Less than an hour’s drive southwest of Ottawa, Merrickville may just be the perfect day trip destination. Pretty location on the historic Rideau Canal? Check. A few decent lunch spots? Check. And stores selling everything from blown glass to South American hammocks? Definitely check.
In fact, the shopping is what draws me back to Merrickville again and again. I can lose track of time at Mrs. McGarrigle’s, browsing not only for the shop’s famous mustards (my fave is the chipotle lime, followed closely by the balsamic and cracked pepper) but also kitchen gear and yummy packaged goods of all descriptions. The shop also offers cooking classes and, on Fridays, sells take-home meals like creamy pesto chicken with mashed potatoes.
I’ve been going to Mrs. McGarrigle’s for years, but on my latest trip I discovered a few new-to-me stores also worth the drive. Top of the list among these was Louche Lily—and I say this as someone whose idea of wearing a lot of makeup involves sporting mascara and lipstick on the same day. Even if cosmetics aren’t your bag, you can browse for bath products, moisturizer and other personal care products. Everything is eco-friendly, many products are vegan, and the alternatives to chemical ingredients are often eye-opening—like the cocoa used to tint one brand’s brown mascara. Owner Lyz Plant knows her stuff: before opening the store, she spent over a decade as a makeup artist in Toronto.
A few doors down, I was delighted to discover the offbeat Anarchy Gallery, where artist Angelina Wrona sells her goth-style paintings of huge-eyed waifs, along with quirky items like dresses made with skull-patterned fabric. Don’t miss the funky artwork on the floor.
Across the street at An Inch of Gold, affordable gold and silver jewellery shares space with gifts and clothes from around the world, including metal garden art and the aforementioned hammocks.
You can easily while away a day in Merrickville, whether you’re trying to choose one of the many gorgeous handbags at Rowland Leather, watching artists at work at Gray Art Glass or browsing for boomer hits among the stacks of LPs at Vinyl Destination. In fact, I’ve often thought about staying overnight, and I’ve long missed Sam Jakes Inn, which closed years ago. After my trip, I discovered that Michael Rowland has opened two vacation suites above his leather shop. I guess I’ll just have to go back. Oh well.
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If you go
Distance from Ottawa: 77km
Visitor information: Merrickville-Wolford