The summer season is upon us, bringing sunshine, free time and a lot of adventure! To truly explore the Rideau Canal, you must also explore the “Taste of Place” stories that make it one of the region’s most beloved areas. We recommend starting your adventure with a day in Merrickville. Let’s dive in!
Eat Your Way Through Canada’s Most Beautiful Village!
Visit the Jewel of the Rideau: Merrickville. Called “Canada’s Most Beautiful Village” by Communities in Bloom, Merrickville is a vibrant Victorian village with plenty of charm, loads of artisans and some tasty treats to enjoy along the way. Located North of Brockville, it sits right on the Rideau Canal and offers up stunning views of this heritage waterway. You’ll feel like you just stepped into an episode of Gilmore Girls.
First Order of Business: How Will You Travel?
By Boat
This is where the fun starts. If you’re travelling with friends or family, we recommend renting a houseboat on the Rideau Canal with Le Boat. It’s a great way to explore Southeastern Ontario and marvel at its natural beauty.
You can be your captain and rent a license-free luxury houseboat to help you explore the rivers and pristine lakes of the Rideau Canal Waterway. The best part? You can explore some of Rideau’s most beloved villages and towns along your way, boasting some great foodie options! Your captain will show you the ropes and then you’re off to the races.
By Car
Getting around Southeastern Ontario can easily be done by vehicle of course too. Merrickville is quite small so you’ll be able to park the car and walk to most of these stops.
A Day in Merrickville
Start your day with a beautiful stroll along the waterfront and pass by Merrickville Lock, you may notice all the boats lining up to get first dibs on going through.
Time for breakfast
Where: The Village Bean Coffee House, 205B St Lawrence St, Merrickville, ON. (View Map)
Make your way over to the Village Bean Coffee House. Start your day with a delicious coffee and breakfast. We recommend some flavored iced coffee and a Bean Breakfast sandwich that is made with smoked local meat, egg, and melted havarti. Trust us, this delicious combo will get you ready for a day of adventure.
Pro tip: Make sure to pick up some of their Peanut butter cups for a treat to enjoy with your coffee. Trust us, we had to go back a second time for these delicious treats.
With a coffee in hand, you can now stroll back to the lock, find a picnic table, and watch as the lock masters manually turn the levers to open the lock system to allow boats to pass.
You don’t only get one chance to see these in action, but you can walk and follow the boats along to the three manually operated locks separated by two basins.
Retail Therapy for the Foodie at Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Food Shop
Where: 311 St Lawrence St, Merrickville, ON. (View Map)
Stop in at Mrs. McGarrigle’s to learn more about their award-winning handmade gourmet mustards, chutneys, preserves, and seasonings.
This two-story shop offers home and kitchen items and, of course, some delicious award-winning mustard. Wander from room to room in a historic home as you see everything from gourmet seasonings and wacky kitchen tools you didn’t know you needed to take-home dinners, vinaigrettes and more.
Want to kick things up a notch? This stop also offers hands-on cooking classes if you book in advance.
We couldn’t leave without grabbing their Chipotle Lime and Maple Whiskey flavoured mustards (we don’t think you should either). These little jars of joy are the perfect addition to a chicken sandwich, burger or cheese board — yum!
The Yellow Canoe Cafe
Where: 108 St Lawrence St, Merrickville-Wolford, ON. (View Map)
Lunch is up! Priding themselves on serving up a true taste of local, The Yellow Canoe Café’s main goal is to offer guests a unique experience promoting local producers, businesses, and artists. Local is at the heart of everything they do (and you know we love that).
Kick back like a local while you wait for your food and enjoy the art on the walls — an eclectic mix of paintings, photos and artworks by local artists like Mary Loos.
So what should you eat? We dove head first into their Ploughman’s Lunch. It offers a mix of hearty and light that shouldn’t be missed. Think old Canadian cheddar and chunks of brie with an assortment of pickles, a pickled egg, toasted focaccia and housemade caramelized butter and chutneys. Yum!
Looking for something light and refreshing? The Goat Cheese Salad is a great option and includes baby greens with crumbled goat cheese, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, shredded carrots, avocado and more — perfect for the dog days of summer.
Of course, don’t forget to pair it up with a local beverage like the Last Duel Lager from nearby Perth Brewery or a Flying Canoe hard cider. The café has a great list of beverages to choose from so don’t be shy.
With your bellies full, you can now stroll through Merrickville’s core and discover some more hidden charms. Why not venture off to find some dessert?!
Pickle and Myrrh
Where: 110 Main St E, Merrickville-Wolford, ON. (View Map)
Enter the world of handcrafted caramels (through a bright pink door no less). Pickle and Myrrh in downtown Merrickville looks just as sweet as their caramels taste! With a shop full of bright pink decor, works by local artists and of course, their handcrafted caramels, it’s no wonder why this stop is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Their lineup of caramel goodness spans a huge array of flavours from waffle cone, maple, caramel apple and cupcake. We couldn’t help but pick up a few bags of these delicious treats (we opted for their Salted Honey Caramels) to savour when we got back home.
Pick your own dinner adventure!
These next two stops are must-visit summer dinner destinations in Merrickville. No matter where you decide to dine, these two stops are sure to please.
Option 1: Bob’s Fresh Cut Fries
Where: 330 St Lawrence St, Merrickville, ON. (View Map)
Don’t let the name fool you; this chip truck may be the coolest on the block. Boasting a great turf patio with picnic tables and lounge chairs, this elevated and women-run chip truck is slinging out delicious and mouthwatering dishes, refreshing summer iced drinks and slushies.
Fun Fact: It is the first food truck in Ontario to obtain a liquor license, and most importantly, they focus on cooking with locally sourced ingredients to offer you a fresh and authentic taste of the region with every bite!
We chatted with Sarah, the owner, who’s a big believer in rooting for the locals—grocers, butchers, and breweries. ‘Why go big when you can go homegrown?’ she asks. ‘Choosing superior local ingredients isn’t just smart—it’s a secret to flavors that knock your socks off!’ Dive into the local difference with us!”
Let’s dive into the good stuff!
Hold on to your taste buds…we ordered the Pulled Pork Poutine, and it made us say “Woah, Nelly.”. Next, we had to order their famous Fish and Chips – made with fresh cod battered to order with Perth Brewery’s Last Duel Lager(a throwback to the beer we enjoyed at Yellow Canoe earlier in the day)! Talk about delicious local flavor.
Next, we ordered some fresh, iced strawberry daiquiris that truly helped us beat the Merrickville heat and helped us cool down from the mastery of Bob’s grill!
We also got our hands on their Smash burger, which took us back to those family BBQ evenings. You know when you crave the perfect homemade burger? Well, take that feeling and add in some Bob’s flare, and you’ve got Smash Burger nostalgia heaven. We may have gone on a tangent here, but for good reason. Trust us, you’ll leave with a big smile on your face.
Option 2: Main Street Patio
Where: 12 Main St W, Merrickville, ON. (View Map)
For more of a sit-down dinner vibe, head out to Main Street Patio! This family-run gem in Merrickville serves up fish and chips, bbq, pizza and appies in a laid-back atmosphere. The best part? You can taste all of this deliciousness while dining across from the Rideau Canal and Merrickville Lock.
We ordered the fresh and made-in-house 2-piece fish and chips and also tried their 2-stick souvlaki. We washed down this delicious meal with some exclusive brew for Main Street Restaurant from Main Street Brewing Co.
If you’re going, we recommend grabbing a seat on the patio to enjoy those summer vibes! It’s a great way to spend your evening.
Dessert at Stella Luna Cafe
Where: 111 Main St E, Merrickville-Wolford, ON. (View Map)
Still have room for dessert? We hope you do! Pop by the award-winning Stella Luna Café and cool down with some creamy gelato. This family-owned and operated European Café has been recognized for its delicious Italian-style gelato, earning it the Urban Spoon as “Canada’s Best 100 Places to Eat!”
Handcrafted right on-site with fresh whole milk, you’ll taste the care that goes into each scoop as you treat your tastebuds to flavours like pistachio, hazelnut, lemon, vanilla and more—looking for a dairy-free option? Stella Luna also crafts delicious sorbet. There’s no filler here folks, just pure, real flavour — yum!
We hope you enjoy your day exploring Merrickville. Want to explore more of Southeastern Ontario? Discover 12 tastes we can’t stop thinking about.
