Spend the day exploring North Grenville, Kemptville and several charming hamlets, by following the Adirondack Chair Tour.
In June 2021, The Best Adirondack Chair Company in Kemptville placed five GIANT Adirondack chairs across North Grenville in several hamlets to promote tourism & support local businesses.
With the help of local artists and community groups, each chair was painted to reflect its community and affixed with QR codes with links to the #LoveNG business directory and web page.
We invite you to bike or drive as you follow the trail to visit each of the five chairs, learn a little more about North Grenville (Kemptville and the hamlets), and support the local businesses closeby.
Stop 1: The Giving Garden in Kemptville
Find it at 2895 County Road 43, off Anniversary Way.
The North Grenville Chamber of Commerce sponsored this chair located in Ferguson Forest's Giving Garden.
The Giving Garden is a community resource, available for anyone to tend it and pull a few weeds or to harvest to fill a need. It is run entirely by volunteers, supported generously by the Ferguson Forest Centre staff, who assist seasonally with irrigation and cultivating.With the addition of the giant Adirondack chair, the public can how take a seat or a selfie in this community garden.
What to do while you're here:
- Pop across to 2794 County Rd 43 to Kemptville Family Restaurant or scoot down for some shopping at Jac's Boutique 2727 County Rd 43 Unit 5.
Stop 2: Old Town Kemptville, Rotary Park
Find it at: The corner of Clothier St East & Prescott Street.
Located in Old Town Kemptville, Rotary Park is a beautifully landscaped area overlooking Kemptville Creek. It offers benches, gardens, a public dock and now the giant Adirondack chair, sponsored by the Old Town Kemptville BIA. The urban hub of North Grenville, Kemptville is an eclectic mix of small town charm and big city convenience, with plenty of natural beauty and heritage architecture to admire.
What to do while you're here:
- You're in the heart of Old Town Kemptville. Why not stroll up to theBook Market (144 Prescott Street) to find something new to read, then grab a sweet treat at The Crusty Baker (16 Prescott St) and then back to the water's edge to enjoy your purchases.
Stop 3: Oxford Mills
Find it at: 9 Bridge Street Oxford Mills
Originally built around Asa Clothier’s stone grist mill, this peaceful village still houses the original general store – including the original iron vault (now The Brigadoon Restaurant), the historic Maplewood School (now the Community Hall), and the original stone Town Hall. With serene vistas, colourful residents, and rich history, Oxford Mills is sure to delight its visitors.
What to do while you're here:
- Dinner at The Brigadoon Restaurant (9 Bridge St, Oxford Mills), is a MUST. The menu features only the freshest ingredients, with which the cooking team has created a delectable menu, designed to tantalize the most discerning tastes!
Stop 4: Oxford Station
Find it at: 2110 County Road 20, Oxford Station
Once home to eastern Ontario’s first cold storage plant, Oxford Station is a pleasant hamlet with a history firmly entrenched in the Bytown and Prescott Railway system. With long stretches of quiet highway and rural roads, Oxford Station is a popular destination for cycling enthusiasts.
What to do while you're here:
- This Adirondack chair is located where Paul's Bistro once operated. This family-ran business offered quality food made with fresh ingredients for dining in the restaurant, on the patio, or to take out. They also ran the Corner Store and More convenience shop, attached to the restaurant. Owners Paul and Lisa loved the community and were sad to let the place go in 2023 after three years in business.
- For your convenience, there is also a Type 1 electric vehicle charger here. See a full list of EV chargers available in North Grenville here.
- Then drive 6 minutes to Saunders Country Critters. Open daily 10 am - 4 pm until September 6th, 2021. From domestic to exotic you can see: variety of exotic cats, lemurs, kangaroo's, goats, cows, horses, pigs, owls, falcons and more.
Stop 5: Bishops Mills
Find it at: 38 Main Street Bishops Mills
Settled in 1840 by Chauncey and Ira Bishop, Bishops Mills is a rural village whose residents are dedicated to keeping their history alive through their churches, community hall, Women’s Institute, and Community Association. History buffs will want to visit the Bishops Mills cemetery, which dates back to 1862 and houses the remains of the village’s earliest pioneers.
What to do while you're here:
- History lovers may choose to visit the Bishops Mills Cemetery located a few kilometres north of the village on County Road 18. Here lie the remains of some of Bishops earliest pioneers, including Chauncey and Ira Bishop, with dates ranging back as far as 1862.
- Or click here for the Bishops Mills historical walking tour.
