For fifteen years now, we have taken the same roads and highways up to our cottage. We have done it so many times that we could probably do the drive with our eyes closed (but we won’t, don’t worry). The familiar roads and scenery is nice because it gives us an estimate of how close we are away from our destination.
This Summer though, we decided to do something different. We were invited to come and explore O’Hara Mill Homestead in Madoc, Ontario. The visit meant that we would have to take a slightly different route to make it up to our final destination. And let me tell you… it was oh-so-worth-it! Here’s why I think a visit to Madoc area is worth a day-trip from Toronto or a stop over on the way to your final destination.
O’Hara Mill Homestead is a pioneer farm that belonged to the O’Hara family in the 1800’s and is currently managed by local volunteers. Five of the original buildings, including a working sawmill, still exist on the farm and make for a unique experience. Everything is open and fully accessible and it’s nice that you can explore each of these buildings on your own. Various original artifacts are kept in the buildings and it’s neat to see how life used to be hundreds of years ago. It was interesting to hear our boy’s perspective on what life was like for kids back then (playing with minimal wooden toys and doing chores most of the day) versus life now (full of technology with minimal labour).
Speaking of wooden toys… during our visit, one of the demonstrations was a toy building workshop for the kids. The boys had a great time putting together their animal toys and painting them. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them sit through an activity and concentrate for so long. Other activities include making a painting with flowers and paint, and making your own puzzle.
The boys also got a chance to try out some games that were popular in the olden days like walking on stilts, and playing hoops. Both were pretty challenging, even for my athletic and ball-loving kids.
Ryan particularly loved exploring the area near the water while searching for frogs and toads. In fact, there are several marked trails that take you into the forest and around the creek. The trails are relatively shorts and flat, making it perfect for all ages and skill levels. We met lots of locals who come here regularly just for the trails. By the way, dogs (on leash) are also welcome to join you during your visit here!
The Mill is also a great spot for a picnic. You can either bring your own from home, or do what we did. Grab some lunch (and pastries) from the Hidden Goldmine bakery in Madoc and enjoy it at the Mill on one of their picnic tables.
OR, I would recommend heading right into Madoc to extend your trip. There’s a great big playground attached to an amazing skate park. There you can find a small tack shop and ice-cream shop.
In town, you can go to the Hidden Goldmine bakery and enjoy your meal there. There are plenty of sandwich options, salads and soups. The menu changes seasonally. The best part of course is the pastries. There’s delicious butter tarts, cookies and brownies. My personal favourite was the small ‘golden nugget’ fudge. It’s a must!
If you’re looking to head over to Madoc or any of the other great towns in Hastings County, I would highly recommend that you reach out to the Economic and Tourism Development office (Hastings.ca) who can help you plan out your visit.
Have you ever been to O’Hara Mill Homestead and / or Madoc? I would love to hear what some of your favourite experiences there
This looks so fun!!! I will certainly need to check this out.
My ancestors lived on that property. Thank you for sharing.
That’s so cool! Do you go back and visit often?
What a beautiful looking place to visit!
What a nice spot to visit