Take a short drive to Merrickville-Wolfordand to discover history, art, and gourmet cuisine in a beautiful Victorian village on the Rideau Canal

Merrickville-Wolford is just over an hour away from The McIntosh Country Inn. Explore the beauty and charm of this historic Village.

Located along the Rideau Canal and less than an hour’s drive from Ottawa, the Village of Merrickville and the surrounding rural area of Wolford loves to celebrate its vibrant history and culture. The Village of Merrickville has been officially named Canada’s Most Beautiful Village by Communities in Bloom and is known as the “Jewel of the Rideau.” With more designated heritage buildings than any other Ontario Village, Merrickville’s Victorian roots are beautifully preserved by the stone buildings of its delightful houses, restaurants, and shops.

Prepare a picnic lunch and embark on a self-guided walking tour of Rideau Canal locks and the Village and discover its history and traditions stemming back to the 1700s. Merrickville has a flourishing arts and cultural community – don’t forget to browse through some of the many craft, antique, and art shops.

6 Fun and Interesting Things to do in Merrickville-Wolford

Merrickville Locks 21-23

Come discover the history of the picturesque Rideau Canal and the Merrickville Locks 21-23! The first mill on the Rideau River was built in 1790 and the same site later acted as the location for the Merrickville Locks in the 1800’s. When William Mirick took over the mill, he established a thriving community, later named after him, near the site of the locks and the Rideau Canal construction. The 3 manually operated locks were detached so that the mill could still operate. Visitors can still see the original stone masonry of the dam, built in 1830.

For more information about the Rideau Canal and the Merrickville Locks, visit http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/locks/21-23-merrickville.html

Merrickville Blockhouse Museum

Come discover the fascinating history of Merrickville-Wolford at the Merrickville Blockhouse Museum. Be transported back in time to the 1800’s by knowledgeable guides in period costume.

This Blockhouse is the largest one of its kind on the Rideau Canal and boasts of 4-ft thick stone walls, portholes, and gun ports! The locks adjacent to the Blockhouse are some of the oldest operating locks in all of North America.

For more information about the Museum, visit https://www.merrickvillehistory.org/blank-3

Rideau Woodland Ramble

The Rideau Woodland Ramble is a beautiful garden display centre, home to many collections of rare plant material. Most of the infrastructure was created in 2000 when the land was cleared after the existing Red Pine forest was destroyed by the 1998 Ice Storm.

Enjoy touring the gardens and following the winding rambling trails. The stunning Woodland Ramble mostly includes plants of shade and woodland variety. The Ramble was selected as the favourite gardening establishment in Eastern Ontario and has also been featured as one of Canada’s top 20 nurseries in several prominent Gardening magazines.

For more information, visit https://www.rideauwoodlandramble.com/index.shtml

Rideau King Tours

Discover Merrickville and the Rideau Canal’s history by water! Come aboard The Rideau King, the 50-foot steel tour boat that that sails the historic Rideau Canal between Merrickville and Ottawa every Monday to Thursday. Join one of the daily tours and be wowed by one of the most stunning canals in North America.

Since its construction in the early 1800’s, the Rideau Canal has performed as a military, commercial, and vacation watery highway for nearly 200 years. Stretching from Kingston to Ottawa with 45 locks in total, the Canal is considered one of the top tourist attractions in the Ottawa area. Allow The Rideau King to transport you back in history and showcase the beauty of a national treasure.

For more information on the Rideau Canal, visit https://www.rideaukingtours.com/

MonSky Creations

While you’re touring Merrickville-Wolford, a stop at one of the craft, antique, and art shops is a definite must! One such place is MonSky Creations, an art gallery in the heart of the Village of Merrickville. Featuring the artwork of the incredible Monica Viola, the gallery showcases multi-disciplinary pieces made with materials such as clay, glass, painting, and fabric. Visit MonSky Creations and enjoy browsing through unique and surprising artwork. For more information, visit https://www.monskycreations.com/

Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Food Shop

Mrs. McGarringle’s has proudly been offering fine foods, quality products, and memorable experiences for over 30 years. Stop by the shop to experience gourmet products such as their cheese and meat counter or their estate oils and vinegar. Discover 14 different kinds of unique and artisan mustards and take advantage of their collection of top-quality kitchen items, bakeware, and utensils! Located in the Village of Merrickville, the building pays tribute to the town’s Victorian roots.

For more information, visit https://www.mustard.ca/

Discover the Inn

The McIntosh Country Inn and Conference Centre is a unique destination centre that offers a Launchpad for vacationers, tourists, and business people alike.

"Went for wing night and it was very tasty. Apps and drinks were also spot on. Definitely will go back again."

- Peter Swank

"My family and I visited the Inn's restaurant on Oct 11th. The quality of food and service was amazing. Thank you Tara, who was our server, for the awesome experience."

- Clifton Maheau

"Have eaten here twice a week for the last 4 months since my school's food isnt what I like. Absolutely incredible and the rooms are cheap yet clean and cozy"

- Hannah Charron

"Great place to stay. Friendly service, good restaurant. Stayed for the night on a visit to the area. Good experience."

- Mauricio Ramirez

"Was great to finally sit on the patio and this was the perfect place. Well spaced out tables and hand sanitizer at both entrances. Food was awesome too ;-)"

- Christopher Beazley

Modern Amenities paired with the comforts of country charm

The McIntosh Country Inn offers an amenities list that would rival most hotels, a range of conference and banquet facilities perfect for various events and full service restaurant and pub to satisfy any craving you have.

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