Looking for something interesting to do this summer? Depressed at the prospect of not being able to go on a far-flung vacation? Well, you should note that there are a surprising number of world-class attractions right here in your backyard. Here are five destinations in Lennox & Addington that should be on your radar…and the books that would be perfect to take with you on each adventure!

Dark Sky Viewing Area

Located just a few kilometres north of Erinsville near the Sheffield Conservation Area, the L&A County Dark Sky Viewing Area is the most southerly point in Ontario to experience a pristine night sky. The site includes a large concrete pad for camera or telescope setup, or placement of lawn chairs. While this spot is ideal for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers, it is an interesting place to go even if you only casually interested in stargazing. Naturally, after spending time gawking at the night sky, you might be curious about the stories of those who have ventured deeper into space. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s memoir An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth is a good option, as is Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by American astronaut Scott Kelly.

Bon Echo Provincial Park

Bon Echo Provincial Park is a provincial park north of Kaladar, Ontario, approximately 6 kilometres north of Cloyne. It’s a beautiful, rugged spot that features several lakes, including part of Mazinaw Lake, the second-deepest lake in Ontario. When I think of Bon Echo, The Bear by Claire Cameron comes to mind. This suspenseful novel, written from the perspective of a little girl, is about a family being stalked by a killer bear while camping. While it is set in Algonquin Park, it could just as easily have been Bon Echo. Don’t let this stop you from visiting though!

The Macherson House

The Macpherson House, located at 180 Elizabeth Street, is situated on the north bank of the Napanee River, east of Camden Road, in the Town of Greater Napanee. The two-storey, wood-frame building was designed in the Neoclassical style and was constructed in 1826 by Allan Macpherson, a leading local businessman. Sir John A. MacDonald, a relation of the Macpherson family, was a frequent guest at the house. Currently under the stewardship of the County Museum & Archives, this building offers visitors so much in the way of interesting local history. Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley, the library’s One Book, One L&A selection for 2018, is set in a historic family home turned museum. It will remind a lot of readers of the MacPherson house. The Secret of Willow Castle, which follows a girl (the daughter of Alan Macpherson) who lives in the house, will be of interest to young readers.

Dry Stone Walls

Did you know that you can take a self-guided tour of Amherst Island to see the largest known concentration of historic Irish dry stone walls in all of Canada? Irish migrants from Ards Peninsula—now Northern Ireland—largely settled the Island and brought an interesting tradition with them: walling the rustic properties with stacked pieces of local stone. The Stone Carvers, one of Canadian Jane Urquhart’s most well-known novels, is (as you might have guessed) a story set around the construction of a stone church. It’s actually based on a church in Bruce County, but the novel certainly gives a sense of the toils of stonework.

Hell Holes

Hell Holes Nature Trails and Caves allows you to enjoy a self-guided tour along a marked trail, which will take you to a number of different points of interest, including the Devil's Horsestable Cave. Here, you descend into a hole that takes you seven meters below the forest floor before widening into a cavern. According to legend, Satan was believed to lord over the property that makes up today's nature trail and the holes, some believed, opened up to the gates of hell. Thus, the name Hell Holes. The White Road by Sarah Lotz, a creepy novel that borderlines horror, opens with the central character spelunking in the infamous Cwm Pot Cave system in Wales. It’s probably best if you read it after your Hell Holes experience.

All of the books mentioned here can be reserved from your branch of the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries or online here.

This article was originally published in the July 12th edition of The Napanee Beaver.