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Where to picnic in PEC

With physical distancing in effect, if you’re finding it a challenge to snag a patio spot or you just love a summer picnic, here’s where to grab a meal to-go for an al fresco feast:

Please note: Following COVID-19 lockdowns, The County has become an even more popular destination for outdoor fun, but it’s taking a toll on our beaches and wild spaces. Please respect the flora and fauna by adhering to all rules posted at the beaches, parks and conservation areas, by taking your garbage away with you, using public washroom facilities, and avoiding crowded locations.

Picton

Leafy green Benson Park has seven physically-distant picnic tables set up, as well as public restrooms, right in the middle of town.

While Macaulay Heritage Park doesn’t have picnic tables, it does have a huge expanse of lawn, making it a great spot for a physically-distanced lunch. BYO picnic blanket.

Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area has a picnic shelter and lots of green space to relax and dine the day away. Find walking trails as well.

Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park is known as a place for picnicking – its tables overlook the stretch of water plied by the Glenora Ferry to the north, or the natural phenomenon that is a lake on top of a ‘mountain,’ itself surrounded by a lake, to the south.

What to eat: Conveniently accessible from the Millennium Trail, The Waring House is offering picnics-to-go. Grab sandwiches and sweets at the aptly-named Picnic PEC, or a couple doors down at Beacon Bike + Brew or Lily’s Cafe. The Bean Counter Cafe’s got lots of sandwiches, soups, muffins and scones. Find crepes to go at Crepe Escape and all kinds of picnic-y goodness at Agrarian Market.

(Please help keep The County clean by putting trash where it belongs!)

Bloomfield

Fans of ice cream can find three physically-distant picnic tables behind Slickers in Bloomfield.

Bloomfield’s Mill Pond Park has three picnic pavilions and a standalone picnic table, adjacent to the tennis courts. This is a quiet spot, edging a pond that’s great for amateur anglers.

What to eat: The Saylor House Cafe does a brisk lunch trade, with classic soups and sandwiches. Or go for southern comfort food at Bermuda, which has a large, leafy patio as well. Bloomfield Public House Market has done extensive renovations, transforming its restaurant into a grab-and-go market with a huge variety of prepared foods. Old Style Barbeque has set up onsite in the beer garden at Matron Fine Beer – a fine spot for a pint and picnic. Or hop onto Flame + Smith’s new app, an easy way to order their fire-kissed burgers, steaks and desserts.

Wellington

Two picnic tables can be found under the trees in front of the Wellington Public Library.

The park in the heart of Wellington has a grassy, shaded green space down near the water, perfect for pitching a blanket and biting into takeaway from Wellington’s diverse collection of restaurants. Eight new picnic tables have been added as well.

There are also two picnic pavilions at Wellington Rotary Public Beach, offering a sweet view of the water, or grab a spot on the sand for a beach picnic. (During the busy summer months, follow The County on Twitter or Facebook for updates on beach capacity and closures.)

What to eat: The County Picnic has your classic picnic ready to go, all packed up in an insulated bag no less. Pick up pizza pie – or actual savory or sweet pie – at the east end of town, at Rock n Rogers or My Pies, respectively. Stay healthy with vegan-friendly grub from the Good Place. Grab a burger or a wood-fired pizza from Midtown Brewing Company, or Asian-inspired eats from Idle Wild. Enid Grace serves up all kinds of sweets and savouries, and next door, find vegetarian-friendly sandwiches at Lemons. At the west end of town, find Chinese and Vietnamese at Saigon, diner takeaway at Orchard Drive Dari-Bar & Grill or find doughnuts across the street at the Lakeshore Farms Market.

Hillier

Head to Karlo Estates with your basket, then pick up a glass of vino and one of seven (SEVEN!) of their picnic boxes which are made from scratch with local, whole ingredients. Head to the dry stone bridge, a heavenly spot in the vineyard where there’s room for picnic blankets and plenty of picnic tables as well. Accessible from the Millennium Trail.

The Grange of Prince Edward has teamed up with Old Salt Cocktails to offer an al fresco dining experience where all your beverage needs are fully met.

What to eat: There are lots of wineries offering lunch options – with a heavy emphasis on pizza. Or hit up Chef Jamie Kennedy’s new fry stop, at his farm on Station Road at Loyalist Parkway. Or stop in at Loch Mor Cider Company for a takeaway ploughman’s lunch. Consisting of bread, charcuterie, cheese and pickles, it’s as hearty as the name suggests. You can also find Flossie’s amazing sandwiches at Carson’s Garden + Market.

Sandbanks area

There are picnic tables and many sandy spots to spread a blanket at Sandbanks Provincial Park, of course, and lots of trails to work off whatever sticky treats are tucked into your basket. (During the busy summer months, follow @SandbanksPP on Twitter for updates on beach capacity and closures.)

Off the beaten path is Beaver Meadow Conservation Area, a small site dominated by a marsh teeming with life, from birds to swans to the flat-tailed critters that give the park its name. There are no picnic tables or washrooms here. And plenty of mosquitoes. But if forest bathing + picnicking sounds up your alley, bring your basket, blanket and your bug spray!

What to eat: Stop in at Fosterholm Farms‘ stand for picked-fresh offerings and some of the most mouth watering maple butter tarts around.

Black River/Milford

Milford Millpond Conservation Area is a perfect spot for a summer picnic beside the water. This 11.8 hectare (29 acre) property also contains the Milford Dam. 

Note that Little Bluff Conservation area in the South Shore area is closed until further notice. Check Quinte Conservation for updates.

What to eat: Tuck into the farm food shop at Quinta do Conde, where samosas and other farm-fresh savouries and just-picked items are on the menu. Or drop by Ruth’s Canteen, where the cookie cupboard offers contact-less pick-up of gluten-free and/or vegan savory and sweet treats. Lighthall Vineyards sells beautiful sheep’s milk cheeses. Find ice cream and made-to-order sandwiches at Black River Cheese Co. If you’re looping around Waupoos and The Horn, stop in at Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co for charcuterie and cheeseboards.

West PEC

Take a drive west, toward Ameliasburgh, where Roblin Lake Park offers a picturesque place for a picnic. And a public toilet!

What to eat: Stop in at Stratos for a deep-dish pie, or pick up poutine at Tabersnack, where there are 10+ picnic tables set up for roadside eating.

Where to go when you gotta go

Public restrooms are open from 9 am until 7 pm seven days a week and cleaned twice a day. These include washrooms located at:

  • Skate Park, Picton Fairgrounds
  • Benson Park, Picton
  • Wellington Park, Wellington
  • Millpond Park, Bloomfield
  • Town Hall, Bloomfield
  • West Fall Park, Carrying Place
  • Roblin Lake Park, Ameliasburgh

Portable toilets are also available, equipped with hand sanitizer or portable sinks, and will be cleaned daily. They are located at:

  • Jack Taylor Park, Hillier
  • North Marysburgh Town Hall, Waupoos
  • Wellington Beach, Wellington (the existing permanent washrooms have showers and are not able to open)
  • Weller’s Bay/Edward Drive Boat Launch, Consecon
  • Rossmore Boat Launch, Rossmore
  • Northport Boat Launch, Sophiasburgh
  • South Bay Boat Launch, South Marysburgh 

Find these thrones mapped here.

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visitthecounty

Official tourism account. #PrinceEdwardCounty: a rural community bursting with creative talent & natural stunners. See also @countylicious

Prince Edward County 🏖🍇🎨🌈
✨ What's on (Virtually) in The County? ✨⁠
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How do you spend February in The County if you can't get to The County? Let The County come to you, of course.⁠
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Read our latest blog for the online, at home and physically distanced activities offered by @thecountymuseums @deptofillumination and @escapecamppicton this February. Link in bio.⁠
⁠
👉🏼 Channel spirits of the past through a livestreamed Graveyard and Gallows tour⁠
👉🏼 Check in with The County's artists at an outdoor, distanced art exhibit ⁠
👉🏼 Find clues and solve a mystery with a play-at-home puzzle game⁠
👉🏼 Explore your own history with The County's genealogical experts⁠
👉🏼 Get groovy at a Zoom based community dance party⁠
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++++++⁠
⁠
To our friends in regions under Stay at Home orders...We can't wait to welcome you back when the time is right. Keep your County vacation dreams alive and plan for a visit at a later date. But for now: #StayHomeON #StaySafe #RestezChezVous ❤️⁠
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If you are planning a visit from another Green-Prevent zone to ours, please travel responsibly. Limit your travel group to people you live with, limit contact with others and take advantage of take-out, curbside pick-up and activities outdoors in nature. 💚⁠
⁠
For more information about visiting The County during the pandemic, check out our COVID-19 info page. Link in bio.⁠
⁠
#SponsoredPost ⁠
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#VirtualVisit #VirtualVacay #AtHome#VisitTheCounty #VisitPEC #CountyUp #SouthEasternOntario #ExploreON  #PEC #DiscoverON #travel #ontario #TheCounty #DiscoverOntario @southeast.ontario⁠
⁠
📷 Photo of Escape Camp Picton's "Arrow's Secret" puzzle box with text laid over the graphic that says "Virtually Here: At Home Heritage Art and Games"
We miss you. Tu nous manques beaucoup. 🥰🤗⁠ We miss you. Tu nous manques beaucoup. 🥰🤗⁠
⁠
To our friends in regions under Stay at Home orders...We can't wait to welcome you back when the time is right. Keep your County vacation dreams alive and let this cute barn cat inspire your visit at a later date. But for now: #StayHomeON #StaySafe #RestezChezVous⁠
⁠
If you are planning a visit from another Green-Prevent zone to ours, please travel responsibly. We're not out of the woods yet. Limit your travel group to people you live with, limit contact with others and take advantage of take-out, curbside pick-up and activities outdoors in nature. 💚⁠
⁠
For more information about visiting The County during the pandemic, check out our COVID-19 info page. Link in bio.⁠
⁠
#SouthEasternOntario @southeast.ontario #VisitTheCounty #TheCounty #CountyUp #VisitPec #DiscoverON #BarnCat #Winter #SafeTravels⁠
⁠
📷 by Anne McIssac⁠
⁠
We miss you. Tu nous manques beaucoup. 🥰🤗⁠ We miss you. Tu nous manques beaucoup. 🥰🤗⁠
⁠
To our friends in regions under Stay at Home orders...We can't wait to welcome you back when the time is right. Keep your County vacation dreams alive and let the beauty of Macaulay Mountain inspire a visit at a later date. But for now: #StayHomeON #StaySafe #RestezChezVous⁠
⁠
If you are planning a visit from another Green-Prevent zone to ours, please travel responsibly. We're not out of the woods yet. Limit your travel group to people you live with, limit contact with others and take advantage of take-out, curbside pick-up and outdoor activities. 💚⁠
⁠
For more information about visiting The County during the pandemic, check out our COVID-19 info page. Link in bio.⁠
⁠
#SouthEasternOntario @southeast.ontario #VisitTheCounty #TheCounty #CountyUp #VisitPec #DiscoverON #ConservationArea #MaucaulayMountain #Winter #SafeTravels
⚡ Flash Back (Virtually) this February! ⚡ ⁠ ⚡ Flash Back (Virtually) this February! ⚡
⁠
Explore The County's history and heritage from the comfort of your own home, during Flashback February: The Living Room Edition! From February 15-20, @thecountymuseums and their partners have put together dozens of activities to celebrate the County's past:
⁠
🔍 Solve an interactive online mystery set at Picton's historic Macaulay House⁠
⚰️ Get up close an personal with County spirits in a virtual Graveyards and Gallows tour ⁠
🛩️ Decode the secrets of the Avro Arrow with a play-at-home escape game by @escapecamppicton
📔 What's your story? Find out with the Marilyn Adams Genealogical Research Centre
🏚️ Plus, expert talks on The County's natural heritage, built heritage, restoration, native plant gardening and more!
⁠
Read on. Link in bio.⁠
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NOTE: If you live outside the Hastings Prince Edward area, we encourage you to visit us virtually for now. Please let our content inspire your travels for a later date. The Province and our local Health Unit is advising that non-essential travel between regions should be avoided at this time.⁠ #stayhomestaysafe⁠ #stayhomeON
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#flashbackfebruary #ontarioheritageweek #ontarioheritage #genealogicalresearch #naturalheritage #builtheritage #nativeplants #graveyardtour #virtualevents #athomeactivities #avroarrow #visitthecounty #visitpec #countyup #southeasternOntario #pec #countyup #thecounty #discoverontario @southeast.ontario @onheritage
📷 Photo courtesy of @merrillhouse1878 #StayHom 📷 Photo courtesy of @merrillhouse1878  #StayHomeON  Stay home now so we can welcome you to #TheCounty again soon. Let this pic of the historic Church at Macaulay Heritage Park inspire a future visit. (Or, better yet, plan to visit The County Museums virtually during #FlashbackFebruary!)  But for now:  Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives.  #StayHome #StaySafe #SaveLives #PrinceEdwardCounty #VisitTheCounty #CountyUp #winter #museums #picton #heritage #FlashbackFebruary #SoutheasternOntario #MuseumsPEC #CanadianHeritage @southeast.ontario @thecountymuseums  Photo description: On a sunny winter day, the historic former Church of St. Mary Magdalene in the background, a heritage cemetery in the foreground.
Repost from @thebrookpec #stayhomeON Stay home n Repost from @thebrookpec  #stayhomeON  Stay home now so we can welcome you to #TheCounty again soon. Let this pic of one of Sophiasburgh's neighbourhood horses inspire a future visit. But for now:  Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives.  #stayhome #staysafe #savelives #princeedwardcounty #visitthecounty #countyup #winter #horse #sophiasburgh #southeasternontario @southeast.ontario
📷 Repost from @nik.dh #stayhomeON Stay home 📷 Repost from @nik.dh  #stayhomeON  Stay home now so we can welcome you to #TheCounty again soon. Let this sweet pic inspire a future visit, but for now:  Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives.  #stayhome #staysafe #savelives #princeedwardcounty #visitthecounty #countyup #winter #lakeontario #southeasternontario @southeast.ontario
🎀 In the giving season, County hospitality give 🎀 In the giving season, County hospitality gives back... ⁠🎀⁠
⁠
There are countless stories of how The County's tourism and hospitality sector supports local causes. Here's another worth highlighting:⁠
⁠
County Artists Give Time and Talent⁠
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Throughout the year, The County's visual artists step up and support so many causes. When they are not in the studio or welcoming visitors to their galleries, they are helping the community however they can. 🖌️👨🏼‍🎨⁠🖼️⁠
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They donate or provide deeply discounted artwork to charity auctions, they donate proceeds of sales to causes, and they give their time and talent to community projects, designing posters and merch, creating murals and installations, and so much more.⁠
⁠
🎨 This year, @pamelacarterstudio ran two fundraising sales for the @foundationpecmh Back the Build campaign. A detail of her painting "Winter Dreams #2" is pictured here.⁠
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❤️ Artistic giving takes many forms, from the Love Wall community art project by @nellarules that brought joy and hope in the early days of the pandemic to the recent @arthouseatelier County art auction that raised funds for arts scholarships for students, to the twenty artists who created work for the pop-up display "Intersections - an Anti-Racist Conversation on Sir John A MacDonald."⁠
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The County's artists make this a vibrant, beautiful, thoughtful and kind place to be.⁠
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🎴 You can support The County's artists this holiday season by stuffing some stockings with County Art Playing Cards from @countyarts. Proceeds help to build their artist career development fund. (Link in bio)⁠
⁠
#countyup #visitthecounty #thecounty #princeedwardcounty #tourismgivesback #community #volunteer #charity #dogood #socialgood #fundraising #sponsorship #community #art #buyart #charityauction #artforgood #visualart #painter #scultpor #artforchange @southeast.ontario
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