A Creative Escape Just Outside Ottawa
Ottawa residents looking for a unique day trip have a new destination worth adding to the list — Stone Manor Studios in the charming village of Newboro, Ontario, where you can learn the meditative art of Zentangle in one of the region's most picturesque heritage settings.
Newboro sits in the heart of Rideau Lakes Township, roughly 90 minutes southwest of Ottawa along the historic Rideau Canal. It's the kind of unhurried village that Ottawa road trippers love: a quiet main street, gorgeous waterfront, and local artisan spots tucked into century-old buildings.
What Is Zentangle?
Zentangle is a structured drawing method that uses repetitive patterns — called "tangles" — to create intricate, abstract designs. It was developed in the early 2000s and has since built a devoted following worldwide, partly because it requires zero artistic background. If you can hold a pen and breathe slowly, you can Zentangle.
The practice is often described as meditative. Practitioners say it reduces stress, improves focus, and gives the busy mind something constructive to do with its restless energy. Think of it like adult colouring books, but you make the lines yourself.
Stone Manor Studios
Stone Manor Studios is the kind of place that feels purpose-built for creative weekends away. The studio space is set within a stone manor — exactly as the name suggests — offering a calm, inspiring atmosphere that suits the slow, deliberate nature of Zentangle perfectly.
Workshops at the studio walk beginners through the foundational techniques: how to hold the pen, how to build patterns systematically, and how to let go of the idea that you need to be "good at art" to make something beautiful. Instructors guide participants through official Zentangle methods, and students leave with finished tiles they've created themselves.
For Ottawa-area residents, a Zentangle workshop pairs naturally with everything else Newboro has to offer — kayaking or paddleboarding on the canal, exploring the lockstation, or grabbing a bite at one of the village's small eateries before heading back up the highway.
Plan Your Road Trip
Newboro is about a 90-minute drive from downtown Ottawa via Highway 16 south to Newboro Road. The drive itself winds through classic Eastern Ontario countryside — rolling farmland, lakes peeking through the treelines, and heritage stone farmhouses along the way.
Stone Manor Studios workshops are best booked in advance, especially during summer weekends when the Rideau Lakes corridor fills with visitors. Check their current schedule and session availability directly through their website or social channels.
Whether you're an Ottawa arts lover looking for something different, or just someone who needs a genuinely restorative afternoon away from screens and city noise, a Zentangle session in Newboro might be exactly the creative reset you didn't know you needed.
Source: Ottawa Road Trips via Google News Ottawa
