Staycation Series: Prince Edward County, Ontario
Looking for the perfect spot to get away with your girlfriends this spring-summer-fall but don’t have the time to venture too far from home? Have a crew split between Ottawa and Toronto and need a fun spot to meet in the middle? Prince Edward County, and its badass women business owners, have your back. Affectionately called “The County”, the area is popular for the vibrant food and arts scene in towns of Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington, the sandy beaches and hiking and Sandbanks Provincial Park, and the wineries (and breweries! And distilleries!) populating the idyllic countryside in the surrounding areas.
We’ve curated some of our favourite places to stay, eat, and visit, with women leaders at the core.
Where to stay
Book ahead (way ahead!) at Shannon Hunter’s Wander the Resort, “where Nordic design meets County comfort”. Ten dreamy two-bedroom cabins have either lake or pool views, and the newest A-frame luxury treehouses will be available for summer 2023. Chill at the Beach Club with your drink of choice (and order the warm olives!) or hang out by the heated pool, hot tub or private bookable sauna. Wander is terrifically located between Wellington and Bloomfield and not far from the Millennium trail – grab a free bike from the resort or go further afield with an e-bike from Pedego Prince Edward Country, locally owned and operated by Gillian and Patrick Maloney.
Also with a beautiful location overlooking the lake, the aptly named Lakeside Motel offers a variety of boutique accommodations, from curated rooms to glamping tents, and a killer waterfront patio and bar. Check out owner Renda Abdo’s journey on bringing her passion project to life.
Where to eat & drink
We’ve featured Stella’s Eatery here before, and we’ll do it again and again and again. Chef Leah Marshall Hannon prepares comfort food featuring foraged and seasonal ingredients of Prince Edward County. They emphasize supporting farms and suppliers local to The County, especially local women. Enjoy a delicious selection of local and international wines and beers with your meal or to go. This spot is one of The County’s best, located in beautiful Waupoos.
Good Place is located right on Main Street in Wellington, and is a delicious hub for vegan, gluten free and organic food, smoothie, and drink options. Co-owners Trish Cook and Stew Garnham also stock the grocer with specialty groceries, superfoods, natural skin care products and a variety waste-free solutions.
Further along Main Street in Wellington, the Creekside Café serves up delicious brunch, dinner, wine, and cocktails. Do yourself a favour - convince your girlfriends to share the Classic Waffles as a breakfast appy (that’s a thing, right?) and then get the Creekside Benny for yourself. Owned by Cheynelle Fraser, we see that they’ve also just opened newly renovated boutique suites right above the café.
decanter PEC is a local boutique and tasting bar, run by The Cellar Sisters Angie Jewell and MJ Madonald. The beautiful back patio is open in the summer, with unique selections of small batch and rare Ontario wines, craft beer, cider and is available for tasting every week.
For a cold beer on a hot day (any day, really) we love Matron Fine Beer, co-founded by Mallory Jones, Jessica Nettleton and Justin da Silva and so-named in the spirit of strength and femininity, and Parsons Brewing Company, founded by Samantha and Chris Parsons, with its taproom and kitchen (wonton nachos, just saying). And it’s not just about wine and beer – we’ve also spent a lovely hour or more visiting the folks at Kinsip House of Fine Spirits and their funky chickens. On our wish list is a mixology class with co-owner and distiller Maria Hristova.
Looking to stay in for the evening? Consider popping by Fawn Over Market, founded by Executive Chef Alexandra Feswick and her partners Chad Sanders and Rachel Yeager, for their menu of scratch-made prepared foods and other locally sourced and made goods. And if you need some hydration, be sure to pick up a selection of Dodie Ellenbogen sodas from The County Bounty Artisanal Soda Co.
Shop and visit
Anice in The County is a stunning jewellery shop in Wellington, offering classic retail shopping, custom jewellery and ‘old treasures, new love’ consultations (by appointment). You can also contact owner and jeweller Britt Hopkins for private workshops for you and your group. In her words, Anice is “your life sized jewellery box to play in during open hours with pals you know and those you haven’t met yet”.
Continue on to master potter Dawn Middleton’s The Ye11ow Studio, where she works with master glazer Vanessa Molyneux and Erin Roundsky to create handmade pottery in natural tones and rich textures. The only hazard is that you will want all new dinnerware, trust us.
Breathe in the beauty at Millefleurs (and sample meads at the tasting bar!), a family farm owned by biologists Wilma (botanist and master gardener) and Sylvain (sommelier and master distiller). Visit the lavender fields from the end of June to mid/end July, the sunflower garden from mid-July to August and the Dhalia beds throughout the early fall until the first frost. For more soul-filling flowers be sure to incorporate a stop at Dahlia May Farmstand in Trenton, an easy stop either at the beginning or end of your trip.
The County is also home to dozens of studios and galleries in and around the Arts Trail, as well as live theatre, music and performing arts. We love Tara Wilkinson’s photography at Andara Gallery and that’s just the beginning– gallery and studio hopping can be its own full day adventure in The County.
After a day of wandering, biking, shopping, eating, drinking or all of the above, make sure you don’t leave The County without an appointment at Bloomfield Beauty Co., founded by sisters Annie and Emma Woodman. Offering both classic and medical aesthetics, you will want to order a coconut chai tea from the café and sink into relaxation in this beautiful space.
Honestly, we could go on and on – for more on all the happenings in PEC, check out life au LAIT, Lonelle Selbo’s digital magazine and media platform showcasing the talent and beauty of all things County.
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