If you’re itching for a road trip soon, to the quaint and well-kept Prince Edward County, I have the ultimate getaway guide for you. My friends and I just visited the County. This is all thanks to a contest that I won off of Instagram. The prize was a free 2 night stay at The Dainty Petunia. My experience was absolutely wonderful. I have to tell you all about it.
First things first, I truly think that Prince Edward County is an excellent destination for a summer road trip. I remember stopping by Sandbanks when I was little, but I had not been back for years. I don’t know why it took me this long to return.
There are so many lovely farms all throughout. The smell of fresh lavender fills the air. Moreover, beautiful little boutiques can be found along the main roads. There are so many wineries to choose from that are walking distance from each other and very fun. Additionally, the locals can be so easy-going and kind. The list of positives really can go on and on.
Stay
To put it simply, The Dainty Petunia is the perfect Airbnb experience. Not only are the owners very friendly, but the check-in process is very simple. The house itself is in a lovely neighbourhood and the décor inside is a lovely mix of modern finishes and beautiful prints.
I would say that it certainly has enough room for a few people, as there are 2 cozy bedrooms and a very comfy couch in the living room. We loved coming home after dinner to lay on the couch underneath the blankets, by the cozy fireplace, as a way to unwind. They also have a backyard space with a deck area. All in all, you would not regret choosing to stay here. Honestly, the online reviews speak for themselves!
Grab and go breakfast
If you’re looking for a place to grab breakfast before heading out to start your busy day, then Beacon Bike+Brew is it. They have excellent coffee and delicious breakfast sandwiches. I say this because the breakfast sandwiches are very filling. I particularly liked the addition of the grainy mustard that they use. As for my friends, they raved about their croissants and smoothies. Last but not least, the service there is kind and efficient.
Restaurants
Flame+Smith was my favourite. I suggest going around 5:30/6:00pm for dinner to ensure that you get a spot. While you wait for a table, they serve you drinks outside to pass the time. The farm-to-table concept is something I really support. My friends and I absolutely loved our drinks and steak frites. The steak melted in our mouths and the fries took us by surprise. Normally, we like thinner fries, as thicker options tend to be too dense and bland, but these were the opposite. The fries were flavourful and cooked to perfection as well.
The Drake is a place you go to for the atmosphere. It has big windows, a DJ and you can feel the cool breeze. As you walk through, you feel like you’re in California, if that makes sense. Although my friend and I were a little underwhelmed by our lamb roti, especially after dining at Flame+Smith the day before, our other friend really did enjoy her oysters, pasta and dessert.
I suggest booking a reservation at The Lakeside Motel restaurant to secure a spot. Although my breakfast was delicious and fresh, I did not think about how cold and windy the experience would be, due to being seated right by the water, out in the open. The wind caused our menus and napkins to fly everywhere and it was a bit uncomfortable. I recommend you ask to sit far away from the water, wear your hair up and wear warmer clothes.
Activities
Sandbanks is a great place to lounge, tan, read a book and snack with friends. We only needed a few hours here to be satisfied. Definitely check online ahead of time to purchase a parking pass, because it gets very busy fast, especially on weekends.
Ah, yes! The notorious winery with the big purple barn. The service here is very fast and friendly. My favourite wine that I had, had notes of a pie dough flavour. We showed up in the afternoon on a Saturday and it worked out well. There is a nice seating area and they charge 15$ for a flight of 3.
The alpacas here were so cute. I find that you only need to spend 20-30 minutes at this farm. You can enjoy watching the alpacas and then shop their boutique for accessories made from alpaca fur.
Boutiques
If you like to shop for home décor, flowers and more, the boutiques won’t disappoint. My friends and I ended up buying some really great items. We found the experience to be quite nice as we are used to either just shopping online or at malls in Ottawa.
Well, there we have it! After reading this, I hope that you are encouraged to visit Prince Edward County. It is a short trip that can be done at a reasonable cost. All the best to you and safe travels. Make sure to also check out our “end of summer” bucket list.
PS, to help complete my guide, I am including our exact itinerary to provide you with more direction. We had no complaints at all with how we decided to do things!
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Friday:
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Leave Ottawa at 9:30am
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Arrive at Sandbanks by 1:00pm and lounge there until 3:30pm
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Check into The Dainty Petunia at 4:00pm and have dinner at Flame+Smith at 6:00pm
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Arrive back at the Airbnb by 8:30pm, watch a movie by the fireplace
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Saturday:
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Walk to Beacon+Bike Brew at 9:30am and have breakfast, check out any boutiques after
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Walk back to the Airbnb for 12:00pm and get ready for the wineries
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Arrive to Closson Chase Vineyards at 1:30pm
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Visit both the alpaca farm and lavender farm down the road
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Get back to the Airbnb for 5:30pm and get ready for dinner
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Arrive at The Drake for dinner at 8:00pm
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Get back to the Airbnb for 10:30pm
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Sunday:
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Check out of the Airbnb in the morning
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Arrive at The Lakeside Motel for breakfast at 10:00am
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Visit the boutiques along the same road after breakfast before heading back home
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