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Exploring Hastings County with the Kids This Summer

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When it comes to kids, I’ve learned a few things over the years. They love getting dirty, they love food, and they love to explore! So, getting out there this summer and exploring Hastings County would be a great way to spend some quality family time together.

If you’re not sure where to start, I get it. Hastings County is packed full of amazing places and experiences so it can be overwhelming. Luckily, we’ve explored all kinds of places in the area and below are a few great ideas to start explorations. Go ahead, use this as a family summer bucket list!

O’Hara Mill Homestead

We’ve been to O’Hara Mill Homestead a few times for a few different activities and our boys had a blast every time! We were there for Heritage Day one year and had the opportunity to see Pioneer demonstrations, go on a horse and wagon ride, and we checked out all the old buildings. We were also there for a maple event and had pancakes, sausage, and maple taffy. Check out their website for a full list of upcoming events!

https://www.oharamill.ca/

Conservation Areas

Vanderwater
Frink Centre

Hastings County is full of beautiful conservation areas to explore. McGeachie Conservation Area in Gilmour has 18 kilometres of walking trails to explore and is on our list to check out! We also love the HR Frink Conservation Area in the neighboring Bay of Quinte, and Vanderwater Conservation Area. We actually saw a group riding the trails on horses at Vanderwater, and we also read the map wrong and took the really long way around one visit. The boys still remember it as the “time we walked for waaaaay too long”. But hey, memories, right?

Camping

If you’re a family that loves camping, you’ve got lots of options in Hastings County. We’re surrounded by lakes, rivers, and all kinds of provincial parks and campgrounds just waiting to be explored. We have friends who love to camp, and they raved about Lake St. Peter Provincial Park. Other favourites in the area include Bon Echo, Bancroft Campground, Bear Ridge Family Campgrounds, and Stoco Lake Lodge – who are well known for their ‘glamping tents’ right on the lake.

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park: https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/lakestpeter

Bon Echo: https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/bonecho

Bancroft Campground: http://www.bancroftcampground.ca/

Bear Ridge Campgrounds & Cottages: https://www.bearridgecamp.ca/

Stoco Lake Lodge: https://stocolakelodge.com/

Stirling Festival Theatre

For those who are into the arts, check out the Stirling Festival Theatre. They have The Rocky Horror Picture Show running throughout July, and they also have Theatre Camps for the kids this summer. Check out all the details on their website.

https://www.stirlingfestivaltheatre.com/

Tyendinaga Caverns & Caves

If you haven’t experienced the Tyendinaga Caverns & Caves with the kids yet, I highly suggest it. It’s Ontario’s largest known natural cavern and it was a pretty cool experience. We showed up just after opening and were part of the first tour and we all had a great time. Plus, it’s super chilly down there so it’s a great way to stay cool on a hot summer day.

https://www.tyendinagacaves.ca/

Madawaska Kanu – mkc.ca

For more great places to explore this summer with the family, stay tuned to the Hastings County blog or the Hastings County social media pages.

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235 Pinnacle St. P.O. Bag 4400
Belleville, ON

K8N 3A9
T: 613-966-6712

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Quinn's of Tweed

345 Victoria St. North Tweed, Ontario K0K 3J0

Visitors often ask about the building and it’s name, Quinn’s of Tweed. In fact, tradition dictates that we keep, with honour,  the name Quinn’s of Tweed, the original name of the store and building. The Quinn’s of Tweed building is one of the town’s oldest and most beautiful historic stone structures, dating back to the 1880s. The twelve foot walls allow us to hang paintings in the traditional French salon style. You’ll marvel at the craftmanship of the ash and maple staircase, the old bookeeper’s office, and the stained glass that brings one back to an era when a handshake and promise were as good as gold – today, we still believe in those principles.

www.quinnsoftweed.ca

gaylord hardwood flooring

228 Victoria St N, Tweed, ON K0K 3J0

Charles Frederick McGowan sold the lot in 1907 to William James Lawrence for $600.00. Shortly thereafter Mr. Lawrence erected the building which still stands there today. He conducted a furniture business until 1912, when he sold the property to the Traders’ Bank of Canada, which within the year, was taken over by the Royal Bank of Canada. It operated out of the building until 1942, when the war forced consolidations and closures due to a lack of tellers (men). The property changed hands a couple more times before local Tweed family, Gaylord Forest Products secured the property in 2003. Since then, they have evolved every inch of the interior into an experience. Each room throughout the building is a real life ‘showroom’ from top to bottom; you simply have to see it to believe it. The stairwell in particular holds a lot of history!

www.gaylordhardwoodflooring.com

Marmora and Lake Inn

Come as strangers. Leave as friends.

29 Bursthall St, Marmora, ON K0K 2M0

Experience the charm of our 1906 mansion, nestled in the village of Marmora, Ontario, an historic town celebrating 200 years in 2021. The large and stately home was built by Ed Shannon for lumber baron Henry Reginald Pearce (known as “Reginald”) and his family, who purchased the lot for $200. It remained a private family dwelling for many decades and eventually was converted to a Bed and Breakfast by Chris and Lilly Boldly.

It now operates as Marmora And Lake Inn B&B and boasts beautiful, spacious bedrooms with quaint old-world craftsmanship for a luxurious stay. Onsite amenities include an exceptional indoor swimming pool, bubbler tub, infrared sauna, large screen SMART TV’s in each room, wireless internet access throughout, and generous sized gathering rooms. And being a small town, the pool is open to the community and friends for a nominal fee (pre-booking is required).

Our guests enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast including locally baked breads and pastries, yogurt and fresh fruit, an extensive beverage and tea/coffee bar featuring a wide variety of flavours and blends. Great outdoor patio area for fair-weather relaxation and large private events.

Whether planning a romantic weekend for two, a small wedding, a family reunion or a week-long visit to bask in the natural beauty of the region, the Marmora And Lake Inn B&B will help make it a time to remember. (Please note that all bedrooms are on the upper levels and we don’t yet have accessibility assist.)

www.facebook.com/marmoraandlakeinn