Featured Communities

* Burritt's Rapids
Secret beauty. Best General Store ever. Has got ice cream. Also the only store in town. Laundry for three quarters in the back of Michael's Restaurant (opulent baklava!) at the locks.
* Kars
Marina with boat repair. Sport airport towards North Gower. Boat launch at the park. Oh, ah, yes, there is also a gas station and a telephone booth. Life like it used to be.

The Kemptville Creek at Curry Park. photo M.Molthan
* Kemptville
Boomtown central, as North Grenville shows fastest community growth in Ontario. Docking before downtown bridge on the creek, just like the old steamers did. Boat launch at Curry Park. Beer store, newly expanded LCBO, supermarkets and Lebanese food in the mall - very skilled and fresh local cuisine at The Branch Restaurant (families: join in the music during the legendary open stage every last Sunday of the month). Independent, Food Basics, Canadian Tire.
* Manotick (Ojibway for "Island in the River")
Marina. First community south of Ottawa. Two miles south of Long Island lock. Nine holes at Manotick Golf Club. Supermarkets, LCBO and beer store downtown. Banks: TD Canada Trust, RBC Royal.
* Merrickville
Marinas on each side of the locks. Home made chili-chocolate ice cream (seen the movie?! parlez à Serge!) and best lattes up- and down stream at Brewed Awakenings (now also have a branch in Kemptville). Organic ingredients and dishes will be served in the soon to open Serendipity on Mainstreet, next to the Mainstreet Restaurant. La dolce vita for homesick immigrants and other demanding palates in the new Italian restaurant The Locks, a little further down the road, or if you just need some international ingredients, go to Mrs. McGarrigle's Fine Foods (at least 20 different chocolate bars not to mention all the oils, vinegars and mustards!). Highest gay population amongst Ontario villages (do you ever wonder how these statistics come about? I mean, would you really answer a questionnaire asking your sexual preferences?!). Lots of artists, artisans, stores. Banks: RBC Royal. Post office on St Lawrence St. Free Internet, wifi and a probably pretty crazy bunch of regulars at Harry McLean's Pub in the Baldachin Inn (make sure to catch a Saturday night here. Everything is possible after David climbs on something to light up the red stage light). Combined LCBO-Beer store. Food store/supermarket on Saint Lawrence Street.
* Perth
Who the heck was Stewart and what did he do in the park? Live music in numerous cosy pubs and bars with lots of patios and terraces on Gore Street. Home of Brock Zeman and Keith Glass (Prairie Oyster) - both seen last summer on (or in?) various stages during Stewart Park Festival, the former looking kindalike sobering out on an innocent Sunday morning under a tree. But maybe all that turns out to be just an artefact in the delusional regard of the publisher`s envious eye - who knows. Banks: Bank of Montreal BMO, CIBC, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust. Exquisit coffee and dessert in the Old Mill.
* Port Elmsley
* Rideau Ferry
* Smiths Falls
Free Internet at public library (81, Beckwith Street North, 90-second-walk from TD branch). Nine holes at Donneybrooke and Smiths Falls Golf Club. Nice patio on the river at Do Little's Pub and Eatery - don't let the Comfort Inn scare you, but give in to your chocolate cravings at the Hershey factory. Banks: BMO Bank of Montreal, CIBC, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust. Post office near police station, Beer store, LCBO, Independent, Food Basics, Canadian Tire.