Locals Recommend: 27 Things To Do, Eat, And See In Prince Edward County
“These have been here the whole time?!”
Taking in the sights recommended by some of these locals will give you a new appreciation for what makes Prince Edward County so special.
History
1. Museums
Time travel is easier than you think! The Museums of Prince Edward County offer a surprising snapshot of what life was like culturally in the past; explore heritage houses, lighthouses and more while learning about this one-of-a-kind area. Two of the museums in Prince Edward County are open. Macaulay Heritage Park is open for pre-booked tours, featuring the house, former church and old parish cemetery, as well as heritage gardens and the carriage house. Wellington Heritage Museum is open for drop-in visitors, who can explore the house built in 1885 as a Quaker Meeting House and now features exhibits on local history.
Macaulay Museum is one of the finest house museums I’ve ever visited
Norah Rogers, The Waring House
Food And Drink
2. Lily’s
A small-town cafe with European flair in downtown Picton! Lily’s bakes delicious Rahier Pastries every day alongside their much-loved cookies, tarts and other family recipes. The Café serves coffee made with precision; now serving Pilot Coffee. Gourmet sandwiches, quiches and other delicious lunch fare are made fresh daily with local ingredients.
Lily’s has the best cappuccinos and almond croissants.
Susan Jaehn-Kreibaum, Empty Nest Bed and Breakfast
3. Littlejohn Farm
Vegetable gardens, herb gardens, apple and pear orchard and hens, ducks, heritage breed pigs… Littlejohn Farm is a plentiful place to learn about food. Littlejohn Farm is an agritourism farm in Prince Edward County offering wine tours, private dinners, workshops and unique farm stay packages. The popular workshops include making sourdough starter, canning and preserving, and more. Farm stays here aim to connect people with sustainable farming while also fostering the understanding of where sustainable food comes from.
Prince Edward County is a magic place to live and build a dream that will be growing with the community.
Luhana Littlejohn, Littlejohn Farm
4. Hagerman Farm
This century-plus family farm is located just outside of Picton with a seasonal farm stand of vegetables, flowers, eggs and fruit. Visit Hagerman Farm to stock up on local dairy, treats, and fresh-made eats in the bakery at the back.
5. Laundry Farms
Laundry Farms knows produce: the offerings from these third-generation farmers in Picton are extensive and include strawberries and raspberries, as well as veggies, such as squash, peppers, onions, potatoes, corn on the cob, as well as tomatoes and apples and a grand selection of pumpkins, jam and honey.
Recommended By: Nancy Pavan, The Wilfrid Boutique Farmhouse
6. The Miller House Cafe & Brasserie
Sip on a cocktail and end the day watching the world go by! The Miller House has one of The County’s most picturesque views – you can dine in the historic ‘millers house’ – located in the oldest building at Lake on the Mountain. Or maybe you would prefer to sit on the patio and watch the ferry crossing the bay 200 feet below.
7. Saylor House Cafe Bloomfield
This historic house in the heart of Bloomfield dates back to 1875. The house sits on an acre of land fronting on Main Street and backing onto farmer’s fields. The house was built by craftsmen and features soaring ceilings, hardwood floors, architectural details and two Florentine windows. Steps from the front door are some of the most delightful shops in the county, as well as restaurants, art galleries, antique stores, and the famous, Slicker’s Ice Cream.
8. Stella’s Eatery
Stella’s Eatery in Picton has a unique ever-changing menu inspired by the culinary creations and know-how of Chef Leah Marshall Hannon’s great grandmother. The menu honours the legacy of grandmothers, mothers and daughters gathering around a fire, or a table and is constantly changing, subject to the availability of local, fresh, foraged, seasonal ingredients. Stop by to see the chalkboard for what’s on today!
Recommended By: Nancy Pavan, The Wilfrid Boutique Farmhouse
9. Wine Tours
Prince Edward County is a mecca for wine enthusiasts! With tour options like Sandbanks Vacation Tours’ half and full-day options; The County Wine Tour’s Sip and Cycle Tour; and Prince Edward County Wine Tours’ Rolls Royce Wine Tour, your cup will never run dry of good experiences. Or, make your own tour route!
Prince Edward County, the VQA region offers world-class wines and just happens to be a beautiful country escape.
Ian NIcholls, County Sips
Lighthall Vineyards, believes quality trumps quantity and eco-friendly is a passion (try the made-in-house cheese here!). Karlo Estates Winery has live music, take out picnic boxes and wine by the glass – sounds like the perfect evening! Tastings and cocktail reign supreme at Kinsip House of Spirits – but the creative Kinsip Drive Through is proving popular this summer!
I love the tasting room at the Grange Winery of Prince Edward County. It is open year-round – a big, beautiful space with windows on all sides, and a massive, functioning fireplace for those chilly winter days. It is also air-conditioned in the summer.
Susan Jaehn-Kreibaum, Empty Nest Bed and Breakfast
10. Enid Grace Culinary
There’s a lot cooking at Enid Grace Culinary in The County! Based on the rural cafes of Italy, where fresh food is prepared daily with the intent to sell out prior to siesta, the Enid Grace Culinary & Piccolina Italian bar serves an ever-changing menu of breakfast and lunch items, coffees, teas and sweet special features. Italian breakfast, espresso bar and aperitivo service is available at Piccolina with limited seating now available as well as take away. The Teaching Kitchen from Enid Grace Culinary is now also accepting class reservations!
11. Lakeshore Farms
The farm is a sea of colour these days as red tomatoes, green peppers and even cantaloupe are being harvested at Lakeshore Farms in Wellington right now. Top-quality farm-fresh products grown by Lakeshore Farms; look here for freshly baked assortment of breads, buns, dessert squares, cookies, muffins, loaves and their famous homemade donuts, crafts, frozen foods, eggs and dairy, and of course, locally made maple syrup!
Ice cream, sugar and cinnamon donuts from Lakeshore Farms are done the same way I remember from childhood.
Andrea MacDonald, The County Picnic
12. Campbell’s Orchard
Apple season is in the air! Campbell’s is a local farmers market located in Prince Edward County. The retail location is now open, however, they are still offering curbside pickup, too. Please visit the pick-your-own page to learn about our COVID-19 procedures and what is available to pick.
Campbell’s Orchard anytime of year but especially Autumn for the Fall foliage and produce.
Andrea MacDonald, The County Picnic
13. Vicki’s Veggies
Pick up seasonal vegetables, leafy greens, and all kinds of goodness fresh from the farm at the adorable roadside stand at Vicki’s Veggies. Heirloom tomatoes and seedlings can be found here. Vicki’s Veggies is a small farm working towards a sustainable future in agriculture in Prince Edward County.
14. Black River Cheese
Established in Prince Edward County in 1901, Black River Cheese is renowned for its passionate dedication to producing only the finest quality cheese, with a focus on natural and local ingredients. Be sure to try the Maple Cheese!
Shopping
15. Books & Company
Books & Company is an independent bookstore and more located in beautiful downtown Picton. This cosy and welcoming space features a wide array of well-chosen new and gently used books, games, toys, puzzles, stationery, cards, music, and magazines. Feed your inner bookworm!
16. Keep County
You’ll want to package up everything at Keep County and keep it for yourself! The energy of Keep in Picton is electric and at the same time comforting – with the shop always seeming to have exactly what you popped in for. A feast for the eyes from 100-year-old original pine floorboards to the beautiful array of items lining the repurposed shelves that you’ll long for the moment you set eyes on them.
17. Daisies ‘n’ Dirt Bloomfield
This gardener’s dream is a seasonal pop-up garden and Christmas shop, with outdoor shopping now open at Daisy ‘n’ Dirt Bloomfield! It fits right into beautiful Prince Edward County as it’s heavy on colourful blooms and funky signage.
18. Green Gables Bloomfield
In a charming Victorian-era house from the 1850s in Bloomfield, Green Gables Gifts and Greetings brings together a wide selection of linens and bedding, home furnishings, wall décor, mirrors, greeting cards, speciality foods, jewellery, scarves, hats, watches, ornaments, wine glasses, and dishes in 11 spacious rooms. Take a peek out back too – there is sometimes a sale going on!
19. Lockyer’s Country Gardens
Lockyer’s Country Gardens has one of the largest on-site greenhouse facilities located in Eastern Ontario. Lockyer’s is celebrating 100 years of growing and supplying premium annual and perennial plants, shrubs, trees and garden supplies in Prince Edward County. The vast majority of their plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables are started from seed or plugs right there at the garden centre!
I visit Lockyer’s Garden Centre for a dose of vibrant colour in the greenhouse.
Tara Wilkinson, ANDARA Gallery
20. Floralora Flowers
Floralora Flowers is a seasonally inspired floral design studio and sustainably run flower farm in Prince Edward County. Floralora provides enchanting, locally grown flowers and foliage to weddings and events, flower subscribers, local deliveries, florists, and more. New this year is a farm stand at the farm, which is typically stocked with beautiful bouquets, plants and all manner of goodies.
Outdoor Activities
21. Tennis Courts
Get swinging at the tennis courts of Prince Edward County! With four courts at Benson Park, Bloomfield, Wellington and North Marysburgh, tennis season is strong in the County. Rumour has it that the lights stay on in Bloomfield until 10 p.m. Courts across the County are now open.
22. Enjoying The Water
With more than 800 km of shoreline in Prince Edward County, the water is a way of life here that stretches past the shores into the relaxed atmosphere. SUP, or stand-up paddleboarding is a great quiet way to explore the water. Find calm waters on East Lake, West Lake, Roblin Lake and Black River – there are numerous places that rent board in the County. The perfect opportunity for a quiet paddle!
23. Cabin Fever Kayak
The cure for cabin fever: explore someplace different and embrace the beauty in nature! Cabin Fever Kayak launches boats in the quiet and scenic Black River in Prince Edward County, known for its calm waters and wildlife galore. It’s like a choose your own adventure: paddle one way and the river winds for about 6km to the town of Milford – or head in the other direction and go under a bridge where the river opens into a small bay on Lake Ontario.
24. The Millenium Trail
The Millenium Trail is a great 49 kilometres of forest, fields, creeks and a variety of wildlife in Prince Edward County. Starting in Carrying Place and ending in Picton, you can cycle or walk along the trail and take in the vast landscapes including farmland, creeks, swamps and forests. In the fall, keep an eye out for burrowing animals and falling leaves as you pedal through this picture-perfect trail!
Groomed for walking and cycling – takes you off the beaten path.
Rachel Baque, Tourism Champion
25. Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Visiting the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory in fall is an exciting County destination. A migration monitoring station that was established 25 years ago, the observatory is the caretaker for the Prince Edward County South Shore Important Bird Area. This banding site is located along a major migratory route and is a focus for passerines, waterfowl and raptors with yearly reports of rare and unusual species.
Entertainment
26. The Mustang Drive in
The iconic Mustang has been a Drive-In movie theatre in The County since the 1950s. Today, enjoy double features under the stars every night from Wednesday to Sunday until the first week of October. You can’t miss its iconic blue bus at the front gate and old-time signage! The drive-in is only one of 16 in Ontario.
27. Regent Theatre
The arts meet history at the Regent Theatre in Picton. This beloved arts centre in Prince Edward County holds a special place in the community: it’s a rare example of a still intact Edwardian opera house. Construction began more than 100 years ago using the 80-year old foundation of a former warehouse. The Regent still boasts an old-school marquee and it’s now a unique venue for live theatre and music – and continues to have one of the biggest stages in Eastern Ontario.
Meet The Locals
Andrea MacDonald, The County Picnic
The County Picnic provides takeaway picnics made with 100% gourmet products sourced in Prince Edward County
Nancy Pavan, The Wilfrid Boutique Farmhouse
Nancy is one part of The Wilfrid Boutique Farmhouse, a bed & breakfast located in Milford Prince Edward County. Owners, Frank & Nancy are a chef and designer duo who combine their talents to host guests in this luxurious home.
Susan Jaehn-Kreibaum, Empty Nest Bed and Breakfast
Susan is the owner of Empty Nest Bed and Breakfast, located on the idyllic shores of Wellers Bay. Guest are encouraged to swim, sit on the dock, and enjoy a glass of wine on the deck that overlooks the water. Keep a lookout for full-day workshops and retreats at this sanctuary!
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