Top Five Reasons to Visit The County This Winter

Hot tips for the coldest season in Prince Edward County!

While the island is thronged with visitors in the summer, drawn by the white sand dunes and bountiful farmers' markets, we have a special love affair with The County in fall and winter. As The County becomes a year-round destination, here's a round-up of some of our favourite things to do in the colder seasons...

1. The Beach in Winter

What is more romantic than a walk on a deserted beach, the wind blowing swirls of snow, the waves crashing, birds soaring? We adore hiking along the beach when the tourists have gone home and the lake shines a bright blue in the harsh winter light.

Being an island, there are many beaches to choose from, but we love sneaking into Sandbanks Provincial Park and hiking high into the Dunes to catch the last rays of the sunset as it tumbles behind the horizon.

The winters in The County tend to be less harsh than Ottawa and Montreal, and far less slushy than Toronto, so you can usually expect great conditions for walking. If you're lucky enough to catch a snowfall, strap on your cross-country skis and use the fantastic coastal trails in the park.

Tip: We recommend renting your skis before heading to The County - try Mountain Equipment Co-op in Ottawa and Toronto.

Dunes Beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park, Prince Edward County. Photo © Shannon Barnett

2. Hygge Time

We designed our suites at The Ferg with the idea of "hygge" in mind, the Danish cultural concept which values warmth, contentment, coziness and togetherness. It means taking time for the people in your life, and enjoying simple daily pleasures. Outside of Denmark, "hygge" is commonly referred to as "the good feeling you get from a well-curated, cozy, and aesthetically pleasing environment."

Every winter we gather our loved ones for a some quiet days at The Ferg for reading, writing, board games, and of course plentiful home-cooked meals. It's funny how time in The County just quantifies. One day feels so restful that by the end of the weekend it feel like a longer vacation. It's always worth an escape from the city, even for a quick getaway.

The front entrance to the Ferg vacation rental in Picton, Ontario. Photo © Jaime Kowal

3. Handmade Holiday Gifting

There is nothing more meaningful than giving a loved one something handmade. But let's face it - who has the time or skill to make something precious for everyone in our lives during the frenzy leading up to winter break? We believe in leaving it to the experts. The County is full of artisans and craft fairs, bake sales and beautifully curated shops, and they seem to multiply in the month leading up to the holidays.

One of our favourite spots is Shed Chetwyn Farms, where we pick up alpaca wool inserts for our family's winter boots, and the sweetest, softest plush toys for our nieces and nephews.

Shed’s reversable festival blankets available from their website. photo © shed chetwyn farms

4. Wassail

Wassail [ˈwäsəl, ˈwäˌsāl] verb: drink plentiful amounts of wine and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way.

Hop on a bus tour to local wineries, sing a song or two, and taste the excellent County wine! What could be more cheerful on a crisp November afternoon?

Bonus: you can stock up on bottles for the inevitable last minute holiday party invite. Wassail runs November 16 & 17, 23 & 24 and November 30 & December 1. Pick up your bus tickets and find more scoop here.

The county cider co. is one of many businesses participating in this year’s wassail festival. © Jaime Kowal

5. Cosy Cafés

As we said, time in The County seems to expand. We've lost entire mornings in our favourite coffee shops, reading a novel or browsing the paper. Picton Main Street, just seconds from our front door, is hopping with new spots, offering the best of coffee culture.

Grab one of Picnic PEC's famous scones and an excellent oat milk latte made with Cherry Bomb beans. Drop in on Beacon Bike and Brew to while away the morning over an espresso and an Apérol Spritz. If you're hankering for brunch, check out The Vic Cafe, recently redesigned by the goddess of bright colour, Tiffany Pratt. The space is sure to put a smile on your face even on the dreariest of winter mornings.

the vic cafe in picton brings a hit of colour to warm up a cold winter day! Photo © Jaime KOwal

We hope to see you in at The Ferg this winter! In the meantime, stay toasty!

xox
Anna and Jaime

Between October 1-15, 2019 take advantage of our special offer of 10% off for stays between November 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 with code WINTERWONDERLAND*

*Offer excludes Christmas and New Years bookings. Book between October 1 and October 15, 2019.