Ontario in the summer just hits differently and with just a few months of stunning sunny weather, many of us choose to stay close to home to take advantage of the stellar seasonal fruit and veggies, relaxing by lakes and in towns just a short drive from the city. Desperately seeking a slower pace for a couple of days, we took advantage of a deal we found online at Travelzoo for an impromptu drive east of Toronto to Prince Edward County for a road trip that ticked off all of the boxes for a fun girlfriends getaway: good food, great wine and a chance to get some fresh country air. —Karen Kwan
Stay
A stunning Victorian Gothic property, luxury hotel Merrill House is a grand red-brick home from 1878, complete with turrets, charming balconies and a gorgeous terrace. Inside, up the impressive staircase, 14 guest rooms each have unique designs (ours was feminine and playful with pink fringe-trimmed chairs and sweet toile wallpaper) and throughout, there’s an explosion of colour and textures, with showstopping light fixtures and eclectic art. WIth breakfast included–we chose the savoury option of a perfectly cooked omelette with fresh asparagus–you can count on getting a bit of extra sleep since you only need to head downstairs to the airy, natural light-filled enclosed patio for your first meal of the day.
Stroll
Start your stay with a walking tour of Picton with County Epicurious so that you can learn about the community’s history and culture–including why the north and south sides of the town differ so much (plus, the tour includes stops for tasty bites at spots like Luso’s Bites for some Portuguese snacks and the gorgeously restored Royal Hotel). Plan for a half-day in Hillier as well, where, just down the road from Closson Chase Vineyards, you’ll find Prince Edward County Lavender Farm, a worthy stop even if the lavender isn’t in peak bloom because in the shop, you can indulge in some lavender gelato and stock up on some covetable lavender goodies (we especially love the lavender eye pillow for a restorative meditation session). Also nearby, pop by Shed Chetwyn Farms to say hello to the cute alpacas and then shop Shed’s gorgeous alpaca fibre items (the kind of handcrafted knits you wish you could knit).
Savour
With Merrill House just a couple of minutes walk from Main Street in Picton, walk to dinner so that you don’t have to worry about having a designated driver. Escape to Spain with a meal at Bocado, a tapas hot spot where we had some of the best patatas bravas and paella we’ve had in North America (put in your order for the rice dish when you sit down, though, as it takes the kitchen 40 minutes to prepare it). At Rosetta, the latest restaurant from Grant Van Gameran and Jesse Fader, prepare for yourself for a Italian steakhouse with a hearty menu of seafood, grilled meats (including to-die-for miami ribs that were subtly–and deliciously–spicy), pastas and a raw bar–exactly the kind of sustenance you’ll be craving to have with craft cocktails and local wines.
Sip
Get Prince Edward County’s only wine tasting passport when you book your stay at Merrill House so you can truly dive into the incredible offerings this wine country region is famous for. We earned one stamp in it at the delightful Trail Estate Winery, where we got to sample a range from their low intervention craft wines, including Spark, the winery’s lightly sparkling white pet nat. For a leisurely lunch, you can’t go wrong with planning for a tasting and a light bite (trout nicoise, SVP!) at Closson Chase Vineyards in its serene garden (Plus, their Pinot Noir is personal favourite that we always get a bottle of to bring home).
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