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Merrickville Ontario bed and breakfast:
One of the best bed and breakfasts in Merrickville Ontario
recommended by Janette Higgins.
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Eastern Ontario including Ottawa
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Millisle Bed and Breakfast
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Hugh and Debra MacLennan
P.O. Box 341,
205 Mill St.
Merrickville, Ontario
Canada, K0G 1N0
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| Phone: 613-269-3627 |
| An architecturally elaborate bed and breakfast in the lovely historic town of Merrickville on the Rideau. |
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Merrickville, Ontario map
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Review by Janette Higgins
author of The Best Places to B&B in Ontario: A Selective Guide
Six editions of the book were published to critical and popular acclaim. Janette now publishes her B&B
reviews and holiday reports online.
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Note 1 to reader: Every Ontario bed and breakfast receives my consideration. I travel incognito, pay where I stay and write reviews of the top 5%. Here is one I recommend. Janette Higgins
Not only does this lavish 1840s Victorian bed and breakfast have much that appeals (beautiful woodwork, ceiling medallions, and seven original stained glass windows), but Merrickville itself is a good getaway spot, with its restaurants, antique shops and attractive location on the Rideau waterway, which recently received a coveted UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Hosts of Millisle Bed and Breakfast, Hugh and Debra MacLennan, moved back to Canada from Los Angeles to take it over from previous owners and I'm happy to report they're doing a fine job.
Downstairs there's a comfortably-furnished common area and, outside, a wrap-around verandah furnished for guests to enjoy. On balmy mornings breakfast, or even the first coffee of the day, can be taken out there. Early risers will be happy to know that they can pick up a coffee from 7 A.M. and settle in with the day's newspaper.
Back inside and upstairs, each of the B&B guest rooms has its own bathroom. The second-floor Rideau Room, done in crisp navy and white, has two single four-poster beds and an en suite bathroom with (somewhat narrow) shower stall. Across the hall, the Empire Room is furnished with a queen-size antique bedroom set. Its en suite bathroom has a tiled shower and whirlpool -- both big enough for two. Then there's my favourite (and the one to book if you can get it), the Georgian Suite. It has a queen-size four-poster bed, small separate sitting room with TV and a four-piece bathroom. Plans are afoot for a bit of redecorating but you can't beat it otherwise.
The two other bed & breakfast guest rooms are on the the third floor. The queen-bedded Victoria Room has a turret, sloped ceilings and statement-making floral wallpaper. There's a washbasin and cast-iron tub right in the room but demure souls can use the Victorian screen for privacy. Guests staying here use a tiny two-piece with sloped ceiling next door. Across the hall, the large plank-floored Canadiana Room has a four-poster king-size bed. There's another on-view cast-iron tub, with privacy curtain, which shares an alcove with a basin. But be warned all you tall types who want this room for its king-size bed -- the en suite enclosed toilet, with sloped ceiling, is very small. Hugh and Debra have plans for straightening out some of the bathroom kinks so I'll keep you informed. By the way, the mellow Canadiana is another of my favourites so I'll be thrilled to see what can be done with the bathroom situation.
Debra is a California-trained chef who catered to LA jetsetters (literally; she worked for the leading caterer which supplied meals for the private aircraft of the rich, famous and oh-so-picky) so not much is going to faze her. When I stayed over as part of my reinspection she provided two different breakfasts to the other two guests because of their dietary restrictions. I had the full-on variety complete with coffee, orange juice, delicious cherry scones and a cheesy veggie frittata with salsa and a delicious thinly-sliced bacon. Though my brain said 'no' my stomach couldn't resist and I finished it off with a cream scone topped with a dollop of whiskey marmelade made with Wiser's Scotch.
Over breakfast I learned from the other guests that they'd taken advantage of Debra's dinner package. They rhapsodized over the bruschetta starter, the chicken, avocado and strawberry salad, and the main course of salmon baked in parchment paper with risotto and asparagus. Dessert was molten chocolate cake. Thoughtfully-chosen wines accompanied each course and the cost was $105. I've since learned that Debra will work out a menu to suit your tastes/dietary restrictions so the cost can vary up or down. You could also bring your own wine. As for me, I'd enjoyed my dinner on the breezy patio of the nearby Serendipity Bistro. Lots of other possibilities await in Merrickville and you may also wish to investigate the dinner package the MacLennan's offer with the Baldachin Inn. Me though? Next time this foodie's checking out one of Debra's dinners.
Note 2 to reader: I appreciate your support of the continuation of my research by letting the hosts know you read my review of their bed and breakfast on this bbontario website. Many thanks! Janette Higgins, Travel Writer
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Reviews of Janette Higgins'
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of Ontario's best bed and breakfasts
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Millisle Bed and Breakfast, Merrickville, Ontario
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| Tell your hosts Janette Higgins sent you! |
| E-mail: |
Click Here |
| Website: |
http://www.bbcanada.com/millislebb |
| Best to call: |
anytime |
| Season: |
all year |
| CDN $ Rates: |
S $110, D $125 (plus 6% GST and 5% PST) |
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| Cards: |
VISA/MC/AMEX |
| Restrictions: |
not suitable for children; smoking on verandah only; no guests' pets |
| Facilities: |
5 bedrooms (1 twin-bedded, 3 queen, 1 king); 5 private bathrooms; parlour and games/TV room for guests; central air |
| Parking: |
ample |
| Breakfast: |
full |
| Location: |
Merrickville is a 45-minute drive SW of Ottawa or a half hour N of Hwy 401 near Brockville. B&B is a 4-minute walk from downtown Merrickville |
| Directions: |
on the main road through Merrickville next to the bridge over the Rideau River |
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