Hit The Road With Avis
Weekend Getaway Guide: Prince Edward County
This winsome region, with its tranquil lakes, boutique wineries and bucolic charm, makes for an ideal escape from Ontario’s bustling urban centres
Ontario’s idyllic Prince Edward County has gained in popularity over the past few years, growing from a collection of sleepy rural villages into one of Toronto’s favourite destinations for a weekend escape. Join us for a jaunt as we explore the best places to sample local wine, feast on farm-to-table fare, explore funky independent shops, and soak in tranquil lakeside scenery along with fresh country air.
The Attitude
Known as “the County” by most locals and visitors, this region is Toronto’s quintessential weekend getaway destination. And with its laid-back vibes, bucolic country roads, beautiful wineries and fresh-from-the-farm dining scene, it offers visitors a chance to trade the hustle-and-bustle of the big city for the simple joys of life in the coutnryside. The County’s largest town, Picton, has a population of under 5,000, and fewer than 25,000 people in total call the region home. Many residents are former Toronto artists, chefs and other creatives who have decided to permanently escape urban life and embrace the County’s relaxed charms.
The Drive
Set on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, Prince Edward County is about a 2.5-hour drive from Toronto along Highway 401. If time allows, skip the bland freeway journey, and take the exit off the 401 at Port Hope. Continue along Highway 2 to start enjoying picturesque lake views before you even arrive. Highway 2 connects to Highway 33, also known as Loyalist Parkway, which winds through some of the County’s smaller communities, like Wellington, Bloomfield and Hillier, en route to Picton.
The View
Lake on the Mountain, located about a 20-minute drive from Picton, offers one of the County’s most dramatic vistas. The lake is perched 60 metres above Lake Ontario, with sweeping views over the Bay of Quinte, the Glenora Ferry and the north shore. Adding to the spot’s ethereal beauty is the mystery behind its origins: separate from Lake Ontario, Lake on the Mountain sits isolated at the top of a hill, and the source of its fresh water has long puzzled geologists. It’s a scenic spot for a picnic during the warmer months, but the jaw-dropping scenery from the viewing platform is worth taking in at any time of year.
The Event
Chowhounds won’t want to miss Countylicious, a biannual celebration of Prince Edward County’s culinary scene. Hosted in the spring and fall, the event sees dozens of restaurants across the County offering prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at reduced prices. Participating restaurants vary each year, with each venue creating set menus featuring an appetizer, entree, and dessert inspired by the region’s seasonal produce. Visitors can book a table at one of the participating restaurants to take advantage of the prix fixe deals. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get a literal taste of the County’s dining scene without breaking the bank.
The Meal
With stints at hip Toronto restaurants like Nota Bena and the Carbon Bar under his belt, chef Hidde Zomer and his family relocated to the County to open Flame + Smith in the little village of Bloomington. True to its name, the restaurant focuses on wood-fired fare, roasting meat, fish and veggie dishes over an open flame. The restaurant aims to use sustainable, local ingredients, and even sources the wood for its custom-built heath from farmers in the region. The restaurant is cosy but upscale, with wood-beamed ceilings, stone and tin accents, and vintage tilework creating an eclectic industrial-meets-Victorian vibe.
[Photo: Rajeshta Julatum]
The Market
In business since 2001, Vicki’s Veggies is a County institution known for their exceptional selection of heirloom tomatoes and other organic produce. Run by eighth-generation farmer Vicki Emlaw, Vicki’s Veggies supplies local ingredients to hundreds of restaurants in Toronto and the County, including favourites like Canoe, Alo and Richmond Station. Stop by their roadside stand in Black River to pick up the season’s freshest produce – and see firsthand why the farm is beloved by so many gourmands.
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The Walk
Located south of Picton on Lake Ontario’s Bay of Quinte, Sandbanks Provincial Park is home to the largest freshwater baymouth sand dune system in the world. The park is defined by its spellbinding dunes, many of which rise between 12 and 25 metres high. Here, you’ll find a number of easy-to-navigate walking trails ranging from about 1 to 3.5 kilometres and offering a chance to explore the dunes and wetland areas of the park, along with its diverse wildlife and vegetation. The sky-high dunes are unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere in Ontario, and the park is also a prime spot for bird-watching in the spring and fall.
[Photo: George Fischer]
The Secret
If you visit the County during the warmer months, don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in an evening of nostalgia at Picton’s Mustang Drive-In. Dating to the 1950s (and owned by the same couple since 1998), the Mustang is one of the fewer than 40 drive-in cinemas remaining in all of Canada. A simple two-screen set-up showcases first-run films, with screenings starting around sunset each night. Remember to bring enough cash to cover your admission, plus a little extra for popcorn and snacks. It’s a long-running tradition for all the cars at the drive-in to honk before the show starts, so get ready to join the chorus!
[Photo: Suzy Lamont Photography]
The Hangout
Opened in 2014 as part of a hip Toronto-born hotel and restaurant portfolio, The Drake Devonshire is often credited with making Wellington – and Prince Edward County as a whole – a cool holiday destination in the early days of the region’s transformation. The stunning lakefront dining area, with its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, is always buzzing, whether it’s for their popular brunch in the morning or sunset snacks and cocktails later in the day. The Drake’s signature artsy style means the property overflows with contemporary installations, sculptures and murals, plus they host regular activities and culinary events ranging from Curry Mondays to Wine Down Wednesdays and guided Power Yoga sessions. Check their calendar for upcoming events, and stop by for a taste of the local social scene.
The Flavour
Home to over 35 wineries and counting, the County is one of Ontario’s fastest-growing wine regions, blessed with limestone-rich soils that make for wonderfully mineral wines – and with adventurous winemakers who grow a number of varietals, from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to Riesling and Merlot. Since wineries are a highlight of the region, most wine-loving visitors choose to visit multiple vineyards, but if you only have time for one, put the Grange of Prince Edward County on your itinerary. This award-winning boutique winery headed by a mother-daughter team produces six varietals of wine; sample them in the tasting room set in a lovely historic barn.
[Photo: Penda Productions]
The Digs
The retro-chic June Motel is a favourite of Torontonians weekending in the County (you’ll need to book one of their 16 rooms well in advance!). Friends April Brown and Sarah Sklash revamped this formerly run-down motor lodge into a pastel-hued Instagram dream, decorated with floral wallpaper, mid-century modern furnishings, and lots of pink and rose-gold accents. In the summer, outdoor yoga is hosted on Saturdays and they also put on movie nights and campfire s’more roasts for guests. Located just outside of downtown Picton, it’s a cute and convenient base for exploring the County.
[Photo: Lauren Miller]
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