Weekend recap: Prince Edward County
July 22, 23, 24, 25 - 2022
4 days, 3 nights - extra long weekend.
Featuring wine, beaches and fresh peaches.
A hot, sunny July weekend in Prince Edward County! I’m writing this retrospectively - I’m still reminiscing about how much of a vacation this felt like. At least to a near-northern gal like me.
OUTING DETAILS
THE LOGISTICS
Where: Consecon, Wellington, Picton | Prince Edward County
When: July 22-25
How: Drove our own car, used to get around the County
THE WINERIES, CIDERIES, ETC.
THE STAY
THE RESTAURANTS + CAFES
THE ACTIVITIES
THE SHOPS + MARKETS
WEEKEND RECAP
DAY 1 - FRIDAY
The meet-up point was Winery #1: Norman Hardie Winery.**
We arrived around 1:30 pm on Friday - busy time! The place was lively, with conversation going, and the smell of pizzas wafting in the air. If you can, make a reservation for a weekend. Though, our wait wasn’t too long! The winery has a gift shop, a main lawn with unique art sculptures, and some tasting stations at the back to pass the time quickly. The tastings were so fun - our server was charming, hilarious, down to earth, and made us feel right at home.
**A big red flag: A friend of mine shared, after I wrote my original post, that there have been a number of sexual misconduct issues at Norman Hardie. I'm not going to pretend that we didn't visit here. However, me and my girls do not support people or establishments that sexually harass and fail to protect their employees. If I go back to the County, I will not be visiting here.
After a long lunch at Norman Hardie, we checked into our stay - the Fitzroy Fieldhouse. We settled in, organized our bags, unpacked our coolers, and took a nap (girls gone mild).
On this outing, we were a group of five girls, and we booked this GORGEOUS home to stay at. Now let’s be frank - this was way out of budget. This stay was a major splurge, and the per-person cost was more than I was looking to spend. Keeping that in mind, this place was dreamy. Called the Fitzroy Fieldhouse, the house was tucked down a quieter county road, about a 7-minute drive northeast of Wellington.
The back side of the house had windows for walls, and you could gaze out at the cute field backyard and twinkly lights on the patio. Open-concept kitchen, dining room, and living room. I loved this - especially since we planned a few family-style meals for breakfast and dinner. Some gals could cook, some gals hang out on the couch, all of us having a great time together.
After our power nap, we took a quick jaunt into Wellington for some fresh produce from Lakeshore Farms Market. Peaches, blueberries, corn (good things gro-o-ow in On-tar-ioo!). Family-style dinner that night was tik tok pasta (cherry tomatoes, feta, olive oil, red pepper flakes) with greens.
DAY 2 - SATURDAY
Family-style breakfast and then it was off to Sandbanks Provincial Park for a beach day! Lakeshore Beach has an expansive sand beach with a clear view of the water; the other option, Dunes Beach, is a bit smaller, with a more family-kids vibe. The parking lots were busy (note: reserve your Daily Vehicle Permit ahead of time, from reservations.ontarioparks.ca) and the beach was bustling. The waves were crashing, the sun was shining, and the summer breeze was blowing.
Post-beach we napped (noticing a trend anyone?) and freshened up.
In Prince Edward County, or The County as the ~locals~ say, winery and vineyard hopping is a big to-do. Winery #2: Redtail Vineyards. We LOVED this place. It’s a cozy-feeling vineyard that offers up tastings. We sat outside on a picnic table, with a view of the fields. We arrived near the end of their business day, and a gaggle of girls at a bachelorette party were finishing up. The owner greeted us, sat us down, and guided us on some wines to sample. Naturally, he was very knowledgeable, friendly, and generous with the pours.
You could tell how much he loved the County, and gave us an inside scoop on other genuine vineyards and wineries to visit, along with a private spot to watch the sunset - Huycks Bay.
Sunset at Huycks Bay, paired with Redtail Rosé and snacks, was a dreamy evening. The bay is fairly walkable - there’s a sneaky path through the trees, but once you get through it, the view opens up, and the shores of the bay are made of small pebbles and stones. Good for a ‘long walk on the beach’ (or at least as close as you can get to a long walk on the beach in Ontario). The air was warm and the sky turned a golden burnt orange red.
DAY 3 - SUNDAY
Shop-hopping along Main Street in Picton! Stopped at BEACON BIKE + BREW for coffee and pastries. Browsed pottery and knick-knacks at The Ye11ow Studio. Stopped in at Luna Boutique and was severely tempted to buy some beautiful clothes.
Once noon arrived, and the wineries opened up, we headed to Winery #3: Black Prince (Black Prince Winery & Canadian Vinegar Cellars). A very cute and intimate place here! The unique aspect of this palace was the vinegar cellars. The winery offered flights and tastings of both wine and vinegar, all of which were delicious. Next to the winery is Barrel House Wood Fired Pizza - another great spot for pizza in the County. We finished up at the winery, browsed the gift shop, and headed to the next destination!
A bit of a drive away - but totally worth it - is Winery #4 Three Dog Winery. I had been here before on a previous trip to the County (I stayed in the room accommodation they have on site, so lovely!), and it was every bit as memorable and warm as I remember. We arrived near the end of the day, and each got a tasting flight. There was no rush here - we took our time and enjoyed ourselves, ordered some snacks, played with the dogs, and stayed just past closing time.
Wrapping up our day, we headed to dinner at Drake Devonshire - make yourself a reso, it’s a busy spot (and a very Instagrammable one too). THE SUNSET. Wow, it would have been wonderful to have eaten out on the patio, what a gorgeous view of the bay. Inside is just as beautiful; the interior is stylish, the bar sleek and the views of the lake are incredible. Fun cocktail menu. The food was good, but I had a major miss on the octopus. Overall, it's a great spot to check off your list, but - perhaps controversial opinion here - a bit overrated on the food.
DAY 4 - MONDAY
Breakfast at Vic Social (neé Vic Cafe) and away we go! Vic Social is such a fun, happy spot. This was my second time here and the food did not disappoint.
The County is certainly getting busier each year; it has become a hot spot for girls' weekends, bachelorette trips, long weekend beach days, and winery hopping. While I prefer to find hidden gems, there is a reason the County is so popular. It really does feel like a vacation destination. I can't wait to go back and explore more restaurants, cute bed & breakfasts, and perhaps cycle in the country.
Till next time!
Aili
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