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Road Trippin’ Off the Beaten Path

Please note: As our world slowly reopens, some of our businesses and attractions may not be fully accessible to the public as we find our way forward, but we invite you to make the most of your road trip in The County.

Article by George Amaro & Karen Orme

Foster Road in Sophiasburg – Photo by George Amaro

If there’s one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, it’s how to re-think … well … everything.

Being ready to ‘rethink’ is a smart approach when you visit The County, and it’ll probably make your trip a whole lot more enjoyable and personal, while giving you a unique view of this beautiful region.

Try turning your visit upside down and inside out. Maybe it’s visiting in the fall or winter – both are spectacular! Perhaps it’s planning your meals at non-traditional times, or it simply may be getting away from it all – literally – and going beyond the beach and the beaten path. No matter when you visit, or where you go, The County is beautiful all the time!

On Roads Less Travelled

To help plan your County road trips, we’ve put together four driving tours that will whisk you away from the normal hubs and hotspots. We’ll introduce you to different areas of The County along twisting, winding, scenic roads, past serene, pastoral countryside, and with stops at some of The County’s hidden gems.

No matter what time of year you visit, The County is stunningly beautiful in any season. It transforms from a thousand shades of summer greens into the warm golds and fiery reds of autumn, before being blanketed by the soft whites of winter’s breath, then slowly re-emerging with spring’s warming touch.

And remember, drive only where you’re supposed to, obey the speed limit, park only where designated, and leave our home as beautiful as you found it.

Now, gas up, get in and go!

Consecon in Autumn – Photo by Daniel Vaughan

Where to? Ameliasburgh

North and Northwest County

  • Route: County Road 3, Highway 62, Lakeside Drive, Loyalist Parkway (Hwy 33)
  • Detours: Burr Road, Christian Road, County Road 19, Salem Road, Victoria Road
  • Length: 60 km, 55 minutes
  • Places: Ameliasburgh, Carrying Place, Consecon, Rednersville, Rossmore
  • Historical highlight: Ameliasburgh Museum & Pioneer Village (seasonal)
  • Scenic highlights: Christian Road, County Road 3

Description: There are great views of the Bay of Quinte along County Road 3, with its stylish homes and lush, expansive lawns stretching from the road to the water. It’s a smooth drive in any season, and particularly beautiful in the summer and fall, because of its large, mature, deciduous trees.

Highway 62, a main artery leading to the bridge to Belleville, features a scenic, winding road with different elevations, and expansive views of the Mountain View air field.

Lakeside Drive, in the southwest part of Ameliasburgh, hugs the tree-lined north shore of Consecon Lake, making for a scenic drive, especially in the fall, but pretty any time of the year.

Cool factor: Al Purdy, Canada’s “unofficial poet laureate,” lived near the village of Ameliasburgh. His iconic A-frame home has been graced by a who’s who of the country’s literary elite such as Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, and many others. It’s now the home of the A-frame Residency Program for Canadian writers.

Worth a Stop:

To Shop: The Sword Antiques, Young’s Antiques & Vintage Cottage Decor, The Dressing Room, The Green Root, Gilmour’s Meat Shop and Deli

To Dine: Tabersnack, Strato’s Pizza & Restaurant

To Sip: Apple Falls Cider Co., Terra Estate Winery

To Farm Stand & Food Stuff Explore: Thyme Again Gardens, Campbell’s Orchards, Consecon Honey House, From The Farm Cooking School,  Walt’s Sugar Shack

To Art Appreciate: By the Bay Art Studio & Gallery, County Studio, Janet B Gallery & Studios, Florence Chik-Lau, Schoolhouse Basketry, Shadow Ridge Studio & Gallery

To Tour: Ameliasburgh Heritage Village, Massassauga Point Conservation Area

Click here for more suggestions.

Gomorrah Road leads to Big Island – Photo by George Amaro

Where to? Sophiasburgh

Northeast Corner of The County

  • Route: County Road 5, County Road 15, County Road 49, Fish Lake Road
  • Detours:  County Road 14, Foster Road, North Road, Potter Road, Water Road
  • Length:  33.5 km, 30 minutes
  • Places: Demorestville, Big Island, Northport, Fish Lake
  • Historical highlight: In the early part of the century, Demorestville was more important and larger than both York (now Toronto) and Meyer’s Creek (now Belleville). As suggested by the name of Gomorrah Road, it has a very colourful past!
  • Scenic highlight: Big Island

Description: County Road 15 travels along the northeast part of The County, from the bridge into Tyendinaga to historic Demorestville. It’s a winding, paved road with occasional views of the Bay of Quinte and the Big Island marsh to the north, and farmland and wild tracts of juniper trees to the south.

Fish Lake Road heads in every direction at one point or another – like a lot of roads in The County. It’s a typical country road, very pastoral, and beautiful in all seasons.

Cool factor:

Who could guess that today’s sleepy, tiny Demorestville was once a place of taverns, brothels and general ill-repute, catering to smugglers and those who toiled in the lumber industry? It was even called Sodom, and still bears a road named Gomorrah in reference to those heady days.

Worth a Stop:

To Shop: The Harvest Shed, Demorestville Café & Convenience

To Sip: Three Dog Winery

To Farm Stand & Food Explore: Hawthorne Herbals, Fiddlehead Farm, The County Catch, Jubilee Forest Farm

To Art  Appreciate: Stone Cottage Art and Barn Quilt Gallery, Mia Lane Gallery, Ember Studio, Jodi Shuster

Click here for more suggestions.

Sunset on County Road 8, near Waupoos – Photo by George Amaro

Where to? North Marysburgh

Easternmost County, Adolphus Reach

  • Route: County Road 7, County Road 8
  • Detours:  County Road 25, Bongards Crossroad, Cressy Lakeside Road, Kaiser Crossroad
  • Length:  54 km, 42 minutes
  • Places: Cressy, Glenora, Lake on the Mountain, Waupoos
  • Historical highlight: Rose House Museum
  • Scenic highlight: Lake on the Mountain

Description: This loop traces the Adolphus Reach on north side (County Road 7) from Lake on the Mountain to Cressy, and Lake Ontario on the south side (County Road 8). The road features plenty of twists and turns – including several S-curves – as it travels past a bucolic, serene landscape of mainly fields and farms. Lots of great views of the water on both sides.

Cool factor: Waupoos is the Ojibwe word for rabbit

Worth a Stop:

To Dine: The Restaurant at Waupoos Estates Winery, Waupoos Pub and Cressy Mustard Co.

To Sip: Cape Vineyards, Del-Gatto Estates, County Cider Co., Waupoos Estates Winery, Clafeld Fruit Winery & Cider House Market

To Farm Stand & Food Explore: Mayphin Farm, Fifth Town Artisan Cheese, Cressy Mustard Co., Creasy’s Apple Dabble Farm, The Blueberry Patch, Koopmans Maple Mountain, Waupoos Acres Farm, Sunnydale Farms

To Art Appreciate: Karolem Art Studio

Click here for more suggestions.

Tree-lined drive along County Road 13 toward Black River – Photo by George Amaro

Where to: South Marysburgh

Southeast part of The County

  • Route: County Road 10, County Road 13, Miller Road
  • Detours: Brewer’s Road, County Road 17, County Road 24, Crowe’s Road, Lighthall Road, Long Point Road, Old Milford Road, Royal Road
  • Length:  32.5 km, 35 minutes
  • Places: Black River, Cherry Valley, Milford
  • Historical highlight: Scott’s Mill is a reminder of an era when sleepy Milford was a booming mill town and famous ship-building centre. It became the Milford Mill Pond Conservation Area after Carson Scott – its last operator – sold it in 1975.
  • Scenic highlight: Scott’s Mill at the end of Crowe’s Road.

Description: Starting at County Road 10, Miller Road is a patchwork of farms, interspersed with roadside trees and shrubs. The eastern section of the route follows County Road 13, twisting and winding its way south, through a beautiful, forested stretch of road down into Black River. It’s beautiful any time of year, but especially in the fall when it’s alive with reds, golds, yellows and browns. The bridge offers gorgeous views of the river in either direction.

County Road 13 heads into South Bay and offers the odd glimpse of the water, especially in the fall and winter when the leaves have dropped. The route turns off 13 onto County Road 10 just past Mariner’s Park Museum, before heading west, north and west again back to the starting point at Miller Road. It meanders through farm fields, and past the sleepy villages of Milford and Cherry Valley.

Cool factor:

The Prince Edward County Bird Observatory may be small, but it bands more than 8,000 birds a year!

Worth a stop:

To Shop: Stowaway Vintage, The Store in Cherry Valley, Walker’s Greenhouse

To Sip: Exultet Estates, Half Moon Bay Winery, Lighthall Vineyards, Long Dog Vineyard Winery

To Farm Stand & Food Explore: Black River Cheese, Vicki’s Veggies, Floralora Flowers, Vader’s Maple Syrup, The Local Food Shop at Quinta do Conde, Curious Goat General Store, Ruth’s Canteen, Hawkridge Homestead

To Art Appreciate: Blizzmax Gallery, Pete’s Stained Glass, Holly Sedgewick, Graham Davies The Bald Photographer, Judy Plomer Studio, Aidan Haley Studio

To Tour: Mariner’s Park Museum, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory

To Do: Cabin Fever Kayak

Click here for more suggestions.

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

Prince Edward County ❄️🍷🍽️🍁
March isn’t over but with all of the delicious M March isn’t over but with all of the delicious Maple Festivities we couldn’t wait to share a recap so far.

BIG thanks to all of our lovely, hardworking local maple syrup producers and maple supporters. 🍁 

Every year March gets sweeter and sweeter so make sure you plan a visit to Prince Edward County during maple season next year.

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#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC #ExperienceTheCounty #MapleSyrup #March
Mark your calendars! This year's Waterfalls Tour Mark your calendars!

This year's Waterfalls Tour event is on April 8 & 9 from 11am - 4pm each day. A family friendly event organized by the Rotary Club of Picton to take in the beauty of two of Prince Edward County's picturesque waterfalls. Big thanks to the land owner's of Jackson Falls and Cape Vessey Falls for welcoming us all.⁠
⁠
Entry is by donation in support of Back the Build, Ukraine Relief and other projects of the Rotary Club of Picton. ⁠

Enjoy a short hike outdoors with your friends, family or simply, just your camera.

Picture by Robbie Garden.⁠

For more information please visit https://pictonrotary.ca/page/waterfalls-tour

#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #Waterfalls #VisitPEC #outdoors
We will soon be in full bloom. 🌼 Let us know i We will soon be in full bloom. 🌼

Let us know in the comments 👇🏼 the bloom you are looking forward to most. We are already dreaming up sunflowers over here.

This spring image in the County captured by @kassandramelnykphoto 
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#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #OutDoors #VisitPEC #ExperienceTheCounty #Spring #flowers
Finding colour & beauty despite the weather today. Finding colour & beauty despite the weather today. A grey day is all how you look at it. 💛
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#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC #ExperienceTheCounty #travelphotography
🍽️ A Delicious Giveaway 🍽️ We're three 🍽️ A Delicious Giveaway 🍽️

We're three weeks away from Countylicious and to count down we're giving away $100 to each of our 16 participating Countylicious restaurants. 
⁠
Comment on the post below and mention who you would want to take out for a Countylicious meal at one of the five following restaurants: ⁠
⁠
🍽 Chef Sean Finnerty of @parsonsbrewing has worked up delicious $30 Lunch and $60 dinner menus featuring dishes such as Concinita Bibil Torta and Elote Caesar.

🍽 At @jacksonsfallscountryinn, Chef Chris Wylie has developed a $20 Lunch menu that can be enjoyed on weekends throughout Countylicious. If you struggle to choose between sweet and savoury brunches, this is the menu for you. 
⁠
🍽 Chef Amanda Ray of @drakedevonshire is serving up an inventive $60 dinner menu with spring-inspired dishes like Mushroom & Leek Mezzaluna and Honey Chamomile Pannacotta. 
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🍽 At @pastaonesta Chef Martin Brzozowski's $20 lunch and $45 dinner menus will transport you straight to Italy with dishes like Focaccia with mortadella, arugula and fior di latte, and Rigatoni with quanciale, pomodoro and pecorino. 
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🍽 Chef Leah Marshall Hannon's $45 dinner menu @stellaseatery features a host of must-try dishes like Braised Bison Brisket and Cedar Crème Brulée. 
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Swipe to see their menus and head to countylicious.ca to book your table! Come back every week for even more restaurant features and giveaways! ⁠
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Content Rules:⁠
⁠
1. Follow @VisitTheCounty on Instagram⁠
2. Like this post⁠
3. Comment and mention a friend. 1 comment with unique mention = 1 entry. Max 5 entries per person.

Winners for each individual giveaway will be contacted via Instagram DM and announced on stories the day following contest closure.⁠ Winners will be assigned a gift card at random from the group of restaurants featured in this giveaway post⁠. Winners will only be contacted by @VisitTheCounty. DMs from any other handles should be considered spam.⁠
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Contest closes March 29 at 11:59pm⁠
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#PrinceEdwardCounty #PEC #CountyUp #DiscoverON #VisitTheCounty #SouthEasternOntario #TheCounty #BayOfQuinte #DiscoverOntario #Picton #SandbanksPP #VisitPEC #countylicious
🍁 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
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