Although it isn’t actually an island, Prince Edward County certainly has the feeling of one. Just a few hours west of the largest city in the country, here rolling hills are covered in farmland and the sprawling coastline blends white-sand beaches with rugged bluffs and cliffs. Urbanites need not worry, though – the region’s natural beauty and outdoor adventures come with a side of boutique inns, chic cafés, independent shops and fine dining.
The county town of Picton is the region’s largest settlement, but hardly a bustling metropolis. Instead it offers all the staples of an ‘island’ community, including a delightful narrow harbour lined with postcard-picture buildings and dotted with moored yachts. Also worth visiting is artistic Wellington at the heart of the wine-producing region, where you can explore galleries and artists’ studios and make the short drive to explore excellent wineries.
Just south of Wellington is the jewel in Prince Edward County’s crown: Sandbanks Provincial Park, where three long white-sand beaches and towering sand dunes make up two of the world’s largest freshwater sandbars. Spend a warm summer’s day relaxing by the water, exploring the dune trails or trying a range of watersports on Lake Ontario. Other beaches and coastal landscapes to discover include Little Bluff or the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area in the far south-east of the headland, North Beach Provincial Park in the north-west and Massassauga Point Conservation Area on the north-east coast.
Another natural beauty – and something of a geological mystery – is Lake on the Mountain, which sits over 60 metres above the Bay of Quinte and was long believed to have no source. The Mohawk people dubbed it the “Lake of the Gods” and the region’s first European settlers thought it was either a bottomless lake or that it led to an underground passage. Today, geologists believe it’s a type of sinkhole. For those following part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail – a series of waterside, multi-use trails that begins in Niagara-on-the-Lake and ends on the Ontario-Quebec border – Lake on the Mountain is the final stop in Prince Edward County before boarding the Glenora ferry.
In addition to its wineries, Prince Edward County is fast becoming a culinary hotspot. The farm-to-fork movement is widely embraced here, with many restaurants’ produce sourced just a stone’s throw from your plate. Foodies should follow the Taste Trail, a self-guided route that takes you to the region’s best restaurants, wineries, breweries and farmer’s markets.
Visitors to Prince Edward County can choose from endless charming inns and boutique bed-and-breakfasts. Those seeking more of a home-from-home can rent a characterful cottage or lakeside house for an authentic taste of local living.
Prince Edward County is located within a few hours of four main airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport, Ottawa International Airport, Kingston Airport and Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. To land much closer to your final destination, charter a private jet to the local Picton Airport. Simply Contact one of our team and we can arrange everything you need to charter a private jet to Prince Edward County.
