I just returned from a weekend in Prince Edward County, Ontario. I now understand why many retirees flock to this part of Ontario to live out their retirement years. It's only a couple of hours from Toronto and about three or so from Ottawa and Montreal. Even though the weekend was cold and wet, we had a great time. The countryside is bucolic, with lots of lovely, well maintained farms, super little towns with interesting shops and cafes, and all along the back roads there are art studios, antique shops, artisan cheese factories, and wineries. You would almost think you were in the south of France. And did I mention that you are never far from the water! For anyone who wants to live near or on the water, Prince Edward County provides plenty of coastline. Some of it runs along protected bays and some overlooks Lake Ontario.
One of the highlights of our weekend was the food. Several well known chefs are both visiting and relocating to the County. Whether we were eating in little cafes, like the Regent in Picton, or the Carriage House lunch room in Bloomfield, or at more formal restaurants like the one at the Merrill Inn in Picton, the food was first rate. What also made our meals, and our trip in general, so pleasant, was the friendliness of the service. From the lovely Scottish lady in the antique and gift shop in Bloomfield to Charles who works in the Oeno Gallery, the people we met were informative, helpful and downright nice.
For anyone who places a high value on quality of life, Prince Edward County could be the place to be.
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Spring and Renewal
5 weeks ago
Happy Spring Nan. Just noticed your blog this morning. So glad you found our lovely island a happy place to visit (and to consider as a place to call home). I thought I'd pass along another great reason to come to Prince Edward County.
ReplyDeleteAside from being, as you mention, a bucolic back-roads kind of experience peppered with high end dining, roadside farm stands, studios, gift shops and so on, the County is also home to a professional theatre company. Festival Players produces first rate work in the summer months, bringing in talent from across the country. In 2009 there are three fantastic shows in three lovely venues and of course we have senior and group pricing!! You can check us out at www.festivalplayers.ca.
Perhaps you'll make it out this way this summer and catch a show and then you can blog about that too!! Yet another reason to come to the County!
(I've heard that if you just ignore the snow it'll go away.)
Sarah Phillips, Artistic Director
Festival Players of Prince Edward County