Restaurant Renaissance: New and Newly Renovated Eateries in Kawarthas Northumberland

A table covered in a barbecue feast

After a long and trying lockdown, Kawarthas Northumberland is feeling cautiously optimistic. While COVID-19 protection is still a priority, vaccination and other safety protocols have made it safer to step out and enjoy some of the in-person experiences so many of us have been missing. Better yet, local restauranteurs have braved the uncertainty to bring us new and exciting flavours. Read on to discover why we’re calling it the Restaurant Renaissance.

Meet the Makers: Sunday’s Company

A woman stands in front of a shelf of small bottles

“I grow all kinds of stuff—I grow rose, I grow yarrow, mint, lemon balm, camomile, calendula,” Melissa Condotta says. “And then of course I get cedar and pine and stuff from all over the property or around Northumberland… With roses it’s the care that goes into growing them and just seeing how versatile they are and … Read more

Meet the Makers: Peace of Earth Pottery

An older woman stnads in the corner of a pottery studio

“Korean and Japanese potters are very fine, detailed potters—very precise,” Sheila Brenchley says. “Now, the English potters are very geared towards functionality and everyday use… The English have showings and sales and things but they’re geared more to function, I believe.” Brenchley is in the midst of describing a globe-trotting tour she embarked on to … Read more

Fall Exploration: Our Recommended Hike and Brewery Pairings

Yellow leaves create a colourful canopy and forest floor

Every beer drinker knows a brew tastes better when you’ve earned it. Preferences also change by season—a crisp lager is never better than in the high heat of summer, and cooler weather makes a rich flavour like porter especially appealing. These fundamentals combine beautifully in Kawarthas Northumberland, where an abundance of hiking trails meets a … Read more

Return of the Tallgrass Prairie: Exploring Hazel Bird Nature Reserve

A person with binoculars looks towards where another person is pointing

As an avid hiker, I’m a little embarrassed how little I know about plants. If it’s not a maple tree, trillium, or poison ivy, there’s a good chance I’ll be stumped. I read interpretive plaques in the hopes of raising my identification game, though, which is how I stumbled upon the remarkable work of the Nature Conservancy of Canada at Hazel Bird Nature Reserve.

Preserving the Kawarthas for Generations: Kawartha Land Trust

View over the water from John Earle Chase in summer

Just north of Ennismore, on the other side of the picturesque truss bridge at Gannon’s Narrows, you’ll find one the most quietly beautiful hiking spots in Kawarthas Northumberland. John Earle Chase Memorial Park offers 7.4 kilometres of trail across three loops – one passes through stands of mature maple on its way to the shores … Read more

Exploring Kawartha Lakes Online: Interactive 360° Tours

A person climbs the steps of a log cabin

Drive one of Kawartha Lakes’ quiet backroads, and the richness of the region’s history might not be immediately apparent. Look a little more closely, though, and you’ll find a wealth stories from Ontario’s past. From a bustling 19th century lumber trade to contemporary Indigenous art, local residents have diligently preserved the region’s past and carried … Read more