Kawarthas Northumberland 
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.
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
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
Read about how Westben’s Digital Concerts at the Barn have kept audiences and musicians connected to this unique venue outside Campbellford.
Wall to wall and floor to ceiling, the room is filled with artifacts of a bygone age: colourful tins of tea and coffee, delicate china tea sets, wooden barrels and copper buckets, snowshoes and straw hats, bottles of patent medicine claiming to cure everything from toothache to hair loss. The sun shines brightly through the … Read more
In a year that’s been short on pleasant surprises, it’s especially nice when a box full of comfort shows up on the doorstep. That premise has kept Brianna Petersen’s small business, Unwrapped, busily sending packages from her home in Cobourg into the Northumberland community and beyond. Every month, Petersen packs Unwrapped Experience boxes with a … Read more
“There’s a lot of variety in here, that’s for sure,” Steph Buckley says, laughing. She pauses for a breath after trying to describe her store, Rustically Signed, and running through a list of products that includes bath bombs, jewelry, DIY maker kits, baby accessories, candles, pillows, clocks, and, naturally, wooden signs. “Our whole store is … Read more
You can’t visit Watson & Lou’s brick and mortar storefront at the moment, so for now a description will have to do. The space is eclectic, bright, and inviting – you can’t miss the colourful dioramas in the window as you head down Peterborough’s Water Street. Inside you’ll find elegant wabi-sabi style pottery alongside handmade … Read more
You might already know about Kawarthas Northumberland’s literary legacy. Major Canadian authors like Margaret Laurence, Robertson Davies, Farley Mowat, and Susanna Moodie all spent time living in the region, and Life of Pi author Yann Martel is an alum of Trent University’s philosophy program. If you’re less familiar with the authors living and working in … Read more
Remember when local microbrews were few and far between? Fortunately for Ontario beer lovers, there’s been an explosion of creativity over the last decade or so. Regional brews are now well represented at the LCBO and taprooms across the province, and Kawarthas Northumberland has a number of excellent offerings. It’s never been easier to find … Read more