To Adventure
Cycle
If you like hopping onto a bicycle to explore, this is the place to do it. Bloomfield offers an exceptional service. They have a super selection of bikes with all the bells and whistles. You can even prearrange your bicycle rental over the phone and they will deliver directly to where you are staying. Our bikes and the chariot for the kids came with helmets, complimentary water bottles and trail maps. You can cycle through the towns or on the trails and it’s a wonderful way to see the county.
Wellington Farmers Market
On Saturday morning we strolled through the Wellington Farmers Market, a family friendly eclectic outdoor market complete with gourmet food, homemade treats and local artisans. The kids especially enjoyed the lemonade, live music and the chalk that one vendor had for getting creative on the pavement. The market backs on to the waterfront and one of the most spectacular parks we have ever ventured into. It seemed unanimous amongst the parents that it was impossible to tear little ones away from this giant lakeside play centre.
Bubble Festival
A few steps away was the 2nd Annual Bubble Festival. Creating and popping bubbles of all shapes and size is basically a dream come true for the little ones. There were bubble races, bubble vendors, a bubble popping contest, bubble arts and crafts and of course a bubble gum blowing contest. It was a magical little scene.
The Lavender Farm
On the farm you will find many cultivars of lavender, offering a myriad of colours, scents and tastes. Some of the cultivars are praised for their exceptional essential oil qualities, while others are best kept for culinary creations or crafts. Tour the fields upon your arrival and browse the boutique for some absolutely gorgeous finds. We indulged in the most delicious little cup of lavender gelato and came home with a few bags of goodies.
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Sandbanks has the largest baymouth bar on a freshwater lake in the world. Its beautiful beaches with sand dunes as high as 60 metres are just gorgeous. There is so much to do in this park from canoeing to cycling to picnicing on the beach. They even host a storytime during the summer at 730pm.
To Sleep
The Corner House
We stayed at The Corner House guest suite in the central lakeside village of Wellington. This petite suite was perfect for our little family of 4. Our daughter was comfy on the pullout sofa in the living room area and our son was in a pack and play that they supplied. We had room to unpack and hang our belongings in the small closet and a kitchen for preparing breakfast in the wee hours of the morning was a bonus. This is a very affordable option and the owner Krista is lovely, helpful and passionate about Prince Edward County.
The Drake Devonshire
The Drake has brought their fabulous brand of culture and hospitality to the county and it’s apparent when meeting locals and exploring the area that it has been a wonderful addition to their community. Our nights here were idyllic. The Inn is perfectly suited for little families with one or 2 children (you could maybe squeeze in 3). The Loft Suite accommodated us perfectly. The location, the artwork and the design are all top notch. We must give a shoutout to our favourite concierge Morgan who truly went above and beyond to make our stay special. When we planned our beach day the team coordinated and packed a beautiful picnic lunch complete with sweet picnic baskets and beach towels. The bathroom in the entranceway of the hotel has a change table, there are kiddie menus and crayons in the restaurant and the milk & cookies at bedtime make a lovely little treat for our munchkins.
To Eat
Pomodoro
With kiddies in tow a charming little Trattoria at 530pm is just what we needed. They have a small menu that specializes in pasta and classic Italian fare.
Tall Poppy Cafe
With a few scattered toys in the front window we knew this little establishment was perfect for us. The barista served up perfect lattes and the chalkboard menu offered up a lovely array of farm fresh fare for our breakfast.
Norman Hardie Vineyard & Winery
You aren’t necessarily doing full on wine tours with kids in tow but this gorgeous vineyard was a perfect spot for lunch. The surroundings are magical and if you have visited wineries around the world, this one holds it’s own. With a wood-fired pizza oven, fresh shucked oysters and a trampoline out back, our family was in heaven.
PEC Picnic Truck
We were fortunate to stumble upon PICNIC PEC. This food truck specializes in picnic style lunches of gourmet salads, sandwiches and desserts. The Fried Pickerel Sandwich was mouth watering and the kids loved the lavendar lemonade. Anything with a purple flower will win over our little girly girl.
Sandbanks Estate Winery Food Truck Festival
Once again our visit was well timed with this delightful little festival. They had live music, bubbles and a colouring station to keep the kiddos busy. We enjoyed sampling the local fare and our favourite little gem here was definitely the Vintage Pizza Pie Co. This couple outfitted their 1938 Chevy Maple Leaf flat bed truck with a copper wood fired oven and their pizza is spectacular.
The Drake
Whether you are enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner in their hip and comfy dining room the team here has you covered. The delicious seafood at their “Fish Camp” out back by the lake was a big hit for our crew. It’s a lovely mix of a buzzing atmosphere with lakeside country surroundings and the menu has some reflection of what the county has to offer with a farm to table feel.
Slickers
This mouth watering ice cream parlour is an absolute must. We perched outside on the adorable ice cream cone bench enjoying our homemade Roasted Marshmallow and Apple Pie cones while watching the sunset and making sweet lasting memories.
If you do plan a trip to Prince Edward County, download the PEC Guide App. It’s a thorough breakdown of what to eat, where to stay, shop, explore and most importantly it includes a wonderful event calendar to help plan your trip.
Article By: Alison Heden
All images captured on my iPhone xo