Hello hello, friends! Welcome back to another blog post written by yours truly in collaboration with the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association. This blog post focuses on celebrating spring in the Town of Renfrew. Being able to prance around the Town of Renfrew recently really fed my soul. The sun was shining, it was warm out, and people were smiling - like I said, it really fed my soul. Dare I say, it also felt like a little piece of normal again, although, I do acknowledge that the pandemic is still ongoing.
Let’s kick off this celebration, shall we?!
Where to Stay in Renfrew
Maple Ridge Inn B&B - located in a tranquil part of the Ottawa Valley, you are guaranteed relaxation if you stay at this inn. The slogan of this inn is “where luxury and nature come together for an adventure. The inn has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an elegant dining room. Some of my favourite features of the Maple Ridge Inn are the pool, gorgeous garden as well as the cozy bar and sitting area for guests to enjoy - hard to complain! For more information about this accommodation option, or to book, check out the link here.
Kennelly Mountain Farm - located in Renfrew near Mount Saint Patrick, this Airbnb is a restored log cabin farmhouse. There is so much historic charm nestled in this lodging option. Four people can be accommodated between two bedrooms (both with a queen-sized bed). This log cabin farmhouse has a fully renovated kitchen that is fit for any sort of culinary creation. I should also add that pets are permitted at this Airbnb and it is very close to a plethora of trails.
Hawk’s Nest - Four Season Cottage - located on the Ottawa River, this waterfront cottage boasts not only gorgeous views but a gorgeous space to match. This cottage was built in 2016 and has a private beach. This Airbnb has wifi and so many luxurious amenities like an indoor fireplace and radiant heat. Their outdoor amenities include a bbq grill and a fire pit.
Lochiel Street B&B - located on Lochiel Street in Renfrew, this charming bed and breakfast is spacious and well furnished. Amenities of this bed and breakfast include wifi, air conditioning (which is going to be necessary in just a few more weeks), breakfast and TV. Lochiel Street B & B is also centrally located to all of the attractions in downtown Renfrew, making it perfect for locals and out-of-towners alike.
Where to Eat
Raglan Street Foods - located on Raglan Street, this newer business sells meats; imported foods; and sandwiches. If I’m being honest, the moment I walked into Raglan Street Foods, I fell in love. From all of the pickles and olives to the sandwiches and wraps…everything is just delicious. Raglan Street Foods is one of those places where you will discover something new and wonderful every time you visit.
Karras’ Way Restaurant - also located on Raglan Street, this restaurant serves up some of the most delicious Greek food. Their specialties include souvlaki, gyros and spinach pie. They do serve non-Greek dishes, but if I’m going to a Greek restaurant, I am absolutely going to have some Greek food because when in Rome…or Athens, you know what I’m saying! In the warmer months, Karras’ Way Restaurant has a patio located at the front of their restaurant on Raglan Street. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy some delicious Greek food than on a patio.
The Rocky Mountain House - when I think of restaurants in Renfrew, I always think of The Rocky Mountain House first. They serve schnitzels, sandwiches & wraps, breakfast and some hearty meat and potato style meals. Often times on weekends, The Rocky Mountain House will have live musical performers. There is something so nice about being able to enjoy live music while enjoying a meal with some quality company. I also enjoy that The Rocky Mountain House has a patio that is open during the warmer months. During the height of the pandemic, The Rocky Mountain House expanded its patio and set up a massive outdoor dining tent. I’m unsure if they will also be doing that this year, but at the very least they do also have their regular patio.
Bonnechere Bakery & Bistro - I cannot walk past Bonnechere Bakery & Bistro without walking in. Where to begin talking about this gem of the Ottawa Valley?! As the name says, it is both a bakery and a bistro. The bistro section is eat-in where you can order the most delicious soups, salads and sandwiches that are all made from scratch in-house. When I say everything is made in-house, I truly mean everything! The bread that the sandwiches are made with is baked fresh daily. The salads are made with seasonal ingredients and the soups are made from scratch with ingredients you can actually pronounce. I would also be remised if I did not add that I recently polled my audience on their favourite spots to eat in Renfrew. The Bonnechere Bakery & Bistro was the resounding first choice by the respondents.
The Flamingo Restaurant - located on O’Brien Road, the Flamingo Restaurant is a Renfrew staple. It is a female-owned business and its core values revolve around the importance of family and the integrity of its services. The food they specialize in is homestyle dishes including steak and seafood. The Flamingo Restaurant often runs daily specials, which include things like taco Tuesday and fishbowl Friday.
Things to Do in Renfrew
Strolling around Downtown Renfrew - one of my absolute favourite things to do is walk around historic downtowns. Downtown Renfrew is just the kind of historic downtown that I love. It has the most gorgeous brick buildings that are packed with boatloads of charm, lots of shops to pop into and places to refuel when hunger strikes during the stroll. Here is a condensed list of some of the places I love to pop into when I am in Downtown Renfrew.
Sweet Tooths - retro meets modern in this delicious sweets shop. They sell everything from ice cream, to vintage candy, to fudge and so many delicious morsels in between. The fudge that is served at Sweet Tooths is actually made in-store and is made with cream and real butter - umm yes please peanut butter fudge! My lactose-intolerant self loves their sundaes that are made with Brum’s Dairy ice cream. Plus, I love all of the bright colours in the store. They are definitely a huge mood lifter!
Ottawa Valley Coffee - I absolutely love what Ottawa Valley Coffee has managed to create in such a short period of time. They truly have created a community. From the cozy coffee house atmosphere, the delicious drinks, and the other local goods that they sell in addition to their own - I’m here for all of it! Ottawa Valley Coffee is a favourite place to grab a drink amongst locals. Not only do they serve coffee, but they also have a variety of craft beers that are available to purchase for enjoyment at Ottawa Valley Coffee or for take-out. I should also add that Ottawa Valley Coffee has also sponsored two Ukrainian refugee families. There is nothing more that I can say other than the people behind Ottawa Valley Coffee are amazing people who truly give back to the community. Side note - if you are having trouble trying to decide what drink to order, just ask them to surprise you. You really cannot go wrong.
A Sense of Country - also located on Raglan Street, this store is…magical. There are so many different rooms with different themes. They have a large selection of country and primitive home and cottage decor, retro candy, fudge, books written by local authors and artistic consignment. There are seriously so many things to see and purchase in this store. It is the perfect store if you are on the hunt for a gift for someone and you do not know what to buy them. A Sense of Country is such a fun and interesting place to explore.
Ella’s Keeping Company - located in downtown Renfrew, Ella’s Keeping has been in business for 23 years. Their vision is to connect with and create long-term customer relationships that inspire our shoppers while making them feel great and empowered. I love when businesses endeavour to build relationships and a fantastic customer experience. I also love that you can find one-of-a-kind pieces at Ella’s Keeping Company. In addition to clothing, they sell fashion accessories, home decor, bath & body items and a plethora of gnomes. This is another gem of the Town of Renfrew!
Valley Refillery - making sustainable choices is so much easier with stores like Valley Refillery. They sell bulk goods, package-free and zero-waste products. There are so many small changes that you can make in your every day that make a huge difference. An example is switching to a solid dish soap bar from the dish soap in single-use plastic bottles. Another way is to refill cleaning products instead of throwing out the bottles when they’re empty. I highly recommend checking out their storefront, plus the staff are just so darn nice and make everyone feel welcome!
McDougall Mill Museum - located adjacent to the swinging bridge at O’Brien Park is the McDougall Mill Museum. The building that houses the museum was built in 1855 by fur trader and Hudson’s Bay Company agent, John Lorne McDougall. It was originally a grist mill and later became the McDougall Mill Museum in 1969. This is a prime spot to learn more about the history of the Ottawa Valley. It should be noted that the museum is currently closed, but more information can be found on their website here.
NHA/NHL Birthplace Museum - located at 1 Ma-Te-Way Park Drive, this museum focuses on the history of the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. The National Hockey Association was the predecessor to the National Hockey League. Renfrew was home to four of the five National Hockey Association teams back in 1909. The museum shares stories of these four teams from back in 1909. The experience includes a plethora amount of hockey memorabilia and lots of photographs. There is so much history to discover and what better place to learn than in our own backyard in the Ottawa Valley!
Renfrew Public Library - I keep falling deeper and deeper in love with the libraries in the Ottawa Valley. They provide so much more than books (although I should say that books are cool too!). The Renfrew Public Library has a variety of programs including crafting meet-ups; Nintendo WII & Vr Saturdays; Zoom book club; connection, creativity & caring kits; tech help appointments; and various workshops & talks. This is so much to learn and discover through the Renfrew Public Library. For more information about the Renfrew Public Library and its programs check out the website here.
Outdoors
Picnic at O’Brien Park - I recently went to this park for the first time and I was blown away by the tranquillity. I adore this little space that is located next to the rushing water that is also home to a picturesque swing bridge. Seriously, if you are looking for a neat spot to get some photos taken, this is the perfect spot. There are also a variety of benches, which make a perfect spot to sit and enjoy the soothing sounds of the water. I cannot wait to make a little trip back to Renfrew to have a picnic with my feller on a beautiful summer day.
Ma-Te-Way Park - the first time I went to Ma-Te-Way Park, I was blown away by all the amenities that the park has to offer. From the trails, football field, baseball field, playground, splash pad, 400-meter track, off-leash dog park, and a skate park there is basically something for everyone at this park. When I hiked along the fitness trail, I was greeted by so many friendly pups. There is currently an expansion of the activity centre that is underway and is sure to house more amenities. It is a great place to spend some time making memories with friends and family.
Millennium Trail – this 3.4km four-season trail follows the old CN rail line between Lisgar Street and Barnett Boulevard. Picnic tables and benches dot the length of the trail providing rest stops and bird & wildlife viewing opportunities.
Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (Algonquin Trail) – the Ottawa Valley’s newest multi-use trail, stretching from Smiths Falls to Mattawa, follows the former CP rail line through town and meets up with the popular K&P Trail near June street. Click here for an interactive map of both trails.
Coming up
Next month’s blog post, in collaboration with the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, is focusing on the Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan. Be excited!