.

            To get to Balderson, take 417 west and exit on Hwy 7 to Carleton Place and Perth.  In Perth, turn left onto County Road 511 until you reach Balderson.  The Tea Room is a left turn at the intersection, with plenty of free parking on the side. Telephone (613) 267-2151 for reservations, particularly on sunny Sundays!

            If you feel adventurous, you can head for home through the Lanark Highlands by following County Road 511 as far as Calabogie, then turn right on County Road 508 to the junction with HWY 17. Turn right and head for Ottawa.

TOUR FOUR

            This tour will take you even further west and into some recent Canadian Cold War history as you head for FOYMOUNT and the WHIP-POOR-WILL TEA ROOM and gift store.  The Tea Room is open 10a.m. to 4p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, except for Monday long weekends. The tea room seats about 50 and has a good variety of teas, some decadent desserts and light lunches. . It is located at 156 Sebastopol Drive in Foymount.  Don’t worry about finding it; Foymount is not very big! Telephone (613) 754-2768.

Foymount, on the other hand, may be a bit more difficult to find, but the roads are good and if you follow the signs, you should have no problem.  Start by taking HWY 417/17 west to Renfrew.  At Renfrew, take HWY 60 to EGANVILLE.  In Eganville, turn left on HWY 41 heading south toward DACRE. A kilometer or two from Eganville, turn right off HWY 41 onto County Road 512 toward Cormac and Foymount.

The village of Foymount dates back to the mid-1850s, but its more recent claim to fame was as a Radar Station in the Pine Tree Line from 1950 to 1974. For full details check out www.pinecone.on.ca/MAGAZINE/stories/foymount.html. You can stroll around the abandoned base to work off one of the “decadent desserts”.

Not to forget the happy shoppers, Foymount hosts a manufacturing facility of Black Water Designs, which produces outdoor clothing and accessories from the Sierra Brand.  There is, of course, a factory outlet store for you to browse in either before or after tea. Check out www.sierradesigns.com for a product list.  The retail store in Foymount is open 9-5 Monday to Saturday and 11-5 on Sunday year round. 

TOUR FIVE

This time we head back east to a very pleasant destination that is not a tea room, but is an authentic, rural, organic farm  restaurant which offers a great opportunity for a family Sunday experience. The place is Mariposa Farms, about an hour’s drive east of Ottawa near Plantagenet. Take HWY 417 east and ext onto HWY 174, just past the St Laurent Blvd. exit ,which turns into Hwy 17 east. As you approach Plantagenet, you will cross a large, overhead steel bridge over the Nation River.  The farm is 2 ½ kms past the bridge.  The entrance is on the left, so watch carefully; it is easy to miss.

Mariposa farms offers a limited menu of three appetizers, three main courses and three desserts.  The menu varies with the season, but always includes duck, which is the farm specialty, usually a pork dish, and seasonal vegetables and fruits. All the dishes are cooked in a big open, wood-fired fireplace in the dining room, which itself is in an old barn. Tea or coffee are include in the fixed price of $30.00 per person.  A major attraction is the fact you can bring your own wine, and the waiter will provide you with the necessary glasses, free of charge!

There is store that offers mousses, pates, homemade preserves, jams, jellies and frozen meat. Guests are free to wander the trails throughout the farm, skate on the creek in the winter, and just enjoy the tranquil country setting.

            Unfortunately, all this is only available on Sundays throughout the year.  Telephone (613) 673-5881 for reservations, which are highly recommended!  This place can get busy.  Check out the websitewww.mariposa-duck.on.ca.