At some point during my trip around Canada I debated giving up my rental car and simply flying or getting a coach from Montreal to Toronto - even locals encouraged this, telling me "there wasn't much to see" along the way. They were absolutely wrong.
After a bit of research I discovered Prince Edward County and instantly wanted to pay this unsung area of Ontario a visit - the promise of wineries, antiques shops and lavender fields had got my attention.
I'd only planned to spend a day or so in PEC but found I couldn't leave, there was just so much to do and see and fall in love with. Of all the places I went in Canada, this was one of my favourites. Perfect for some solo travel 'me time', here's why you should add it to your Canadian bucket list.
Beautiful Provincial Parks and beaches
Prince Edward County is home to some absolutely stunning Provincial Parks and beaches.
Sandbanks Provincial Park is incredibly popular, with people arriving early to get a spot on one of the three beaches. You can spend the entire day here with a book, some good food and your feet buried in the sand or waves of Lake Ontario.
Be sure to spend some time exploring the sand dunes of Dunes Beach and numerous trails throughout the park too. North Beach Provincial Park is stunning for a swim in Lake Ontario or North Bay.
For those who fancy an overnight outdoors experience, you can camp in the parks for a fee, or simply visit for the day. They're typically open until 10pm in peak season so you can come and go as you please throughout the day using your day pass.
Antiques Shops
Ok, I understand that antiques are not everyone's cup of tea but if they are, those in Prince Edward County will have you smiling from ear to ear. Honestly, if I had a house to furnish, I'd have been in serious trouble - I spent hours pouring over old mirrors, antique lamps and chests of drawers.
Every day I would be driving along and find myself chucking a U-turn to speed back to a little shop on the side of the road. Popular ones include the aptly named 'Dead People's Stuff' (the owner was giving away free bells to raise money for a local chairty via donations - what's not to love about that?!) and MacCool's Reuse.
Great food, wine and views
Head north to Lake on the Mountain and be sure to stop by The Miller House for dinner - think one of the best charcuterie boards you've ever tried, delicious wine and an incredible view of the Bay of Quinte to go with it.
Lavender and sunflowers fields
At the right time of year, PEC is the perfect place for some seriously amazing Instagram photos. The county is famous for it's lavender fields and, recently, has been opening sunflower fields to the public.
This sunflower field has an ice-cream shop attached to it, offering 20 flavours (the peanut butter one was dribble inducing), and also runs a yoga class amongst the flowers. If that doesn't make you happy then I don't know what will!
Cider and apples, and pears...
PEC has a range of craft breweries, but as I don't drink beer, I'm not best placed to comment on them. That said, I am a massive fan of cider, so imagine my joy when I came across County Cider Co.
Set within the orchards, the County Cider Co. offers a tasting flight of 8 ciders, all of which are brewed by the company using local ingredients. From traditional ciders to the more exotic, using blood orange, peach and feral, you're guaranteed to find at least one you like. Following the tasting you can grab a bite to eat at the patio restaurant overlooking the orchard.
That's just a sample of things to do in this great county. I could've easily spent more time there just exploring the area, chatting to locals and indulging in food, drink and nature.
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