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Barrels
at a Prince Edward County Winery1
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Between Toronto
and Ottawa rest the
wineries,
serene shores and the culturally and historically rich tract of land known
as Prince Edward
County. Covering a total area of 1048 sq km (405 sq mi), it is
262 km (163 mi) from the city of Ottawa. The region is home to a wealth
of vast pastures with highly fertile land, prosperous vineyards, a plethora
of outdoor activities and many accommodations to suit the needs of any
potential visitor.
Picton
is the largest townsite in Prince Edward County, which was established
in 1792. It was named after Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, who
was the commander-in-chief of British North America. The island—now connected
to the mainland by a man-made canal—was also a popular settlement for
United Empire Loyalists who took refuge there during the American Revolution.
TRANSPORTATION
AND ORIENTATION
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Sail the
Mighty Lake Ontario2
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Picton is situated
30 km (18.6 mi) southeast of Belleville
and 60 km (37.3 mi) west of Kingston.
Prince Edward County is only accessible by taking the Glenora
Ferry, 10 km (6.2 mi) from Picton, or by driving down Highway
33, otherwise known as Loyalist Parkway.
The Parkway goes through
Picton and connects to the mainland and the greater Ontario
road network, mainly Highway 62, which provides access to Belleville.
The year-round ferry service provides an eastern connection to Highway
33 leading into Kingston.
Prince Edward County
was at one point serviced by rail, but the railroad is no longer in use
and now acts as a system of trails and pathways that span the outskirts
of the island. Bike hires, taxi cabs and marinas
are plentiful on the island and provide complete access to the entire
region. The tour
companies of the area usually provide their own transportation
to show visitors around this dominion.
Picton is the largest
settlement in Prince Edward County and is situated on the northeast edge
of the county's landmass. Bay
of Quinte and the Lake
on the Mountain Provincial Park is northwest of Picton and provides
some of the best fishing on the island. Cherry
Valley and Milford
are located to the south. West Lake and East Lake are just west of Milford
and rest on either side of the Sandbanks
Provincial Park, a favourite destination of outsiders visiting
the area. To the north of the park sits Bloomfield
and Wellington.
CLIMATE AND CONDITIONS
Prince Edward County
is situated in a portion of Ontario that offers a temperate and mild climate.
During the summer, the mean temperature in the afternoon is usually around
21°C (70°F) and through winter they see an average temperature of around
-7°C (19°F). From late May to early September, a simple t-shirt or light
sweater is ample to keep one warm. However, in the winter, toasty clothing
like parkas, mittens and skarves must be donned to prevent hypothermia
if one plans on remaining outdoors for an extended period of time. Road
conditions in Prince Edward County can be hazardous during this period
and motorists should plan to encounter slippery roads and icy driving
conditions. Most of the region's snowfall occurs during November and December
and a majority of their rainfall happens during May and June.
USEFUL ACCOMMODATION
LINKS
MAJOR ACCOMMODATION
AREAS
Picton
The town of Picton is the hub of activity in Prince Edward County. Situated
on the banks of Lake
Ontario, it provides visitors with countless outdoor pursuits.
Beautiful green foothills surround the town and at its centre is a bustling
marina
where dozens of sails can be seen flapping in the westerly breeze. Due
to the mild weather experienced here, people can enjoy the natural surroundings
for most of the year. The area is rich with lush vineyards and agricultural
land. Furthermore, the town contains the Regent
Theatre, which hosts jazz festivals and other events and the theatre
even screens classic movies on a regular basis. Bergeron's
Exotic Animal Sanctuary is yet another popular destination as
visitors here are offered the opportunity to see over 150 different species
of animals ranging from wild boars to Siberian tigers.
Due to the size of
Picton, it doesn't offer a great deal of hotels. Bed
and breakfasts are the most prevalent accommodations because of
the blue-bonnet country-style setting of Prince Edward County. Accommodations
can mainly be found near the water's edge in the heart of town. The Sportsman
Motel offers a place to stay overlooking the bay and is just 1
km (0.6 mi) from the boat launch. The Tip
of the Bay Hotel offers a fantastic patio overlooking the bay
and a flourishing rose garden.
Bloomfield and
Wellington
Bloomfield and Wellington are the perfect places to make and drink wine,
as they are directly situated in Prince Edward County's winery hotbed.
To the south of Bloomfield is the majestic Sandbanks Provincial Park with
its dunes and diverse ecosystem. It offers some of the most fertile soil
in Prince Edward County and easy access to Lake Ontario. The Huff
Estates Winery is just outside of Bloomfield and provides tours
and wine
tastings.
The town of Bloomfield
doesn't offer hotels. It does feature plenty of bed and breakfasts and
an inn. The town has dozens of gardens and park areas. Downtown
on Main Street is where a majority of the towns bed and breakfasts are
located. Visitors have the option of staying in the Patterson
House Bed and Breakfast with its outdoor four-person spa. There
is also the Chocolate
Suite, and the Victorian-style Renlea
House Bed and Breakfast. The Hillsdale
House Bed and Breakfast offers additional quarters and is home
to the Island Forge Gallery featuring the works of the local artisan metalsmith.
There are just under a dozen of these bed and breakfasts along Main Street
and each provides a distinctly different experience for those enjoying
a stay in Prince Edward County. Similar accommodations are available in
Wellington, just down Highway 33.
Milford and Cherry
Valley
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Prince
Edward County's Beautiful South5
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The southern portion
of the island provides two locations visitors should definitely check
out. On the southwest shoreline is Cherry
Valley and to the east is the town of Milford.
Neither provide a great deal of accommodations, but each host their own
small selection of bed and breakfast type accommodations. Because Cherry
Valley is in such close proximity to the Sandbanks Provincial Park and
numerous wineries, it is a more popular destination than Milford, but
each boast attractions
of different natures.
Milford is home to
the Mariner's
Park Museum and the False Duck Lighthouse, erected as monuments
to the sailors of the county responsible for trading by traversing the
Great Lakes. Long
Dog Vineyards operates a winery in the area and provide tours
and tastings to guests looking to sample Canadian grown fine wines. Milford
also has a cheese
factory churning up quality artisan cheeses, and obviously, cheese
is always popular. There are three bed and breakfasts in town along Morrison
Street and a few others in the surrounding area including the Colleen
Cottage Riverside Bed and Breakfast with its own private pier
and the Black
River Lodge, which sits directly on the banks of the Black
River.
Cherry Valley has
only one notable bed and breakfast, but offers three different campgrounds
for those looking to catch a slice of the outdoors in the provincial park.
Salmon
Point Campground is ultra-close to the park and provides both
water and electrical hook-ups. The Lake
Avenue Resort offers camping and cabin quarters only moments away
from the park, the lake and the amenities of Cherry Valley. Quinte's
Isle Campark provides treed and spacious areas to erect a tent
or to park a camper.
Countryside Accommodations
and Out-of-Town Bed and Breakfasts
One of the main attractions drawing people to Prince Edward County is
the sparse population and laid-back atmosphere of the place. One doesn't
have to stay in town to find the relaxing accommodations most desired.
Prince Edward Country offers a wide assortment of bed
and breakfasts situated along rural routes and country roads.
For true peace and tranquility, it might be a good idea to stay in the
country, rather than in one of Prince Edward County's small blue-bonnet
country towns.
The collection of
countryside bed and breakfasts include places like the Gilead
Schoolhouse, which is an old-style farm house converted into traveller
accommodations. Sunset
Paradise is located south of Sandbanks Park on the coast and provides
its guests with breathtaking views of the sun setting over the park. The
area is the perfect location for watersports and can provide waterskiiers
or wakeboarders with some water meant to be shredded.
PHOTO COURTESY
- Wine Barrels at a Winery; Prince Edward Country, ON
- Sail the Mighty Lake Ontario; Prince Edward County, ON
- Sunset Over Lake Ontario; Prince Edward County, ON
- Angling for Walleye; Prince Edward County, ON
- Prince Edward County's Beautiful Southern Shores; Prince Edward County,
ON
