Canada’s most beautiful village is nestled along a river in Ontario

Merrickville, Ontario, may be small but it sure knows how to make an impact. The village is often referred to as the most beautiful village in Canada. Yep, this Ontario gem nestled along the Rideau River stands out above the rest.

So, what makes Merrickville so beautiful? It could be the river views, the preserved 19th-century buildings that line the downtown streets, the river-front trails or a combination of them all.

Want to see it all for yourself? A road trip awaits!

Exploring Merrickville, Ontario

Merrickville, Ontario, also known as Merrickville-Wolford, is just one hour south of Ottawa by car.

If you’re driving from Toronto, you can expect the commute to take you around four hours.

The exit to the village is exit 705 off of the 401. From there, head north up County Road #15 until you reach your destination.

The first place you’re going to want to take yourself is the downtown strip along St. Lawrence Street. Here, you’ll find a large handful of the area’s historic buildings including:

• Aaron Mirick House, 905 St. Lawrence St: Built around 1845-1855, this house was owned by H.F. McLean, “a wealthy contractor and engineer of international repute.” The home still stands today and looks as good as new.
• Hutchins-Heroux Commercial Building, 212-224 St. Lawrence St: This commercial rubble stone building has recently been renovated, according to the village website, but was maintained with “careful attention to historical detail.”
• Aaron Mirick Building, 106-112 St. Lawrence St: If you’re wondering why the name Aaron Mirick comes up so much, he was the son of the founder of Merrickville! This specific structure was built in the 1850s out of cut stone with six bays on St. Lawrence Street and seven more along Main Street.
• Jakes-McLean Block, 105-129 St Lawrence St: Just one building over is a story stone commercial and residential structure that takes over “the most visible and important crossroads in Merrickville.” This building has had quite a few makeovers, serving as a busy general store, a bank, and a post office since the 1860s.

St. Lawrence Street passes over the Rideau River, meaning the small village sits on both sides.

The river is beautiful any time of year (as long as you dress accordingly) with the Dam Trail or Rideau Walking Trail as your best bet for some pretty views of the water.

Grabbing a bite in Merrickville, Ontario

If you’re stopping into this beautiful village, you’re going to need some fuel. Merrickville has a selection of restaurants and cafes that locals love.

The Goose and Gridiron is perfect if you’re craving some pub fare and even has live music on select weekends.

Mainstreet Restaurant can be found across from the Rideau Canal and while the patio is a hit in the summer, the family-style restaurant’s food is a hit all year round.

And for the pizza lovers, there’s Iron Forge Pizza.

Iron Forge has what seems like an endless selection of pizzas with pies including Garlic Chicken, Margherita, Shawarma Chicken, Island BBQ and classics like Pepperoni and Canadian.

I hope your day in Merrickville, Ontario is as wonderful as it is beautiful.

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