How to Have a Perfect Summer Weekend in Prince Edward County

For many Torontonians, there’s no better weekend escape than a few leisurely days in Prince Edward County. The beloved destination has earned its reputation for exceptional wineries, destination-worthy restaurants, a thriving arts community and warm hospitality. Just a (relatively) easy two-hour drive from the city, it feels worlds away from Toronto’s pace. After several challenging years for its tourism and hospitality industry during and after the pandemic, The County is once again buzzing with energy. In fact, so many Torontonians have traded weekend visits for permanent addresses in recent years that the region feels livelier than ever.

Continue reading this Prince Edward County guide to learn how to spend a truly perfect, relaxing weekend in PEC this summer.

WHAT TO DO

Base31

Built on a 700-acre former WWII air training base, Base31 has been a massive project and undertaking—and one of Prince Edward County’s most exciting new gems. “The sheer ambition of Base31 really excited me,” says Liz Kohn, VP of Marketing & Communications, of joining the project. “Many of the former military training sites across Canada had all kind of gone to waste over the years. For years, they were under-utilized and not used as these places that have history and character.” That all changed with Base31. “On our site, about 40 of the original 50 buildings have been restored. It certainly wasn’t the type of thing that was going to come together overnight,” says Kohn.

But was it ever worth the wait. Opened in 2023, Base31 is now a full-on cultural hub in The County, featuring food, drinks, games, indoor and outdoor play spaces for kids, and even the Drill Hall, a fantastic intimate concert venue that has seen acts like Father John Misty, Sam Roberts Band and Angine de Poitrine take the stage this summer. “It’s a whole experience,” says Kohn. “You could be watching a show, and when you step outside to get a drink or a snack, you’ll see the most beautiful cotton candy sunset. There’s something magical about it. It becomes much more than just a concert.”

And the exciting project continues to grow. Coming this summer is Base Living, homes (detached houses, townhouses, apartments and condos) that are available to purchase or rent, located on Base31 and the heart of Prince Edward County’s incredible sense of culture and community.

WHAT TO SIP

Three Dog Winery

This family-owned winery was acquired by its current owners in 2022, and they’ve made it an absolute must-visit destination for wine-lovers in Picton, Ontario. Led by winemaker Andrew Rytwinski (who has a background in chemistry and laser physics but opted for a major career change a decade ago, entering the wonderful world of wine), Three Dog Winery just snagged five Gold wins at the Ontario Wine Awards and the All Canadian Wine Championships. Block off a couple of hours to hit up this spot and relax on its large, open green space, enjoy some wood-fired pizzas and maybe play a game of fetch with the winery’s resident Good Boy: an aptly named two-year-old red lab named Red Dog.

The Grange of Prince Edward

No trip to the county is complete without a visit to The Grange, which happens to be celebrating its 20-year anniversary this summer. The 135-acre property in Hillier, Ontario features over 40 acres of vines producing low-intervention Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, under the guidance of viticulturist Mike Peddlesden and winemaker Jonas Newman. Pair your wine tasting with a short-but-sweet menu (think elevated comfort food like sandwiches, tacos and salads) made from locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients. Want to customize (and extend) your visit? The 200-year-old barn and grounds are available for bespoke experiences like private tours, dinners, weddings, and special events.

Lighthall Vineyards

Two words: DIY charcuterie. When you walk into Lighthall, located in Milford, the first thing to do is choose from their wide selection of cheeses, meats, crackers and dips. Ask the staff for a charcuterie board, a knife, and their best wine pairing recommendations. Grab your drink (we love the 2023 Progression, a fresh acidic white with notes of white grapefruit and green apple peel, that pairs well with most cheeses), arrange your board, and prepare for bliss. Lighthall, which has been open for 16 years, is situated on 60 acres of land and is one of the very few wineries in all of Canada to produce its own sheep’s milk cheese — on site!—sourced from a single herd of ewes.

Trail Estate Winery

The vibes at this Hillier winery are always immaculate, with its relaxed outdoor seating complete with hay bails, picnic tables and floaty sail-like sun canopies. Beloved for low-intervention craft wines and funky pét nats, this is the place to have a casual sip in the sunshine that’s a bit off the beaten path. And if you literally need to touch grass (because, same!), slip off your sandals and stroll the lovely grounds with a glass of CarboGew, their lightly effervescent fermented Gewürztraminer, in hand. The winery is kid-friendly, with a sandbox and games at the ready during the warmer months, and you can grab cheese fondue every Saturday afternoon. Cheers!

HOW TO GET AROUND

Vintage Car Wine Tours

If you’ve ever organized a group getaway in Prince Edward County, you’ve probably set up a shuttle service to take you and your pals from winery to winery. But what if that experience could be elevated? Enter: Vintage Car Wine Tours. Combining classic vintage cars, great music and wine experiences, the company is the brainchild of founder Sam Grosso, who was previously at the helm of the iconic Cadillac Lounge music venue in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto before its closure in 2019. The following year, Grosso moved to PEC and started Vintage Car Wine Tours, a fun (and unique) service that drives guests safely from winery to winery in one of his vintage cars, including a 1937 Oldsmobile, a 1961 turquoise Coupe de Ville, and a banana-yellow ‘69 Cadillac. Oh and if you’re up for it, Grosso offers in-car karaoke during your trips.

WHERE TO EAT

Sand and Pearl Oyster Bar

Seafood towers, a huge outdoor patio decked out in string lights, great local wines and fresh, sustainably sourced oysters. Need we say more about why you need to pay a visit to Sand and Pearl Oyster Bar? Bonus points for the family-friendly space that provides kids plenty of room for kids to run around and burn off some energy while you enjoy your second glass of local wine.

Onesta

Serving handmade pasta and focaccia, this Italian restaurant in the heart of Picton is a great place to satisfy your inevitable craving for carbs after a few glasses of vino. Featuring simple but flavourful dishes in a small, quaint and dimly lit room, the vibe at Onesta is just as delicious as the menu.

Cressy Mustard Co.

What’s a mustard shop doing on this list? Hear us out. Cressy is a small-batch mustard company that also happens to have an amazing outdoor kitchen and patio in Waupoos. Serving up their specialty—local pickerel!—via delicious classics like tacos, fish n’ chips and sandwiches, you can’t miss this cute spot. And yes, you obviously have to leave with a jar or two of their famous mustard. Choose from favourites like the Chardonnay Mustard, Beer Mustard, or the memorable Sassy Mustard, made with jalapeño, habanero and a hint of ghost pepper.

Flame + Smith

This farm-to-table restaurant has been a PEC mainstay since 2018 for good reason. The sustainably minded Bloomfield locale revolves around woodfire cooking and partners with local growers and farmers on their sumptuous seasonal dishes. The interior of the restaurant — a 120-year-old roadhouse converted into a charmingly stylish space with rustic touches like rough-hewn rafters that feel pitch-perfect for The County — is a design freak’s dream, while the outdoor patio can’t be beat for an al fresco bite on the town’s main street. Fire-cooked meat and fish is their specialty, while seasonal veggies bring brightness to every plate. And don’t sleep on their burger — some version of it is usually on the menu and it just might be *the* best burger we’ve ever tasted.

With files from Jennifer Berry