One-tank trip: Merrickville offers history, shops and small-town charm one hour from Ottawa

We visit the Eastern Ontario town of Merrickville, a short drive from Ottawa and full of quaint shops, scenic views, and historic landmarks.

Quaint shops, unique boutiques, treats, eats, historic landmarks and scenic views along the Rideau Canal keep drawing visitors to Merrickville, Ont., a village about an hour southwest of Ottawa.

Described by many as the “cutest town in Ontario,” the village offers a mix of history, locally owned and family operated businesses and experiences that encourage visitors to slow down and explore.

“It’s definitely worth the trip,” says Vikki Schembri, who’s visiting from Thunder Bay. “Whether you actually want to go in somewhere or you just want to walk around and gaze at the beautiful buildings.”

• One Tank Trips: The best getaways, only a tank away!

The Rideau Canal runs through the centre of the community, with boats passing through the locks during the summer months. The locks are all hand-operated by Parks Canada staff.

“It’s like the ancient engineering of Rome,” says her husband, Mark, while watching the lock system in operation. “I almost never get to see them in action.”

Merrickville’s roots date back to the late 1700s. Ruins of the original mill remain beside the river, while the village’s blockhouse, one of just four along the Rideau Canal and the largest, still stands overlooking the water. Today, it is a museum.

“It was built basically as a defence structure,” says Josh Terpstra, a board member with the Blockhouse Museum. “Now, we have a whole bunch of different exhibits on local history. Whether it be agricultural history, industrial heritage, or our temporary photo exhibit this year on the Rideau Canal that’s opened up, it’s all very exciting and very cool.”

Beyond its history, the village has become known for its collection of independent shops, restaurants and bakeries.

Violets on Main Village Bakery produces breads, croissants, doughnuts and other baked goods.

“We’re a full-service bakery and it’s in that quaint little town on the Rideau,” says owner Trevor Johnson. “We used to come here as a family to visit all the townships around this area and then one day we decided to move up from Ottawa and come here because it’s beautiful.”

Merrickville Cookies ships its creations to more than 100 locations across Ontario.

“It’s a family-based business, and I love it,” says Merrickville Cookie owner Dennis Boudreau. “We used to come visit the town when we lived up in Kanata and then one day we said let’s tap into the market and offer a treat, everybody likes treats, so we decided why not and here we are today.”

Next door, TheOccurrence creates handcrafted puzzles on site and can turn personal photographs into custom pieces.

“Everything in here is Canadian artists or Canadian catalogues that we found and restored,” says owner Brigitte Gaal, showcasing one example, an Eaton’s catalogue from 1929. “We can do puzzles in 190 pieces 500 pieces and 1000.”

Visitors can also take part in glassmaking workshops at Gather Brewery and Glassworks, where craft beer is brewed on site.

“It’s really a lot to look forward to, and a really unique experience.” says Tobias of Gather Brewery and Glassworks.

“We make all of our eight beers that are currently on-tap in house,” says Mark McKay, manager. “We sell cans too and we also have some collaborations with other local breweries.”

And what was once a church is now one of Merrickville’s busiest gathering spots. The Pews blends history with live music, theatre and community events — all inside a beautifully restored 1890 building.

The village is also known for its welcoming, dog-friendly atmosphere and abundance of family-run businesses.

“You can come spend the morning wandering the shops, have lunch at one of our local restaurants or grab a picnic and take it over to the park and watch the boats go through the locks. It’s so beautiful here,” says Anne Barr, the Merrickville-Wolford deputy mayor. “It’s a very closely knit community and one that’s very proud of its heritage. There’s a strong sense of belonging.”

Julie Hamilton, shop owner of All The Things, encourages visitors to wander the entire village. Outside her shop, you will find “Gary,” a nearly six-meter-tall green alien. Inside the store, there are plenty of interesting antiques, along with new finds

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App