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  • Take a trip to Nature in Prince Edward County
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Take a trip to Nature in Prince Edward County

Never before has the call of the wild been so loud.

The birds are chirp-chirping, the bees are buzz-buzzing, and the brooks, of course, are babbling on and on and on. You can almost hear the grass growing and the trees flowering.

Please note that public health travel advisories and orders are changing frequently during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please consult our COVID-19 Essential Info page for the latest updates.

All amplified, of course, by being cooped up for so long in the sameness of routine that has been wrought by COVID-19.

We hear it, too.

So, if you’re clamouring for more than a Zoom call with Mother Nature, jump in your car and head to The County.

Please note: Following COVID-19 lockdowns, The County has become an even more popular destination for outdoor fun, but it’s taking a toll on our beaches and wild spaces. Please respect the flora and fauna by adhering to all rules posted at the beaches, parks and conservation areas, by taking your garbage with you, using public washroom facilities, and avoiding crowded locations.

A wispy mist creates an ethereal vista at the sand dunes. | Photo by George Amaro

Park it.

While Sandbanks Provincial Park is The County’s marquee attraction, there are several other beautiful provincial parks and conservation areas well worth a day trip, including North Beach Provincial Park, located between Consecon and Wellington, with the same soft, sandy beaches and clear, turquoise waters as Sandbanks. In the busy summer months, the beaches in The County close when they reach capacity, which can be a daily occurrence in July and August. Be sure to book your spot on the beach using the day-use reservation system. Check in with @SandbanksPP on Twitter about the status of Sandbanks and North Beach.

Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park is the place for a picnic – it’s a natural phenomenon, a lake on top of a ‘mountain,’ itself surrounded by a lake. Paid parking at Lake on the Mountain is $3 for two hours. Please note that parking on the roadside can lead to hefty fines.

Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area, which includes the beloved Birdhouse City, is the place to head for a challenging hike or a hamstring-busting bike ride.

Little Bluff Conservation Area in the South Shore area is limited to 30 vehicles. An entry fee of $15 per vehicle will be collected at the gate.

Remember to do your part to keep The County clean and green – pack out what you bring in.

Please check with Sandbanks Provincial Park Twitter feed or Quinte Conservation Area Facebook for updates on closures

More than 700 kilometres of shoreline provide plenty of water opportunities. | Photo by George Amaro

Water it.

We’re an island, so we’ve got water all around us for whatever it is that you love doing on lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams. And more than 700 kilometres of shoreline to explore! So bring your boat and fishing pole, kayak, canoe, surfboard, kiteboard, paddleboard – or just your camera – and make a splash.

There are nine boat launches in The County. Canoes and kayaks can also be put in the water at HJ McFarland, Massassauga Point and Milford Mill Pond.

Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards can also be rented at Cabin Fever Kayak and PEC Kayaks.

Please check Quinte Conservation Area Facebook or The County’s COVID-19 page for updates on closures.

Explore the back roads; pick a direction and go. | Photo by George Amaro.

Drive it.

Ah, the lure of the open road … the dustier and dirtier and twistier the better. And we’ve got lots of those.

The road trip has been immortalized and romanticized in books and movies and popular culture since, well, the beginning of roads. It’s a fantastic way to explore the pastoral and natural beauty of The County. We’ve even got a few paved roads to smooth it all out.

Pick a road and just go. Head north to Sophiasburgh, where County Road 3 hugs the Bay of Quinte, or where County Road 15 leads to Big Island and North Port. Head east on County Road 8 to Waupoos and Cressy, where the winding roads pass farmers fields and forests.

West goes toward Hillier; Closson Road has The County’s most sights (and wineries), while Wilson Road has become its own attraction, with two wineries, two art studios, a brewery and garden centre – plus a distillery under construction.

Or drive south toward South Shore, Cherry Valley and Milford, following the river, or heading deep into birding territory.

You really can’t get lost (we say with an abundance of confidence). We’re an island, so eventually you’ll hit water. But take a map or GPS. And we’re larger than we look – it takes more than an hour to cross from Consecon to Cressy – with gas stations to be found only in Carrying Place, Wellington, Picton and Rossmore – so fill ‘er up before you go.

Herons keep watch over a chick at Slab Creek Wetland, on the Millennium Trail. | Photo by George Amaro.

Hike it.

The Millennium Trail is another of The County’s treasures … some might say a hidden one despite its 46-kilometre length that stretches from Picton in the east to Consecon in the west.

It’s a haven for all kinds of users including walkers, hikers, joggers, cyclists, ATV riders, dirt bikers, and snowmobiles, skiers and snowshoers. No cars are allowed, however farm vehicles from adjacent properties do have access.

The linear park, as it’s called, has more than 30 access points where you can hop on and off. (In fact, it’s possible to do a beer or wine crawl by hopping and off the trail.) And it offers up quite a diversity of beautiful landscapes, from rural to urban, farms to forests, streams to lakes and wetlands.

The trail is open, but please respect physical distancing.

An iridescent indigo bunting snacks on a dandelion. | Photo by George Amaro.

Tweet it.

If you’re a bird lover, the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (PEPtBO) area is a must visit. The mainly volunteer-driven observatory records about 220 species during an average year, and bands more than 8,000 birds, including more than 500 northern saw-whet owls!

It’s one of approximately 25 independent stations across Canada, with PEPtBO being the second largest. Since they began officially documenting our feathered friends, a total of 298 different species have been recorded! You might see warblers, flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, kinglets, finches and raptors, among others. April and November are peak times to see migrating birds, with lots of colourful birds in the spring and raptors in the fall.

The observatory is located within PEC’s south shore, which is designated as a Bird Important and Biodiversity Area – an international system of designating areas important for numbers, habitat or staging. It encompasses approximately 26 square kilometres of land, 65 sq. km of near-shore waters, and roughly 30 km of shoreline … so plenty to explore!

Please check PEPtBO’s website for updates on COVID-19 related closures.

Sunrise over one of The County’s many marshes. | Photo by George Amaro.

See it.

Spend the night and you just might be treated to some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets anywhere! Whether it’s over open water, across a field of golden corn, or beyond a barn, seeing the sun’s rise and fall makes each day in The County truly picture-perfect.

So, what are you waiting for? Get in that car and get ready to squeeze the freshness out of Mother Nature, figuratively speaking, of course.

Article and photos by George Amaro, owner/operator of Runaway Rooster.


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Visit The County is the DMMO for #PrinceEdwardCounty, a rural community bursting with creative talent & natural stunners.

Prince Edward County ❄️🍷🍽️🍁
🍁 Maple in The County is back! 🍁 Maple seas 🍁 Maple in The County is back! 🍁

Maple season is in full swing and the celebrations in Prince Edward County will culminate in the long-awaited return of Maple in The County from March 25-26, 2023. Featuring 5 local sugarbushes and a host of local businesses, Maple in The County is a wonderful outing for the whole family. Come on out to tour a sap house, enjoy a pancake breakfast, walk through the maple woods, and so much more. Head to mapleinthecounty.ca for more information and to plan your Maple in The County route! 

Participating Sugarbushes: 

Sweetwater Cabin / Hubbs Sugarbush
Fosterholm Farms
Vader's Maple Syrup @vadersmaple 
Roblin's Maple Syrup @roblins.maple 
Loha Farms @lohafarms 

📷 by Ramesh Pooran of the Wellington Times

#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC #mapleinthecounty
🌱 Spring Countylicious 🌱 Countylicious is b 🌱 Spring Countylicious 🌱

Countylicious is back for spring from April 12 - May 1, 2023! Come out to The County for three weeks of prix fixe dining at restaurants you know, love, and have been dying to try. Stay tuned as we reveal menus and gift card giveaway from all 16 participating restaurants: 

@flameandsmith 
@7numberspicton 
@bloomfieldpublichouse 
@555brewingco 
@parsonsbrewing 
@pastaonesta 
@theroyalhotelpicton 
@TheWaringHouse 
@DrakeDevonshire 
@MerrillHouse1879 
@JacksonsFallsCountryInn 
@BocadoPEC 
@MatronFineBeer 
@StellasEatery 
@HartleysTavern 
@waupoosestatesrestaurant 

Head to http://countylicious.ca/ today to start planning your Countylicious experience.

#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC #Countylicious
🍁 Maple & More 🍷 Wondering what to do in Th 🍁 Maple & More 🍷

Wondering what to do in The County this March? Check out our latest blog for a round-up of everything you can see and do this month, from indulging in maple treats at local sugar bushes and eateries with @maplemadnesspec  and @mapleinthecounty, to tasting wines at the inaugural Élevage: PEC Winter Wine Festival hosted by @pecwine , and everything in between. We've also included a preview of what you can expect next month (hint: it's de-LICIOUS 😉).

Link in bio 👆

Image description: Sweetwater Cabin at Hubbs Sugar Bush, Maple in The County participant, taken by Karen Palmer. Above the image is a banner which reads "Experience Maple & More in The County this March." 

 #PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC #MapleInTheCounty #MapleMadnessPEC #elevagepec #pecwine #MarchinTheCounty
🍷 Élevage: PEC Winter Wine Festival 🍷 Want 🍷 Élevage: PEC Winter Wine Festival 🍷

Want the chance to tour through 7 Prince Edward County winery venues while tasting wine and cider from 21 local producers?

Want to experience culinary delights from local chefs that showcase the winter cooking techniques integral to Canadian food culture?

Join us for Élevage hosted by @pecwine on March 11-12, 2023 and celebrate winter in wine country.

For more information and to purchase tickets, head to the link in our bio 👆
❤️ PEC is for Lovers ❤️⁠ ⁠ Valentine's ❤️ PEC is for Lovers ❤️⁠
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Valentine's Day is almost here! Whether you're spending the day itself in PEC or you're joining us for a romantic weekend getaway, there's plenty happening this weekend to help make for a memorable stay with your love (or your bff, we're here for platonic love too)! ⁠
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🎙️ Enjoy Dinner and a Show on Saturday night at @KarloEstates with The Bees Knees, which includes a vegan meal and wine pairings, or start your weekend with Tasty Trivia ⁠
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🖼️ Head to @oenogallery for their latest exhibition, "Conversations" and then have a conversation about your experience over a wine tasting @huffestateswine. ⁠
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🍽️ This weekend, enjoy early Valentine's Day meals at @adegapec, @wandertheresort, @flameandsmith, @grangewinery, @7numberspicton,  @the_blue_sail_seafood_company, and @TheWaringHouse. ⁠
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🧘 Start your Valentine's Day weekend with a refresh at @bodymatrixpec with Acu-Detox+Yoga.⁠
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🍫 Attend a chocolate-making workshop @shedchetwynfarms (limited spaces remain). ⁠
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💃🏻 Dance your way to Valentine's day on February 11 at @thewaringhouse and on February 13 at @stellaseatery. ⁠
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🍳 Go for brunch at @jacksonsfallscountryinn, @bermudapec, @parsonsbrewing, @karloestates, and many more delicious spots.⁠
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🧀 Have a cheesy day with a visit to @lighthallvineyards for Raclette Sunday. ⁠
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🏈 If football is your love language, spend Super Bowl Sunday in PEC at @555brewingco, @princeeddysbrewing, and @thecountycanteen.⁠
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❤️ On Valentine's Day itself experience special menus at @bloomfieldpublichouse, @creekside_cafe_pec, and @theroyalhotelpicton. ⁠
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📷️ Thanks to @OntarioTravel and @rto9_on⁠
Image Description: Two women, a couple, smile at each other while clinking glasses of white and red wine together at Adega in Consecon, PEC. ⁠
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#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC
🍔 Burger it Forward 🍔⁠ ⁠ This month, enj 🍔 Burger it Forward 🍔⁠
⁠
This month, enjoy the signature burger at four participating restaurants in Prince Edward County and do some good. With each burger sold as part of the #BurgerItForward campaign, @lovecdnbeef will donate will donate the equivalent of 1 meal to Food Banks Canada. ⁠
⁠
🍔 At @creekside_cafe_pec in Wellington check out their Creekside Burger, a 4 oz Local Beef Patty with Caramelized Onions, Tang Sauce, Garlic Aioli, Bread & Butter Pickles, and Cheddar Cheese. ⁠
⁠
🍔 Head to @theacousticgrill to enjoy The Acoustic Jam, a an 8 oz Angus Beef Patty with Fresh Tomato, Greens, Onion, Horseradish Mayonnaise, Roasted Corn Salsa, and Caramelized Onions served on a Toasted Bakery Bun.⁠
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🍔 Head to @theroyalhotelpicton for The Royal Burger, which features a Canadian Beef Patty, Cheddar Cheese, Shallot Butter, Rosemary Ketchup, and Aioli.⁠
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🍔  And finally at @thewaringhouse you'll find The County Burger, an 8 oz 100% Brisket Patty topped with Canadian Cheddar, Crispy Bacon, Canadian Maple Syrup, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Pickle and Homemade Chipotle Mayo Sauce served on a Brioche Bun.⁠
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#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC
☕️ Take a Coffee (or Cocoa) Break ☕️⁠
⁠
It's a chilly one this weekend! When you need some relief from the cold, why not head inside for a bit of a winter warmer at a local café! Luckily, The County has lots of options for you and your kiddos to get warm with a coffee, hot chocolate or tea: ⁠
⁠
🧸 Speaking of kids, if you have them you definitely want to head to @beaconbikebrew in Picton where their kid-friendly play area is perfect to keep them entertained while you relax with a brew. But thei café menu is ideal for big kids too! ⁠
⁠
☕️ Also in Picton you’ll find @misslilyscafe, the @thebeancountercafe, and @LusoBites, where you’ll find a whole host of delicious Portuguese delights (including pastel de nata!) alongside a large coffee menu. You can also pop into @theroyalhotelpicton for a warm drink alongside a memorable cannoli. ⁠
⁠
🫖 If tea is more your speed, don’t miss @SavonDuBois, whose apothecary is sure to provide the perfect remedy to a chilly day. ⁠
⁠
🍵 Other spots to warm up throughout The County include @BloomfieldPublicHouse and @BloomfieldBeautyCo, @GOODPlacePEC, and @PiccolinaMercato and @demorestvillecafe_convenience. (Honourable mention to @ConseconHoneyHouseCafe who are currently hibernating like the bees, but will be back again soon.)⁠
⁠
Image description: A young child plays with toys on the kid-friendly green carpet Beacon Bike+Brew. Their mother is on the floor with him, coffee in hand. ⁠
Image by OneLook⁠
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#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC #WinterinPEC
❄️ A Winter Bucket List for PEC ❄️⁠ ⁠ ❄️ A Winter Bucket List for PEC ❄️⁠
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We're going to let you in on one of our best-kept secrets: winter in Prince Edward County. Sure, it's colder and quieter, but for us those are just added benefits that make for some unforgettable experiences. For the uninitiated that may need some convincing, so head to our blog to discover our complete bucket list for an incredible winter experience in The County.⁠
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Link in bio 👆️⁠
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Note: this bucket list might not be accomplished in a single weekend getaway, but maybe that calls for making a PEC winter getaway a tradition. Or better yet, book a longer stay to enjoy a whole week of winter fun in The County. Discover unique and luxurious accommodations on our website at visitthecounty.com/stay⁠
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