Ultimate Guide to a Prince Edward County Staycation (Updated 2025)

A Prince Edward County Staycation should be at the top of your list for the summer. PEC is about 2 hours east of Toronto and 3 hours southwest of Ottawa and an incredibly popular summer destination. The area has been growing exponentially in the last few years as people look for cottage country more affordable than the Muskokas. It is fast becoming central Ontario’s alternative to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake for wine country. There are close to 40 wineries in Prince Edward County, 10 breweries, three beaches, a provincial park, and more. You can drive non-stop from one end of the island to the other in about an hour. If you are looking for weekend getaway from Ottawa or Toronto, a bachelorette or bachelor party, or a romantic weekend with your partner, this place is for you!

I’ve updated this post May 2025, but there are constantly new restaurants, wineries and breweries popping up! I’ve linked the County’s website that has a list of all the most recent places!

Where to stay in Prince Edward County

If you prefer a major hotel, you could stay in Trenton or Belleville but I highly recommend staying local. There are a plethora of local Bed and Breakfasts, Inns, Resorts and Airbnbs in Prince Edward County. Choosing somewhere to sleep really comes down to location and preference. Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington are in the heart of the county and close to a majority of the wineries so local winery tours will pick you up in any of these villages. Some ideas for where to stay in PEC:

• Rent a campsite at Sandbanks Provincial Park
• Stay at The Waring House or Lake on the Mountain Resort for cottage style accommodations
• The June Motel is a beautifully renovated motel with a cute patio
• Tiny Stays in Deseronto is about 20 minutes from Picton, with four unique and perfectly styled tiny homes

What is the Best Time to Visit Prince Edward County

Peak season is the summer months between June to August where many people spend the weekend or a longer staycation. Bachelorette and bachelor tours are incredibly popular during the summer in PEC so expect crowds. The Sandbanks Beach opens at 8 AM and is closed by 8:30 AM when it hits capacity for the day. Grape harvest season in September/October and there’s a county wide celebration near November. Travelling during the shoulder season (before June/after August) is a great time of year to visit the County.

Things to do, eat and drink in Prince Edward County

There really is no end of things to do in the area! As the area has gained popularity, more wineries, breweries, restaurants and vacation rentals pop up every summer.

• You can take a wine tour (you’re basically hiring a designated driver)
• Bike wine tour (tour around on bikes to various wineries)
• Brewery tours
• Apple picking in the fall
• Swimming and cycling throughout PEC
• Lavender festival in early July
• Shop local, eat delicious food at farm-to-table restaurants
• Drive-in movie theatre

Best Beaches in PEC

There are four beaches in the County. The parking fills up so quickly in the summers so I recommend getting there first thing to get a parking spot. You can no longer park on the side of the road (it’s a very hefty fine).

• Sandbanks Lakeshore Beach (most popular)
• Sandbanks Outlet
• Sandbanks Dunes
• Wellington Beach

PEC Food Guide

There are so many amazing farm-to-table restaurants, it’s hard to list them all! I’ve given a few places that I know and love, but there are many more to try. I hope you enjoy wherever you go!

• The Waring House is good food and open for an upscale dinner experience
• The Drake Devonshire in PEC is open Friday until 10 pm.
• Grab picnic supplies at the Agrarian Market off Lake Street in Picton and eat it at the Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area down the road.
• Flossie’s Sandwich Parlor for the best sandwich and side of fries in Prince Edward County.
• Acoustic Grill for a delicious burger and fries, with classic music
• Parson’s Brewing has fantastic farm-to-table food. If you’re lucky, there might be a local farmer’s market on the property!
• Slicker’s Ice Cream is a classic and the #1 place everyone recommends, for good reason! Their ice cream is made fresh daily in small batches and they have a ton of fun flavours to try. The Picton location sells cones, milkshakes and ice cream sandwiches while the Bloomfield location sells cones.

PEC Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries

If you have a designated driver, start your Prince Edward County Staycation by heading to the far southeast end of the county and working your way back throughout the day. Sandbanks Vacations has an extensive list of all the breweries, winderies and cideries, click here. Some specific recommendations from me to you:

• Lighthall Vineyards is one of the oldest vineyards in the county and they also make their own sheep milk cheese to pair with each of their wine tastings.
• Craft Beer: Parson’s Brewing, 555 Brewing, Gillingham or Waupoos
• Cider: Crimson Cider Co (try a cider slushie), The County Cider, Apple Falls Cider Company
• Wineries: Black Prince Winery, Harwood, Sandbanks, By Chadsey’s Cairns Winery, Hinterland Estates, Closson Chase, and Huff Estates.

Lavender Festival, Berry Picking, Apple Picking

If you visit during the first two weekends of July, check out the Lavender Festival at PEC Lavender. There aren’t many lavender fields in Ontario and it’s such a treat to visit them when they are in full bloom. There is a daily admission fee for the Lavender Festival which is a two-day event with live music, hourly draws, samples for Lavender Iced Tea and Lavender Nougat, local food, pony rides, facepainting for kids and more! The lavender gelato is perfect on a hot summer’s day and I’m obsessed with their lavender Earl Grey tea.

If you aren’t able to visit during the Lavender Festival, you should go berry picking at Brambleberry Farm. Their picking hours are posted daily on their Instagram – they don’t have posted hours because picking berries truly depends on the year/how busy they’ve been/what’s available, etc.

If berry picking isn’t your thing, stop by the Chetwyn Farm to visit with the alpacas! You can’t feed or pet the alpacas, but they’re fun to hangout with and you can visit the farm shop!

Shopping and Drive-in Theatre

Shop local at one of many locations in the County:

• County Emporium in an old beautiful church. Kate and Davelynn are the owner’s and have created an amazing local one-stop shop, including an outdoor patio to enjoy a caeser or sangria on a hot day!
• Early Grey in Picton
• Mary Street Vintage
• Andara Gallery
• Oeno Gallery
• Wellington Farmer’s Market
• Arts on Main Gallery
• Picton Town Hall Farmers’ Market

Mustang Drive-in Movie Theater is open Wednesday to Sunday in peak summer. They sell tickets by the carload. You can purchase tickets in advance but they reserve some tickets to purchase at the gate when you get there. There is a snack bar to buy all the movie treats including popcorn, hotdogs and drinks.

What to do in Picton

Picton, Ontario is the perfect home base for a weekend in PEC. It’s a picturesque town located in the heart of the County. Known for its charming small-town vibe, local shops, wineries, and nearby beaches, Picton is an ideal destination for solo travelers, couples, or anyone craving a relaxing escape from the city.

Read more: Discovering Picton: A Charming Getaway in Prince Edward County

Wine Tours in Prince Edward County

Can you do wine tours without a car in PEC? YES!

A Prince Edward County Staycation isn’t complete without visiting a winery, even if you don’t drink! If you don’t have a designated driver, there are a ton of tour options in the county. Wine Tours in Prince Edward County are very popular and available for small or large groups. You’re going to want to check the itinerary and stop at Slicker’s.

I personally recommend a half-day wine tour with PEC Wine Tours. Price includes tastings at four wineries with pickup/drop off in the county and they operate year round. This is a mixed group tour so you may spend the day with other people experiencing the county.

Another popular experience is the Sip & Cycle Bike Tours with the County Wine Tours. The tour includes about 20 km of cycling on the Millennium Trail, visiting 4 wineries with 3 tastings each and a visit to the alpaca farm. Tours start in Wellington so book your accommodations in the village.

Looking for more Ontario Staycation ideas?

• Visit this Beautiful Waterfront City in Ontario | Cornwall
• Gatineau Park and Chelsea: A Quick Fun Day Trip from Ottawa
• Unique Ontario Staycation | Butter Tart Tour in the Kawarthas