A Road Trip to Vankleek Hill; Top Things to See and Do
With rich agricultural lands, unique local producers and a picturesque downtown, the town of Vankleek Hill is the perfect place for a summer road trip! Located just an hour east of Ottawa, Vankleek Hill is the perfect spot to spend a day wine tasting, beer sampling, indulging in local cuisine, shopping for great locally made goods and getting lost in the relaxing pace of country life.
Explore Local Art and History
Higginson Tower
The Higginson Tower is a historic landmark in Vankleek Hill, and a must-visit for anyone passing through the town. The distinct structure was built in 1830 as a wind-powered grist mill by Lieutenant Thomas Higginson to aid in the grinding of wheat and corn from the rich agricultural lands of the region. With a lack of consistent wind, the windmill was later transformed by Lieutenant Thomas' son, William Higginson, into the first private observatory in Eastern Ontario, with an addition to the upper portion of the Tower. Years later the tower was acquired by Phil Arber, a dedicated citizen and activist in the Vankleek Hill community. He donated the ruins and some of the land surrounding the Tower including what is now the Arbor Gallery, to Champlain Township in 2003. Arber along with the Higginson Tower Committee then raised over $100k to restore the historic structure to its former stature.
Arbor Gallery
Located a stone's throw away from the Higginson Tower, you'll find the Arbor Gallery. Nestled under a canopy of mature trees, the gallery is located in the historic Higginson building, built by William Higginson in 1856. Once a boarding house in the 1940's and 50's operated by the Higginson family, the building was sold in the 1970's and was ran as an art school, welcoming visiting artists from around the region. In 1993 it was purchased by Phil Arber and shortly after the Arbor gallery was opened, exhibiting art from classic to contemporary, by both local and visiting artists.
Historical Murals
Located in Vankleek's Hill quaint downtown, you'll find a series of beautifully painted murals depicting the town's history and heritage. Vankleek Hill is among one of the first villages in Canada to display historical murals depicting life in the village over the years. These beautiful, intricate murals were painted by artists Elisabeth Skelly and Odile Tetu, and can be found in several places in the town's downtown. On High St. (on the Wagar and Holland building at 28 High St.), you'll find "Going to the Fair" which is a composite painting created from historical photographs, and a few steps away (on the side of the Pink Bow Tie Building at 12A High St.) you'll find "Community Patchwork" which illustrates scenes from the May Show Festival, the ice storm of 1998 and the Vankleek Hill Fair. Nearby on Home Avenue (on the side of the Jade Garden Building at 85 Main St. East) you'll find scenes from yesteryear, which showcases local business and even well known current Vankleek Hill residents.
Eat and drink
Broken Kettle Bakery
Looking for a sweet treat, specialty coffee or light snack? Then a stop at Broken Kettle Bakery should be on your list! This quaint bakery offers not only some amazing butter tarts, muffins and cookiess, but some great options for a light lunch including wraps, sandwiches and soup. Their specialty coffees are great for a morning wake up or late afternoon pick-me up, and they source their beans from local roasteries including Totem Coffee in Vankleek Hill and Bluebarn Coffee Roasters in Wakefield, QC. For a hot summer day they also offer scoops of Kawartha Dairy ice cream, healthy smoothies and even frozen hot chocolate!
Trillium Tea Room
The Trillium Tea Room is another great spot to stop for lunch or a quick snack. Choose from a variety of soup, salads and handmade sandwiches and don't forget to grab a glass of homemade lemonade or iced-tea.. Save room for dessert and try a slice of coconut cream pie, scones with homemade strawberry jam, or a famous Cow Pie Cookie (a delicious combo of milk chocolate, raisins and toasted almonds). For those who love afternoon tea, the Trillium Tea Room holds special high tea events throughout the year, which include traditional finger sandwiches, decadent scones, delectable desserts and your choice of specialty teas.
Local Producers and Farm Fun
Ouimet Farms Adventure
If you're looking for some family farm fun, Ouimet Farms Adventure is your spot. A working family farm, Andre Ouimet decided to open Ouimet Farm Adventure in 2013, and his signature 7-acre corn maze, whose design changes each year, has been a much-cherished spot for families visiting the area during the fall and summer months. Along with navigating the giant corn labyrinth, they also offer a Fun Zone for kids with a variety of entertaining activities including a small zipline, climbing rock wall, pedal karts, mining for gems and a giant jumping pillow. Ouimet Farms is also part of the Pop silos program, and their beautifully painted pop silo featuring a farmer at work, is a stunning photo op, and worth pulling over for.
Garden Path Homemade Soap
Located a short drive from Vankleek's Hill downtown, Garden Path Homemade Soap is the perfect spot to pick up some locally made soap and take a stroll through the lush gardens located on the 5-acre heritage farm. Started in 2009, Garden Path Homemade Soap prides themselves on creating all -natural soaps and body products, and harvest many ingredients from their extensive herb and flower gardens. Some of the herbs harvested onsite that you'll find in their products include calendula, lemongrass, peppermint, chamomile, lavender, rosemary, and rose petals. They also encourage visitors to explore the grounds on a self-guided tour, with maps available on their front porch, highlighting the beautiful walking trails around the property. The variety of flowers and plants located on the property attract not only butterflies, but also bees, and their hives produce some amazingly delicious honey that they sell onsite.
Read more about Garden Path Homemade Soap and more Ontario small batch soap makers here.
Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields
If you’re visiting Vankleek Hill in the spring, Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields is the perfect place to spend a day out in the fresh spring air. This family-run self-pick tulip farm, has over 300,000 bulbs in an array of vibrant colours and unique varieties, allowing you to customize your own bouquet. Stroll through the rows of blooms for some epic photo-ops, then pick your perfect spring arrangement of any size or colour.
Vankleek Hill Farmers' Market
If you're visiting Vankleek Hill on a Saturday be sure to stop by the Vankleek Hill Farmers' Market to grab a variety of locally grown produce, home-grown meat and delicious baked goods. Open year-round (the market moves indoors in the winter), you can find vendors like Cernunnos Farm who produce beautiful Beeswax candles and fresh lavender, Jim's Homestyle Bakery who whips up delicious home-baked tarts, cookies and loafs, and Elishka Farm offering up grass-fed meat, fresh vegetables, herbs, home-made preserves, and homemade soap.
Vankleek Hill Vineyard
For those who love a good glass of vino, Vankleek Hill Vineyard is the perfect spot to sip some locally made wine in a beautiful country setting. The 55-acre vineyard grows Frontenac (red), Frotenac Gris (white) and Servengy (red) grapes, and is family run, with three generations working on the farm. The property is surrounded by beautiful mature trees, and makes a perfect setting for an afternoon of wine tasting and vineyard strolling. They have a wide great variety of wines to sample (and to take home) including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Cab Franc. Merlot, Frontenac Noir, Frontenac Blanc, Frontenac Gris, Blueberry, Apple, and Pearl. The vineyard is not hard to miss, as their stunning and colourful Pop silo helps mark the spot, and is a reason for visiting on it's own.
Beau's All Natural Brew Co.
A well-known name on the brewery scene, Beau's All Natural Brew Co. makes the small town of Vankleek Hill it's home base. The independent award-winning craft brewery opened in 2006 by father and son co-founders Tim and Steve Beauschesne, and has become a recognized name in the craft beer industry. While it's popular Lug Tread Lagered Ale has become it's signature brew, they continue to innovate, creating unique beers like their Country Vibes Amber Ale, Small Batch #10 Spiced Rye Pilsner, and their DAVIDsTEA London Fog Earl Grey Latte. Their dedication to environmental sustainability is always top of mind, and along with using coasters, brochures and posters using 100% post-consumer waste, as well as their enivro-friendly packaging, they recently created Beau's Local Organic, Canada’s only certified organic carbon neutral beer, made with 100% Ontario hops, 100% Quebec malts, and brewed with green electricity.
Stop by for a tasting, a tour, or to pick up some cans, and during the summer months enjoy a refreshing pint on their airy outdoor patio. Fridays-Sundays you can also enjoy a bite to eat from Meatings BBQ, an Ottawa based business cooking up southern BBQ favourites like sausage on a bun, smoked chicken panini melts and pulled pork tacos.
For more information to plan your visit to Vankleek Hill, Ontario click here.
