Christmas in The County
- Aili Salminen
- Dec 20, 2024
- 5 min read
Weekend recap: Prince Edward County
November 29-December 1
2 days, 2 nights
“Christmas in the country” - I love the sound of that. It makes me think of the English countryside and Rosehill cottage in The Holiday.
While I write this, am I listening to The Holiday original motion picture soundtrack? You betcha.
Back in November, I was itching for a little getaway. SO naturally, instead of reflecting on why I feel this incessant need to plan trips and zip away on outings, I planned a trip for said outing.
The vibes: a cozy couples Christmas countryside county weekend.
The location: Prince Edward County
I've only been to the County in spring or summer, so this felt like a new experience!
OUTING DETAILS
THE LOGISTICS
Where: Milford, Picton, Wellington | Prince Edward County
When: November 29th to December 1st
How: drove our own vehicle and used it to get around the County
THE STAY
THE ACTIVITIES
THE EATS
WEEKEND RECAP
DAY 1 - FRIDAY
We embarked on our snowy 7-hour drive around noon on Friday from Sudbury. Long drive, but scenic! Passing through Muskoka was a winter wonderland, and added Christmas-festive excitement.
A quick stop at our airbnb - Demilune Lodge - to freshen up, and then it was out for dinner.
Loved our meal at Bocado. We had a reservation for 8pm and actually had to wait - it was the place to be on a Friday night!
We ordered from the tapas del bar section of the menu and got: croquetas de jamon, dátiles (manchego stuffed dates wrapped in pancetta, drizzled with honey), calamares (crispy calamari with lemon aioli), patatas bravas. Delicious. Dessert was the helado del dia - which was sourdough ice cream, salted caramel drizzle and a fresh waffle cone garnish. Amazing.
Returned to the Lodge, lit a fire and got cozy for bed.
DAY 2 - SATURDAY
Ok, time for a better tour of the airbnb! Our couple friend A&D, from Toronto, were arriving for brunch around 11:30 am, so I had time to really relax in the space.
What a sweet airbnb! Demilune Lodge was perfect for the weekend vibes. It was cozy, comfortable, and homey. It had a very well-equipped kitchen for cooking meals, board games, candles, blankets, wine glasses — all the accessories needed!
Two bedrooms and a sofa-bed room upstairs, with kitchen, living space, dining room, and patio downstairs. The wood-barrel hot tub was so cute!
The lodge is on a sizeable piece of land that backs out onto the water. It’s a 15-minute drive from Picton, perfect for what we wanted to do. This part of the County feels unpretentious to me, with original farms and small cottage homes dotting the fields.
After a morning of tea, reading the coffee table books, and a hot tub, we headed out to grab some pastries from a bakery nearby in Milford.
PECish Baking Co. was a very aesthetic artisan bakery. Beautiful pastries, sourdough loaves, baguettes. Pricey, but a nice treat.
Treats acquired!
Back at Demilune Lodge, we prepped brunch: coffee, french toast, blueberry sauce, breakfast sausages, and fruit salad.
Caught up with our friends, and then it was off to the Christmas Market!
The Red Barn Holiday Market is hosted at The Eddie Farm & Hotel in Wellington. The Market runs one weekend only, usually the last weekend in November or the first weekend of December.
The holiday market was so cute! We headed there Saturday afternoon. Vendors were placed in a few different spots around the grounds: the greenhouse, the main barn, and then the basement of the barn (I think). It was hopping! We grabbed mulled wine (8/10) and walked the whole market. Outdoor fires were smoking outside, adding a cozy country ambiance. Inside, the barn was packed with vendors. We picked up some specialty candles, chocolates, cocktail syrup, and plushy toys.
Next stop: Karlo Estates. It was very Christmasy feeling - I loved it!
I highly recommend making a reservation in the colder months though, as space is limited to areas with heating. Our server was a hoot. The other gal in our party is vegan, so it was awesome that we could pick food from an entirely vegan / plant-based menu!
The wine was fine - honestly, I’ve had more enjoyable tastings at other wineries and vineyards in the County, but overall, the experience was great.
Other ideas I scoped out and put on my list, but ran out of time:
Wine tasting at Grange of Prince Edward | Wellington — a winery with its own vineyards. had a very cozy-looking stone fireplace in their tasting area that looked like such a vibe.
Beer and tacos at Slake Brewing | Milford — cool-looking brewery with a fun selection of brews. Killer views from their space. plus, tacos!
Naturally, time passed really quickly. After our tasting at Karlo, we headed back to the Lodge to get cozy for the night.
Charcuterie platter, wine, scrabble, steak night in. The Lodge had everything you needed for a really nice homey, cozy stay-in. Lit up a bunch of candles, played Christmas jazz, and hung out all night!
DAY 3 - SUNDAY
Slept in a little on Sunday morning. Made another great brunch and quickly cleaned up.
Left the Lodge at 10am (check-out time felt a bit early, and we were very rushed getting out!), and headed to Picton to bop around Main Street.
We visited a few shops, from bookstores, pottery, clothing, art, and Christmas knick-knacks.
And just like that, it was time to head off home!
What a fun weekend! I enjoy experiencing spots in Ontario in their ‘off’ season, as sometimes, summer weekends are too busy or expensive. My only wish was we had an extra day to visit more spots on my list.
Can't wait to come back - perhaps an autumn trip is due.
Till next time!
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