Hit the road: Follow 44 leads to countless memories

Somewhere between watching lemurs jump, digging into mouth-watering fare on a waterside patio, witnessing 200-year-old turbines in motion, sipping wine overlooking lush grapes hanging from the vines, peering at turtles from a forested boardwalk, and savouring the smell of fresh-baked bread, I realized a truth: I would Follow 44 for a lot longer than just 27 km.

Of course, the 44 I was referring to is Leeds Grenville County Road 44 which runs from Kemptville to Spencerville. It’s a short route as county roads go, but it’s jam packed with unique experiences that really encapsulate the flavours, farms and fun of the Rideau Region in South Eastern Ontario.

Google maps pinned route

Day Tripper

Follow 44 kicked off this summer as a route to follow for diverse shops, farmers' markets, great food, outdoor activities and parks, animals and year-round events. It’s meant as a day trip guide, drawing together the intriguing experiences for this stretch of County Road 44. With self-guided day trip itineraries from Spencerville to Kemptville, the Follow 44 route is perfect for family trips, romantic escapes, solo jaunts, and even friend getaway weekends.

Always keen for a local adventure, Hubs and I hit the road with the intention of stopping at a few spots along the route. We ended up with the perfect day trip – that left us wanting more from Follow 44! We started in Spencerville, impressed by the working turbines at the Spencerville Mill and Museum. The Mill is known for being the last remaining Mill on the South Nation River, dating back to 1812. This sawmill eventually became a flour and grist mill, then a feed mill serving local farmers and feed stores throughout the region. The 20-foot high ceilings and tall heritage windows couple with wooden beams and stone walls to give the building a wonderfully rustic feel. The first thing we noticed was its beautiful riverside location and the soothing sound of the water as it flows alongside Mill Park. Inside, we were treated to a turbine demonstration, which brought the original milling equipment to life and made us feel like we were stepping back in time.

Then we strolled around the corner up County Road 44 to The Odd Spot, a licensed and quirky board game café. This proved to be an innovative blend of traditional board games with a modern café experience, including specialty coffee, sweet treats and shareable foods. The game selection was next level: more than 500 board games are available for playing! We perused the titles and made plans to return with friends and book a table for an evening out. Look here for free stay and play events throughout the summer, trivia nights, art adventures, mystery dinners and more – and be sure to spend time on the chill patio here.

We hear Diablo Manor is also a treat, perfect for an evening of enchantment and mystery, home to the creator of world-famous circus sideshow Carnival Diablo and star of The Paranormal Show, Scott McClelland. Tuck in for an unforgettable evening of a sinister dinner and diabolical dessert, accented by Scott McClelland’s infamous paranormal performance.

Next, we stopped at Green Gables Vines Winery and met the friendly faces behind the wine. This is a small winery with big taste. The tasting room is accented by beautiful flowers and overlooks the vineyard. We got acquainted with Strawberry Swirl; the rose sabrevois wine infused with real strawberries. With a soft strawberry aroma and taste, this off-dry is a sure summer hit. In fact, the winery also serves up refreshing slushies made with Strawberry Swirl!

Next, we sauntered down a short way to Saunders Country Critters Zoological Sanctuary to get up close and personal with 75 species from 25 countries! With feeding cones in hand, it was time to learn about domestic and exotic animals, from goats to horses to singing dogs, lemurs, kangaroos and even birds of prey. One of our favs was a capybara, who was keen on gently munching on the food from our hands. It was neat to see the animals and read about them on the signage, as well as through new QR codes on each enclosure. We learned that Saunders Country Critters Zoological Sanctuary is a much-needed safe space for numerous unwanted animals, who have special needs or require extra care. We loved watching the lemurs jump and hand-feeding the sweet deer.

Then it was off Country Side Antiques just down the road. This place is heritage through and through – not just the antiques, but extending to the beautiful stone home, barns and even the original homestead, dating back to 1790. Country Side Antiques is fun to explore, like a real-life eye spy game! Have fun looking through everything from glass to bed frames and from art to tools and home décor.

As we rolled into Kemptville we noticed it was busy in the middle of town – the Kemptville Farmer’s Market was happening! With live music, great eats, creative art and local produce, it was hopping with good vibes and community. The eye-catching booth of Wildling Acres, an enchanting flower farm located on the Follow 44 route, offered stunning market jars and hand-tied bunches of freshly picked blooms free of pesticides and grown with love. Think Pom-Pom Dahlias, Lisianthus (!), cosmos, zinnias, and so much more. These would bring a bit of sunshine into any home.

It was definitely time to eat, so we headed over to Salamanders for a leisurely meal on the patio overlooking Kemptville Creek. It was fun to watch people fishing and paddling while savouring the food from this hidden gem in Kemptville. I had the pulled pork sandwich with a salad and house-made dressing, and hubs had a steak sandwich, which was cooked to perfection. The sauce on the pulled pork was swoon-worthy. The welcome at Salamanders was warm, and we now know why it’s a true community social spot.  Not only is the patio top-notch, but Salamanders also boasts a restaurant side with quiet elegance – and a pub side for a lighter atmosphere.

We walked down the street for an after-meal treat from Bubba & Bugs Coffee Bar. You know you’re in for a good experience, even stepping into the heritage building through the big pink door. This gorgeous, intimate space is perfect for tucking in with friends and slowing life down over a cup of coffee. With a full chandelier, wooden ceilings and an exposed brick wall it radiates charm and community – and the mocha I had will easily keep me coming back for more. Look here for a full line up of hot and cold drinks, including smoothies, as well as lunch sandwiches, quinoa bowls and brunch options. Next up was The Crusty Baker and the biggest cinnamon roll this side of the Rideau! We also snagged a cranberry and rose scone, as well as a fresh-baked loaf of parmesan garlic bread, which we saved for later, although it was hard with how good it smelled. The Crusty Baker is a British-Canadian bakery with a flair for big flavours. Think delicious breads and sandwiches to pies, cakes, cookies, tarts and beyond. This summer, their Portuguese custard tarts are a big hit! We can’t wait to visit Grahame’s Bakery the next time we’re in town - we want to see the heritage wood-burning oven there! Grahame’s has been operating since 1885 and is currently run by third-generation owners. What’s more, it has the oldest operating wood-fired oven in Canada. We hear the butter tarts are off the charts delicious so we’re looking forward to trying them!

Bellies full, we decided to check out Ferguson’s Forest Centre to amble after our late lunch. We chose the Turtle Trail, a 2.8 km out and back easy route which follows the creek. Ferguson’s Forest is a wonderfully unique multi-use green space with a tree nursery, 800 acres of forest with 22 km of designated trails, an arboretum, a disc golf course and even a dog park. We parked at Anniversary Park, and it wasn’t long on the trail before we found ourselves among some of the biggest trees I’d ever seen. It was one of those places where you felt like you had to whisper because it was something special. Right after the trees, the trail crossed a cute boardwalk, which showcased a perfect habitat for turtles and frogs. It was interesting to look out onto the creek from here and appreciate nature.

After our walk, we were hot and ready for a swim – but we were out of time for the day! Next time, we vowed to go to Rideau River Provincial Park to make use of its beautiful beaches. There’s so much to do in the area we were even talking about making a weekend out of it and resting our heads at Kemptville Suites. This luxury stay boasts deluxe hotel suites in historic downtown Kemptville. Each suite is uniquely designed, which translates into loads of character. From exposed brick and stone walls to bespoke furnishings to a soaker tub in several suites, this is the perfect place to rest up for more Follow 44 adventures.

With three rivers, quirky cafés, beaches, farms, luxury stays, spas, shops with loads of history and casual as well as fine dining, Follow 44 is an authentic choose-your-own adventure route for all travel styles, without having to wander too far. We found it helpful to plan with a directory of destinations on the www.follow44.ca website, along with suggested itineraries, an interactive map, and other ideas for unique day trips and weekend adventures. Handouts for the route are also available at many participating locations along the way. Explore Follow 44!