Immediately after our buffet breakfast at Stone Crock Restaurant, it was our plan to browse the many shops in the village and then head over to the Farmer’s Market, since that was the last stop on our way out of St Jacobs. I was stuffed from that magnificent breakfast and was really not in the mood to walk, as I would much prefer a shady tree, cool breeze and hammock. However the “tourists” were just starting to pack the one street town and there was a nice buzz of activity. Plus Caron and Toni were eager to get started, even if it was just window shopping. Thankfully there were many benches along the street where Marko and I could sit and relax as the ladies did their thing.
Though the shops themselves are not run by the Mennonites, there was the occasional time I would see someone dressed in their traditional gear walking about town and I even caught the glimpse of a horse and buggy driven by a Mennonite gentleman. I’ve seen such on tv, but never live an direct (very neat). The town itself is basically one street lined with several unique shops, restaurants and what could be considered working museums.
Our first stop was the mini mall at the end of the strip on the left side facing the bridge that crosses the river that runs through the far end of the town. Caron was intrigued by the assortment of items from Scotland and the other British Isles, but I found the woman who manned the cash register to be very rude and unwelcoming. She’s one of those people who makes you think you did something wrong, even though you know you’ve not. I walked out the same speed I walked in after this negative vibes and I can guarantee you that I will never go back to “A Touch Of Scotland”. Next door, within the same mini mall building is Taste- The Forth Sense (Gourmet condiments: oils and specialty sauces.) , so I was like a kid in a candy store with all the hot sauces they had on sale. The young man on duty was very helpful in explaining the background of all the hot sauces he had on display and I could see his face light up when I asked to try what he said was their hottest sauce in stock. “He’ll regret asking me to try this sauce” is what I could see going through his head and was very sorry to disappoint him when my reaction was not what he expected. I have a very high tolerance for anything hot and spicy and though this sauce was very hot, it didn’t phase me one bit. The selection, friendly atmosphere and the ability to sample, is why I would highly recommend a visit to “Taste- The Forth Sense”.
By this time the sun was getting hot and the touristy crowds were starting to get thick, so make note of this if you’re planning a trip to St Jacobs. Arrive early to get a jump-start on things. Basically the Village of St. Jacobs, is where simplicities of small town life complement the fabulous shopping in many fine specialty shops, boutiques and artist’s studios. And though I personally didn’t go into each store, I must make mention of the ones that stuck out…
Chocolate ‘n More: Featuring truffles, creams, caramels, clusters, bark and No-Sugar-Added products. Plus Brittles ‘N More featuring handmade fudge, brittles, beernuts, Turkish Delight, sponge toffee. Enjoy selections from espresso/coffee bar and 17 flavours of soft-serve “Flavorburst” and “Crunchi Creme” icecream.
Christmas in St Jacobs – An all year store with tons of Christmas decorations and trinkets.
Artistic: The Gift And Garden Place – This store is jammed with stuff you can use to decorate your outdoor (and indoor) living spaces and it’s a great option for finding that perfect gift for someone without having to break the bank. Be sure to check out the model train that run through the ceiling of the store and whimsical water wheel on the outside of the building.
Hamel Broom – Manufacturer and retailer of corn brooms. Absolutely my favorite spot as it’s like a working museum on how corn brooms are made. A bit dusty, but definitely something you must not miss.
The Cake Box 2 – Cupcakes, cookies, organic teas, gourmet coffees. And I believe they also offer cake decorating classes on the weekend.
If your back is towards the river and you’re facing the way into town, on the left side there are 2 stores that you must also check out, the bakery and the butcher shop. In the pics above you’ll catch a glimpse of the inside of these two establishments. As you enter the bakery a sudden hunger takes over your body, with the tasty scent of breads and dessert fresh out of the oven and as you look around you notice that you’re surrounded by pies and other baked goods that causes you to almost drool on yourself. I’m, so sorry I can’t remember the names of these two stores to give them full credit for their amazing product line.
I’m sure if you were to ask the girls what their favorite stores were on this trip they would probably mention some of the Jewelery, Clothing, Quilts and other specialty store that are geared for women. So ladies, go prepared to shop, but at a laid-back pace as no one seems to be in a rush.
One last thing I must mention before I wrap up this review. In the pics above you’ll see a snap of a “Home Hardware”, supposedly this is the very first location of this proud Canadian franchise and we were told that not too far from the town’s core, is a massive distribution center for Home Hardware. I guess the locals are very proud of this as they suggested we drive over to see this building.
If you’re looking for something to do as a family, couple or with friends, why not head out to St Jacobs and be sure to also check out the Farmer’s market!
The Caribana event was not as large as I hoped, but there was still the opportunity to enjoy in the cuisine, live music and cultural vibe of the islands. As a son of the islands I was beaming with pride as I witnessed one of the best sounding steel pan bands perform, who were on tour from Trinidad and Tobago. Where else in North America can you drink a cold coconut, taste fresh sugar cane and if you’re really hungry, devour a hot chicken roti all in one place? If you’ve not experienced Caribana yet, make next year’s event as a must do on your calendar.
It was around noon when we arrived and the miniature golf area was just starting to get a bit busy, so we opted to start off our day at the batting cages. With the long winters we have, this heat wasn’t going to keep people from enjoying the summer. I had never played baseball nor have I ever hit balls in a batting cage before, so Andrew was going to be our guinea pig. I was allowed behind the machine that delivered the balls, so you can see a few action shots in the picture gallery below. Basically you grab a bat and helmet and go into the designated enclosed area to start hitting the balls. The system is fully automated and delivery of the ball makes for an excellent opportunity to really pound away at the balls. Great for fine tuning your technique and hitting power, but controlled enough that anyone can safely hit some balls.
With the heat and humidity (felt like 44 C) we had to take a break to get hydrated a bit, after which we headed over to the rock climbing area. Both Andrew and Kieana got strapped in and after a quick “how to” by the attendant, they began their climb. The route starts off easy and the more you move around the wall in a clockwise direction the hard the route got. Again, a fun event with just as much excitement for us on the ground as onlookers. You could see them struggle as they tried to navigate their way up and as the beads of sweat trickled down their faces, you could see the true determination to reach the top. This attraction is safe for all ages, as you’re secured via ropes and a harness system and the attendant is there with you every step of the way. On coming back down you could tell that Kieana was tired as her legs jiggled under her and she landed up on the ground on her bum. Laughter broke out from us in the peanut gallery and it was all in good fun.
