South Eastern Ontario really never ceases to amaze us. On a recent trip to the northern edge of the area, we checked out Brockville, Maitland and Rockport and turns out…it makes for the perfect one-day itinerary. That being said, why not combine it with this one-day itinerary and turn it into a weekend getaway?
So…where the heck is South Eastern Ontario?
If you didn’t read our last post, you’re probably wondering where the heck we’re talking about. After all, Ontario is a massive province. Allow us to introduce you.
This region is massive and starts way up, just south of Ottawa in the area affectionately known as SDG (Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry) then moves through Cornwall, Brockville, The 1000 Islands and Gananoque. That’s where we spent most of our time and this itinerary specifically takes you to Brockville , Rockport and Maitland.
However, continuing south you’ll also find that the 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Area, Kingston, Frontenac County, Lennox and Addington, The Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County are all part of this area too!
Want to know more? Check out the map on South Eastern Ontario’s website.
Pack Those Bags
Of course, you have your packing basics, but we also recommend packing a refillable water bottle, a market tote, a cooler (trust us, you’ll want to bring stuff home) and some sunscreen and bug spray since you will be outdoors!
Alright, with that all under our belt, let’s get crackin’ on this itinerary.
Stop 1: Start Your Day at Maison Maitland
Where: 1258 County Rd 2, Maitland, ON. (View Map)
To know: Cooking classes must be booked in advance through the Maison Maitland website. Public classes are on Saturdays and private classes are available throughout the week!
Start your day at Maison Maitland around 10am for a hands-on cooking class in a beautiful spot! Owner and chef instructor, Cynthia Peters, is a whiz in the kitchen and offers up classes cooking all sorts of delicious meals.
Think everything from middle eastern cuisine with fresh pitas, kofta and almond rice to summer salads assembled with the area’s most local ingredients and French cuisine as well!
As you cook and get hands-on, you also get to enjoy the other perk of this spot- the amazing setting! Maison Maitland is located in a historic home built in 1827 and is settled on five acres with views of the St. Lawrence River.
Created during the Georgian period, this stone home has been preserved incredibly well over its history and is such a bright and beautiful spot to learn to cook!
Of course, head out to the patio after class to enjoy what you’ve cooked and take everything with you. Down the road, Maison Maitland will even have a place to stay the night on-site so that it can be the launch pad for your getaway.
Drive Time to Next Stop: 31 mins
Stop 2: Book a Rockport Boat Cruise
Where: Rockport Boat Cruise, 20 Front St. Rockport, ON. (View Map)
After all that hard work cooking away, you deserve a little relaxation! Head to Rockport and book your spot on Rockport Cruises.
With options to book cruises from 1-6 hours (some with castle tours, some with dining and some just straight up sightseeing), you’ll get to kick back as you cruise the heart of the 1000 Islands.
We loved looking at the island cottages, birds flying and just taking in the amazing views of the St. Lawrence River.
Drive Time to Next Stop: 14 minutes
Stop 3-4: CIDER + BEER
Where: BUSL Cider: 75 Quabbin Rd. Mallorytown, ON. (View Map); ARBRU Solar Brewery: 71 Quabbin Rd. Mallorytown, ON. (View Map)
Just one minute from each other, ARBRU Solar Brewery and BUSL Cider have the same owner and completely unique flavours!
Cider lovers rejoice at BUSL Cider where you can grab a flight of their refreshing and bright ciders and bring it out to the big granite slab overlooking their orchard for 10/10 views!
We loved their pumpkin spice cider (perfect for the fall season) which has the warm spice notes you’d expect but not the sweetness. It’s great for dry cider lovers looking for something a little different!
Looking to put a twist on your mimosa? Try their prosecco cider (pomsecco) for a unique take on the classic!
Just down Quabbin Road, ARBRU Solar Brewery is Canada’s first completely solar brewery. This uber cool spot has wood fired pizza and lots of craft beer on tap. From their West Coast Session IPA to a Belgian Wheat, it’s a great place to wind down with friends for the day.
Drive Time to Next Stop: 21 mins
Stop 5: Stay the Night at the 48 King West by Rob Thompson Hotels
Where: 48 King St. W. Brockville, ON. (View Map)
The time has come to cozy up for the night! Perhaps you’d like to stroll the waterfront in Brockville first or check out the railway tunnel before this. Great idea!
When you’re ready to check into 48 King West by Rob Thompson Hotels in downtown Brockville, it’s completely touchless so you don’t have to worry about when that is. You’ll receive a code to your email for the hotel itself and your room! Easy peasy.
The hotel itself is in an old bank and offers up all the trendy vibes your inner hipster desires. With big comfy wood beam beds, spacious showers and the coziest robes, you’ll feel right at home. Some rooms even come equipped with a gorgeous copper tub!
Pop on the Netflix, make yourself a cuppa complimentary tea (or perhaps some of the cider and beer you bought along your way today) and just enjoy the company of whomever you’re travelling with.
Really want to shake things up? Check out The Vault Suite which comes complete with a hot tub on its own rooftop deck!
Enjoy your getaway
We hope you have a wonderful day exploring all that Brockville, Rockport and the surrounding areas have to offer! We know we sure did. Want to make this into a weekend getaway? Be sure to check out part one of this blog.
