DAYTRIPPIN’

A LIFESTYLE-BOUTIQUE-OWNING POWER COUPLE AND THEIR TWO BOYS SHARE A SUMMERY SATURDAY DAYTRIPPING IN (AND AROUND) GUELPH.

SARAH MCBEAN

AND THEIR BOYS, FINN & SULLY

When power couple Sarah McBean and Svein Piene aren’t busy filling their two-storey downtown Guelph lifestyle boutique, Rug & Weave, with the most fabulously-curated selection of rugs, pillows, furniture, lighting & décor, they’re being run off their feet by their two young livewires, Finn & Sully. Saturdays, then, are for the family: opportunities to get outdoors, burn some energy, and break bread together. Tag along with Sarah, Svein and the boys as they spend a whirlwind Saturday in the region.

FOUND COFFEE

17 GORDON ST, GUELPH FOUND.COFFEE

ROYAL CITY PARK

139 GORDON ST, GUELPH GUELPH.CA/PARK/ROYAL-CITY-PARK/

FREELTON ANTIQUE MARKET

248 FREELTON RD, FREELTON FREELTONANTIQUEMALL.COM

WEST AVENUE CIDER HOUSE

84 CONCESSION RD 8 E, FREELTON WESTAVENUE.CA

1. A great Saturday morning begins with take-out breakfast from Found Coffee on Gordon St in downtown Guelph. This Australian-coffee-culture-inspired spot is an easy walk for the whole family from our College Hill home, and has much to offer: minimalist vibes, fantastic coffee and food, and even a yoga studio. Svein and I order drip coffees to-go, and juice for the kids. To fill our bellies, I order ‘The Smashed Avo’ (sourdough, avocado, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, chilli flakes), Svein chooses ‘The Salmon’ (sourdough, smoked salmon, cream cheese, lemon juice, pepper, fresh dill), and the kids share ‘The Berries’ (sourdough, marscapone, fresh berries, pepper, mint, honey). Take-out in hand, we head outside to enjoy breakfast in the sun.

2. Nestled pretty much halfway between Found Coffee and our house is Royal City Park – a favourite destination for family fun. Located on the banks of the Speed River and replete with mature trees, picnic tables, a covered pavilion, ball park, trails, and two fantastic playgrounds, the Park is perfect for breakfast. While Svein and I get down to our sourdough specials and coffees at a picnic table, the boys scarf down their food and head for the larger play structure. All around us, families and friends and cyclists and joggers enjoy time in the sun. Pure bliss.

3. With food in our bellies and a pep in our step, we grab the family hauler and drive with the boys to the Freelton Antique Market. Open seven days a week and featuring over two hundred vendors, this regional gem is the perfect spot for scouring vintage items. While Svein and the kids cruise the aisles in a haphazard way, I scavenge more strategically for antique bowls, wicker baskets, and other precious household items that catch my fancy.

4. Once we’ve had our fill of antique hunting, we beeline to a favourite spot of ours – the idyllic West Avenue Cider House. In addition to producing a substantial variety of award-winning hard ciders, West Ave is a must-visit rural destination for its beautiful pouring room and expansive trail system out back that’s perfect for dog-walking and (in our case) letting the kids run free. After a good hike, Svein and I enjoy a couple samples each before settling on bottles of ‘Heritage Dry’ (made with one hundred percent Ontario heritage apples) and ‘Cherriosity’ (with Niagara Montmorency cherries) for home.

For (late) lunch, it’s back to Guelph for food and drinks on the Beertown patio – a consistently-great Royal City culinary joint. The place’s impressive selection of craft beer, hopping patio, and family-friendly menus (not to mention plentiful parking) makes it a perfect spot to bring the kids. We grab a high-top on the patio and order drinks: pints of Collective Arts IPAs for ourselves and chocolate milks for the boys. For food, I decide on the ‘Steak + Blue Salad’ (flatiron steak, greens, romaine, blue cheese dressing, tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons, smoked bacon, pickled red onions, cider vinaigrette); Svein grabs the ‘Beertown Big’ burger (two patties, smoked bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles, sauce, toasted sesame bun); and the kids are all about the ‘Fried Chicken’ (with fries and plum sauce). So

Guelph

After lunch, we make our way across town for a trail walk along the Speed River to the Guelph Lake dam. While the vast majority of the trails at Guelph Lake have been developed by the Guelph Off Road Biking Association (GORBA) for our region’s gnarliest cyclists, there’s still good hiking to be had. And the boys absolutely love the trail systems – running along berms and launching off roots (and always yielding to cyclists). When we reach the dam, we climb its banks and see, across the lake, the island – home of the annual Hillside Festival.

By the time we get back to the car after our Guelph Lake escapades, the boys are ready for an afternoon treat. Our destination: The Boathouse for ice cream, of course. After all, it’s a Royal City staple for anyone craving something cold and sweet on a summery weekend afternoon. We find parking in the gravel lot beside the Guelph Lawn Bowling Club, trek across the covered bridge, and line up (with about sixty other people) to wait our turn. Finn and Sully each order kids’ size scoops of ‘Birthday Cake’ on sugar cones. Svein and I share a single scoop (which is actually two scoops) of ‘Granny’s Cupboard’ and ‘Moose Tracks’ in a cup with two spoons. We sit on grass at the confluence of the Speed and Eramosa Rivers and watch the canoes (rented next to The Boathouse) glide past.

It’s late afternoon, and our busy day is coming to a close. Just one last stop: The Owl of Minerva in Guelph for take-out dinner. (This Korean restaurant has locations in Waterloo, Hamilton, Oakville and across the GTA as well.) Svein and I lived in Korea years ago, so this local spot has become near and dear to our hearts for obvious reasons. Our go-to dishes: the Bulgogi (stir-fried marinated beef & noodles with rice), Bibimbop (assorted vegetables w/ ground beef on rice) and Kimchi Jjigae (pork kimchi, stew, rice).

Back at home, we dig in. To our food. And then, afterwards, to our beds. It’s been a long day – and we’re wiped. (Even the kids.).