10 Awesome Things To Do In Prince Edward County
With our recent trips to Prince Edward County this year and last, I had a lot of people reach out looking for suggestions on what to do when visiting this beautiful little town. I am NOT a PEC guru, but I am happy to share our experience and what we enjoyed as a family while we were there. With a population of around 25k (and growing), this town has a lot to offer even if you’re just planning a day trip. There are so many family-friendly activities and many of them won’t break the bank!
Beach, Please.
PEC is probably only known by many because of Sandbanks beach, which has sandy beaches that you might even mistaken for down south (okay that’s a stretch). For those who are just visiting for the day, Sandbanks is a great spot to check out with the kids. Pack a picnic or hit up Bloomfield Public House Market to grab sandwiches and snacks to enjoy for the day!
Al Cuore Non Si Comanda
This is Italian for: “The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants” … and the heart always wants coffee and treats! I highly recommend checking out Piccolina Mercato, which is a cute, little Italian cafe that offers everything from imported pasta and espresso to Italian desserts.
Wander Don’t Wonder
We had such an incredible time staying at Wander The Resort the last time we visited. It is a perfect getaway for families, especially with the opening of their pool (what kid doesn’t love the pool?). The resort also offers a private beach that only visitors with a paid day pass can come and hang out all day to enjoy the cabana life. I know it’s pretty booked up, so definitely consider stopping by for the day. If you are a resort guest, kids can enjoy beach board games, free paddle boarding and scavenger hunts!
Life is Better By The Lake
We were so blessed to be able to experience staying in the Wharf House located on the Lakeside Motel property earlier this year. It was just newly renovated and absolutely beautiful. If you can’t score the house, the rooms are cute and ideal if you just want to escape the city sans kids. If you aren’t planning to stay, they have a restaurant with a great view out back. I wouldn’t recommend eating there, but grabbing a drink and snapping a few instagrammable photos is worth it.
We All Scream For …
If you’re looking to satisfy that ice cream craving, definitely check out Slickers. You’ll find flavours that will 100% wake up your taste buds - think Campfire Cream or Jack Daniels and Chocolate. If you’re more in the mood for something healthier, try Good Place and order the Dragon Fruit Smoothie. So good!
Get In Those Steps
We’ve heard that there are some great trails to do in PEC. One that came highly recommended was Little Bluff Conservation Area. Not only would you be getting in your steps, but you could do it while getting a panoramic view of Prince Edward Bay. Another option to get active is heading to the Sand Dunes - it’s a great site to see (being formed nearly 12500 years ago by glaciers), but also walking in all that sand is a workout in itself!
Make New Friends
We have always wanted to visit the alpaca farm in the County, but have not yet been able to make it happen. It’s on our wish list and I wanted to make sure I added it here because the suggestion has come to me from so many people over the years!
Wine is the Answer
Isn’t it always? If you’re in the County, checking out some wineries is a must! I loved Closson Chase Vineyards and Karlo Estates (it has the 1st vegan certified wine in the world). If you are looking for someone to organize a picnic and tour for you, check out The County Picnic (I give the husband and wife team an A+) or you can head to PEC’s official tourism site to book a wine tour!
When in Doubt, Eat.
It’s a small town, but you should definitely come prepared with an empty stomach. Some of our favourite places to eat include: PICNIC PEC, Midtown Brewery, Flame and Smith and The Drake, of course. If you’re looking for something more fun and easy, The Vic Drive-In is super cute! If you’re planning to be in the County for a bit longer than a weekend, you can also check out my friend Rachel Bies, who does meal deliveries and provides in-house chef services.
Invest in Rest
Sometimes you don’t need to do anything and that’s okay. There were moments during our short PEC getaways that we just didn’t feel like heading out to explore.. Relaxing by the water or enjoying BBQ at our airbnb was exactly what we needed on some occasions. I do love living in an upbeat neighbourhood in the city, but it feels extra good when our family can enjoy the slower pace that PEC has to offer.
I know many of us are itching to hop on a plane, but for now we are enjoying local trips like this. Once things open up, Europe is definitely on our radar, but we might start with just a quick trip back to Miami to visit friends.