Hi friends, next up in our Ottawa Valley community itineraries, in collaboration with the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, is the Township of McNab/Braeside and Arnprior. I had a lot of fun venturing around and exploring when I was doing research for this itinerary. I made a point of taking back roads in the name of exploration. Without further adieu, I present beautiful adventures with massive white pines in the Township of McNab/Braeside and the Town of Arnprior.
Where to Stay
Country Squire Motel – Located in Arnprior, this motel is a quintessential Ontario road trip. Seriously though, does it get any more small-town Ontario than a traditional motel? I think not! This motel is meticulously maintained and is an affordable option for accommodations.
Quality Inn – located on Madawaska Blvd in Arnprior, this hotel is very close to the downtown district of Arnprior. This hotel is a 6-minute walk to downtown Arnprior, which means that if trying to find parking stresses you out this could be a prime solution for you.
MacNamara House – This gorgeous bed & breakfast is in Arnprior. It boasts Victorian architecture and is located a short distance from the historic downtown. This bed & breakfast is like stepping into a Hallmark movie, timeless; elegant; and classic.
Daniel House Bed &Breakfast – This is another bed & breakfast that is in Arnprior. Featuring three large bedrooms, internet, fridges, and a microwave. For more information, check out the link here.
Where to eat in Arnprior and the Township of McNab/Braeside
Neat Coffee Shop – Located in Burnstown, this spot is a unique gem. Not only do they serve delicious cups of coffee and pastries, but they also serve wood-fired pizzas. These pizzas are something to write home about. When I went, I had the Weird Al pizza (pesto, pear, brie and arugula). It was so darn good, my mouth is watering just thinking about it now. Another cool thing that Neat Coffee Shop does is they have live music. They have had artists like Biff Naked, Matthew Good and JW Jones perform there on their stage. It is pretty awesome to not have to go into the big city in order to see quality live music. The pandemic definitely made me cherish live music. For more information, you can check out the link here. I should also note too that Neat Coffee Shop also has an Airbnb right on their premises.
Blackbird Cafe – This charming cafe is located in Burnstown. Operating hours are Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 – 8:00, Friday and Saturday 11:30 – 9:00 and Sunday 11:30 – 4:00. The menu features sandwiches & burgers for lunch and chicken, fish and steaks for dinner. Reservations made a week in advance are highly recommended.
The Kitchen at White Lake – This newly opened take-out restaurant is located in White Lake. This restaurant is open Thursday to Saturday and boasts weekly specials. These weekly specials are shared on their Facebook page, which can be found here. An example of one of their specials is this week they are serving BBQ pulled pork with cheesy corn polenta. Every Friday they sell 12×12 pizzas. It is highly recommended to preorder your pizza by Thursday at 6 pm to reserve your selection.
Lumbertown Ale House – located in downtown Arnprior, this restaurant is one of the few gastropubs in the area. They take pride in focusing on “local beer and fresh food.” Their menu is carefully curated to include items that have local ingredients and are made in-house. This includes items like goat cheese balls (made with orange-infused local honey) and Lumbertown Smoked Wings, which are smoked in-house. Their food is packed full of flavour that makes me so happy to eat.
Krave Bistro – Located on Elgin Street in the beautiful downtown Arnprior, Krave bistro is where comfort food meets grace and elegance. Their food is a fusion of different flavours that is a delicious adventure in every bite. In the summer, I was on a little day date by myself and I decided to grab a meal on the Krave Bistro patio. I went wild and ordered the halloumi tacos and the cajun chicken fajita naan – don’t make me choose between halloumi and naan because I will always get both regardless of how much food it ends up being. Needless to say, it was a significant amount of food, but all of it was a delightful ride on the flavour train.
Urban Farm Girls Bakery & Cafe – This gem of a bakery is located in the heart of historic downtown Arnprior. The cafe is both charming and welcoming. The last time I was in the cafe I had the most delicious muffins that had this lemon jelly in the centre. Clearly, my description does it zero justice, but it was beyond tasty. This is the kind of place where I would hang out with my laptop, a latte and some sort of baked goodies for a few hours.
Mighty Fine Bakehouse – Located on Madawaska Street in Arnprior, this bakehouse is absolutely incredible. Their croissants and pastries are nothing short of impressive. I’m not sure if you are aware of how difficult and labour-intensive it is to make croissants…seriously, the amount of folding and making sure the dough stays at the proper temperature is a significant amount of work. This is why Mighty Fine’s croissants and pastries are so darn impressive. They taste like they are straight out of Paris. You’ll have to try them for yourself to know what the heck I am talking about.
Things to Do in Arnprior and the Township of McNab/Braeside
Shopping
White Lake General Store – Located in White Lake, this general store embodies everything I think of when I picture a general store. White Lake General Store has everything from a freezer section to goods that are locally crafted in the Ottawa Valley. I love being able to walk around the store and see products from businesses I know in the Ottawa Valley. These businesses include White Lake Washing Company; Irish Daisy Candle Company; Willow & Wick Candle Company; Knit Wits; Mystic’s Haven; and Lilypad Products – to name a few!
Bee Savvy Fine Foods – located on Elgin Street in Arnprior, Bee Savvy Fine Foods is like a food boutique. From food serving vessels & glasses to delicious hot sauces that impress even the most particular hot sauce connoisseurs. They now also have a bottle shop where they feature Ontario craft beers. I love having a gander around the store because I always find something new or something I have been on the hunt for – like the last time I was in there we found dolmas, which I have been trying to find for far too long. Bee Savvy Fine Foods also hosts events and workshops. They post about any upcoming events on their Facebook page here.
Bittersweet Fine Craft & Art Gallery – located in Burnstown (very close to Neat Coffee Shop), it is open Thursday to Sunday from 11:00 to 5:00. According to their Facebook page “over 50 Canadian contemporary artists in various media such as sculpture, paintings, blown glass, pottery, jewelry and leatherwork are represented.” I always love perusing art galleries and I especially love that they are showcasing Canadian artists.
The Vintage Crate – located in the heart of the historic downtown Arnprior, this store sells both antique and non-antique items. I have been in this store several times and I love how carefully curated are the items included in the store. From gift items to decor, this store is perfect for those hard to buy for people in your life. The Vintage Crate is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00.
John St. Shop – this gem of a store is located on John St in Arnprior. This store has the most gorgeous plants for sale. Have a specific kind of plant you want to purchase? John St Shop can help you out, oftentimes within a couple of days, they can have want you would like ordered to the store. An exciting new development, John St. Shop now sells and consigns men’s clothing. They stock clothing from sizes XS to 4XL.
Arnprior & District Museum – located in one of the neatest buildings in Arnprior, the picturesque clocktower in downtown Arnprior. The museum features both permanent and temporary exhibits. One of my favourite exhibits is the timber room, which showcases the rich lumber history of the Ottawa Valley. More information on the exhibits can be found here.
Hikes
Gillies Grove – located in Arnprior, this trail is an absolute treat. I had no idea what this trail was going to be like, but I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the tallest white pine trees in Ontario are located in Gillies Grove. Some of these trees look like they were plucked out of Vancouver Island, they are massive. The trails are wide and flat, which means they are accessible to strollers and people who utilize wheelchairs. There is 3.6km of trails in the grove for exploring. When I went, I parked on Ottawa Street and just walked to the end of the road to enter the grove. This is a beautiful place to appreciate and soak in nature. While I was there, I saw so many birds – no idea what any of them were, but they were fun to watch nonetheless.
McNab/Braeside Recreational Trail – This trail is located between Goshen and Arnprior, stretching over 20km in length. It should be noted that this trail is very straight, which has been a bit of a gripe for some trail users. Dogs are permitted to utilize this trail, provided they are leashed. I love that these old rail beds have been given a new lease on life and are now being used as recreational trails. In the winter, this trail can be used for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. I will definitely be using this trail to snowshoe this winter as I am always on the hunt for more trails to snowshoe.
Next Up
For the next community itinerary, we are exploring The City of Pembroke and the Township of Laurentian Valley. The City of Pembroke’s Santa Claus Parade of Lights is scheduled for December 11 at 5:00 pm.