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The Apple of Our Eye

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what will an apple smoothie protect you from? Or a whole, fresh baked apple pie? Or a cider or two?

Although harvest season lands in September, many of our apple-growers and cider-makers are open year round. We’ve peeled, sliced, diced, chopped, chomped, baked, cooked, juiced and brewed our way through the versatile fruit to get to the, ahem, core of everything apples in The County.

We hope you like them apples!

Article by George Amaro & Karen Orme

Updated August 2022 by Visit The County Staff

How do you like them apples? | Photo by George Amaro

While grapes are the current apple of The County’s eye, orchards have been here since the early settlers. The apples provided the settlers with fresh fruit in the fall, and they used them in many different ways including in cider. During the 20th Century – particularly during the County’s canning heyday – apples were also processed into pie filling, cider vinegar, and plain juice.

Today, you can find apples in every way, shape and form in The County. You can pick your own or can buy them at farm stands or grocery stores. Or taste their deliciousness in yummy desserts or try them in soups and salads at restaurants. You can sip them in smoothies, slushies, and of course, fresh, local cider.

Cider Insider

The region is home to eight cideries. An official cider trail, PEC Cider Route, is launching soon. Follow it on Instagram @pecciderroute, hashtag #pecciderroute.

Apple Falls Cider Co.

Apple Falls Cider Company creates ciders from apples grown and hand-picked at Campbell’s Orchards, including Honeycrisps, Northern Spys, and Golden Russets to name a few.

Premier is their signature beverage: a “very simple, traditional, clean and easy drinking cider … with green apple tartness and notes of lemon.”

Playful label at Clafeld Cider House | Photo supplied by Clafeld Fruit Winery and Cider House

Clafeld Fruit Winery & Cider House Market

Clafeld’s cider maker, Amy Baldwin, creates naturally infused ciders with dried flowers and herbs. Their flagship product is a “straight-up” cider called Smashed Apple. A few other favourites are Elderflower (made with dried elderflowers), Hey Lady, a rose cider run over Baco Noir grape skins, and Oh Beehave, which features local honey.

The award-winning cidery uses apples only from their orchards – or their neighbours’ – with some of the trees dating to 1975. They grow 14 different varieties, which are harvested by hand and pressed and processed on site.

Cold Creek Vineyards

The new kid on the cider block opened its doors in early July 2020 with its 2019 Cuvée Madeleine Cider, and promptly sold out by August!

But fret not, because you can drop by and sample, or purchase their latest release, Éirinn go Brách Cider. The 2019 vintage is described as a “traditional, semi-dry sparkling cider.” It is created with pressed Northern Spy apples, fermented in French Oak Barrels until dry, and then bottle conditioned with no fining or filtration.

County Cider Company is an idyllic place to enjoy a delish bevy | Photo by George Amaro

County Cider Company

The late Grant Howes, known as the “grandfather of cider in Ontario,” founded the County Cider Company over 25 years ago. Today, it’s one of The County’s most popular tourist stops. They offer distinctively delicious ciders, as well as wood-fired pizza and a stunning location. The cider house sits high above a vineyard, overlooking Lake Ontario.

The company’s signature creation is its Waupoos Premium Cider, made from cider-specific apples cultivated in their orchards. These varieties include Binet Rouge, Brown Snout, Kingston Black, Yarlinton Mill, Michelin, Dabinett and others.

The Crimson Cider Company is open year-round. | Photo supplied by Crimson Cider Company.

Crimson Cider Company

As the weather cools and other businesses head indoors, Crimson Cider Company is heading in the opposite direction. They’re embracing the outdoors and expanding their patio to offer guests the pleasure of sipping hot, mulled cider around a fire pit. Watch for it in late September/October.

The relatively new cidery is located in the original stone house that dates back to the 1850s, which fits in perfectly with their keeping-it-real-County philosophy. All of their small batch, craft ciders feature pure, local ingredients as much as possible.

While the eponymously named Crimson Cider is their flagship beverage, they offer seasonal favourites such as Mint to Be, a cucumber and mint-infused variation. Others include Bee Mine, featuring local honey, and Oh So Sappy, made with Roblin’s maple syrup. 

Fieldbird Cider

Using apples and pears harvested in their farm orchard, Fieldbird Cider offers both still and sparkling ciders, all of which rest in oak at some point in the fermentation process. Among its repertoire: Buzzing Chatter, a blend of Ambrosia and Northern Spy apples, is a Riesling-like sipper, and Sing-Song Cider, made in the traditional method of sparkling wines. The cider master and owner Ryan Monkman pens the poetically written tasting notes on the bottle labels.

Order a tasting flight at Loch Mór Cider Company | Photo supplied by Loch Mór Cider Company

Loch Mór Cider Company

If you’re looking for a unique tasting experience, then head to Loch Mór Cider Company on Friday evenings or Sunday mornings. That’s when pommelier, Sara Boyd, will take you on an hour-long stroll through the apple orchard – glass in hand, of course!

One of only three pommeliers in Canada, Sara will chat about cider making, the various apple varieties, their history, and how they’re grown. You may even get to sample a few. At this time, tours, which can be booked online, are limited to single social bubbles.

Another unique – and decadent – tasting alternative at Loch Mór are chocolate and cider pairing flights. Various ciders are served with handcrafted, artisan, dark chocolates from the award-winning Angela Roest at Centre & Main in Warkworth. Available Thursday – Sunday. Reserve in advance.

Stock & Row

Stock & Row Farm Cidery is located in Bloomfield, just down the road from Kinsip Fine Spirits. Their tasting room and outdoor seating area overlooks a youthful apple orchard and beautiful vineyard complimented by incredible sunset views.

Their ciders are all made with 100% Ontario apples, low sugar and full flavours in mind. Enjoy our tasting flight which includes their classic dry cider, Slow & Low, their key lime cider, Lime Crush, their black raspberry tea cider, Cold Tea, plus an exclusive rotation of on-site small batch ciders. Know what you want? Pints are available as well.

Cider Sips at Wineries

Hit the cider trail one day, then follow PEC’s wine route the next, where you’ll discover several wineries offering signature cider vintages among their wine offerings. Both beverages begin as fruit juice and share a similar fermenting process. Because apples contain less natural sugar than grapes, cider typically has a lower alcohol content than wine.

For wine or cider tasting, The Grange of Prince Edward’s tasting room is cozy in the Fall. | Photo by Johnny CY Lam

The Old Third has a huge fan following for its traditional method sparkling cider produced from local, Golden Russet apples. Hinterland Wine Company, known for its sparkling wines, does a lovely Cherry Cider. Farmhouse Cider from The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyard & Estate Winery, is a Normandy-style cider, still and dry, is made with a blend of nine varieties of apples.

Pick Your Own Apples + Shop

Here are a few more ways to enjoy apples. In addition to many farm stands that sell the fruit from other local growers, there are a few must-visit apple-centric markets.

One goofy apple makes the whole bunch smile at Campbell’s Orchards | Photo by George Amaro.

Campbell’s Orchards

A visit to Campbell’s Orchards is a must at any time of the year, but especially so as the temperatures drop, and apples – all 23 different varieties of them – ripen for a pick-your-own outing. This season, picking is in small guided groups. On weekends, book a seat on the Campbell Express wagon-ride through the orchards. Bag-your-own-apples is also available at the fruit and vegetable market, along with caramel or candy apples, baked apple fritters and pies, apple butter, cider, and more.

Creasy’s Apple Dabble Farm

From September to the end of October, the bounty of Creasy’s Apple Dabble Farm’s 45-acre orchard fills its picturesque market setting in Waupoos. Over two dozen varieties of apples fill bins, including Honeycrisp, McIntosh, IDA Reds, Gala, and three different kinds of crab apple. Holly Creasy-Tyne, who works at the market, says the secret to storing apples is to keep them in the fridge to slow down the ripening process. Creasy-Tyne’s grandfather began by selling apples on his front lawn. Her father then expanded the business. Empire is among her favourites. “It’s like biting into a memory,” she says, taking her back to a day as a little girl in the orchard with her dad who picked an Empire fresh from the tree for her. “When I bit into it, it was so crisp and juicy, and tasted so good.”

Maw’s Lakeview Orchard

Maw’s Lakeview Orchard has two locations for grabbing pints, or bushels, of apples. Enjoy the scenic drive to its family-owned orchard farm in Cressy, or pop by its Waupoos market stand for a sampling of apples and homemade jams. The farm produces over 500,000 pounds of apples each season.

Learn About Apples

Take a culinary workshop at Littlejohn Farm | Photo supplied by Littlejohn Farm

Sign up for a fall farm-to-table workshop at Littlejohn Farm, and you’ll likely find yourself hands-on with apples, whether it be helping to harvest the onsite orchard that produces eight different varieties, or baking them into a pie or a galette. The agri-tourism and sustainability learning centre offers several workshop topics and learning sessions for groups and corporate team building.

Savoury and Sweet Apples

Suzanne LaFrance uses three types of apples from Campbell’s Orchards in her pies: Paula Red, Ginger Gold and Zestar! | Photo by George Amaro

Apple Pies

The only thing better than apple pie as a comfort-food dessert, is one baked by Moonlight Kitchen. Chef Suzanne Lafrance and her husband André Giroux, both former restauranteurs, sell their home-baked goodies, from tourtières to fruit pies, at the Wellington Farmer’s Market. Or call in an order for pick-up or local delivery. Lafrance uses a mix of five to seven locally sourced apples in each galette-style apple pie for optimal texture, taste, and cooking. For example, Honeycrisp, Zestar!, and Ginger Gold retain their crispness, while McIntosh and Paula Red “melt” more, releasing their juices. Special orders welcome.

’Tis the season for apples at My Pies, a sweet little shop in Wellington baking up a storm of savoury and sweet pies. Piemaker Jessica and husband Chris Loane launched the bakery in 2020, quickly gaining a loyal following for their use of local, seasonal ingredients packed into mini individual serving and regular size pies. Call ahead to pre-order large quantities of pies.

Apple Sweets

Apple Pie is one of Slickers County Ice Cream’s top-selling favourites. And justifiably so. Known for its fresh, local ingredients and unique flavours, Slickers’ artisans make and bake fresh, delicious crust pies filled with apples, browned butter and cinnamon, topped with sweet butter and brown-sugar crumble, then smash them into its signature vanilla ice cream. And here’s a scoop … new this fall, Caramel Apple featuring a homemade caramel swirl, and Candied Caramel Apple with candied maple syrup and brown sugar pieces in every lick. Yum!

Apple Sours

Canadian Vinegar Cellars pairs two of The County’s claim-to-fame ingredients – wine and local fruit. Its Apple Pie Vinegar is a perennial best seller, blending County-grown Marechal Foch grapes and apples aged six years in wooden casks. Preservative-free, the vinegar is drinkable as an aperitif on ice, made into a tea, used as a sauce or dip, or drizzled on desserts.

Drink This Apple

Given the health benefits of apples, it’s no surprise they’re often a staple superfood ingredient in wellness drinks. Wellington is home to two health-conscious eateries incorporating lots of apple-based nutrition on their menu. The Good Place does a delicious Apple Pie Smoothie that brings together apples, bananas, yogurt, cinnamon and granola. Apples are also part of the café and specialty grocer’s fresh-pressed green juice. 

Apple Slices

Some fun facts about Ontario’s favourite fruit.

  • Apples are believed to have originated in Kazakhstan. They made their way to Canada in the early 17th Century. The first trees were planted in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley around 1633.
  • If you ate one of the 7,500 varieties grown around the world every day, it would take you more than 20 years to try them all!
  • According to the Ontario Apple Growers, there are 15 main varieties of apples grown across nearly 16,000 acres in the province. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada lists 40 varieties grown across the country.
  • The top five varieties in Ontario (based on acreage planted) are McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, and Empire.
  • The McIntosh is the national apple of Canada. It was discovered in Dundas County near Brockville by its namesake, Ontario farmer John McIntosh in 1811.
  • In 2017, apples accounted for 41.5 per cent of the total marketed production of Canadian fruit when ranked by weight (over 345,000 tonnes in total).
  • Every Canadian eats, on average, 86 apples per year.
  • It takes four apples to make a glass of pure apple juice. It takes about 36 apples to make one gallon of apple cider.
  • So, do apples really keep the doctor away? Maybe. The average apple has 5% of your recommended daily vitamin C, and 170mg of potassium, which keeps your heart healthy.
  • Apples emit ethylene gas that accelerates ripening of other fruit in close proximity. To ripen avocados, tomatoes, etc., faster, just place them in a paper bag with an apple.
  • Can’t get enough apples? Check out Carol Martin’s book, The Apple: A History of Canada’s Perfect Fruit.
Cheers! with Amelia and Matt from Apple Falls Cider | Photo by Daniel Vaughan
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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. ⁠
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🍔 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: ⁠
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🧸 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! ⁠
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☕️ 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.)⁠
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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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