Hint: It includes the sandy beach, dry wine, and delicious eats. (Okay, okay, we planned this date night for ourselves. But we know you’ll love it too!)
Go ahead and wow your significant other on your next night out…we won’t tell them we planned the night for you
Step 1: Start Early
Why limit date night to the evening? Go beyond the night and incorporate daytime activities too! Here are 5 great PEC-based activities to add to your Date Day.
1. Get Beachy
Who doesn’t love the beach? Start the day with a laid back vibe as you soak up the sun and cool down in Lake Ontario at Sandbanks Provincial Park’s Outlet Beach, one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in Ontario. If you’re turning up the romance in the off-season, the beach is still a great location to hit up.
In the colder months, you can bundle up and walk along the snow-covered terrain, or even enjoy snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
(Pro Tip: If it’s the summer, try to make your Date Day on a weekend. A lot of people come to PEC just for this beach, so the crowds get really big, really fast. Your best chance of finding prime sandy real estate is to visit Sandbanks during the week, rather than the weekend.)
2. Enjoy a picnic at lake on the mountain
If you want to bring a little mystery and intrigue to the day, visit Lake on the Mountain. This park is one of the county’s natural wonders.
It’s truly a gorgeous sight to behold. And you’ll have lots to talk about while you debate how the turquoise water actually got here, because, as the website says, “it defies all known geographical and geological theory”. Spicy!
There are picnic tables on-site, so pack a great lunch and have fun taking in the views while trying to solve a little mystery.
3. Fill up on Countylicious
This event is your chance to celebrate culinary experiences in Prince Edward County (read eat delicious food with fun people). From April 3-26, you can enjoy a variety of food from local restaurants and producers. You’ll select from prix fixe menus. (Don’t despair, allergy sufferers, participating restaurants are very accommodating.) Keep an eye on the Countylicious website for a list of all participating restaurants, coming soon.
4. Enjoy Wine, Wine and More Wine
Do you and your loved one BOTH love wine? Let us be your Designated Driver on a guided half-day wine tour! Date Day should be about being totally present with each other and enjoying your favourite wine, not worrying about how you’ll get from one winery to the next. We’ve got your back! Enjoy a leisurely afternoon exploring Prince Edward County with one of our fun and knowledgeable tour guides.
Plus, you’ll learn about the people that grow the grapes and make the wine and the rich history of PEC along the way!
Pro Tip: Enjoy the wine without the crowds with our midweek half-day wine tour. Less busy means a more personalized and unique wine experience. Plus, you get a discount for riding with us during the week! Book your half-day wine tour today!
5. Get Sappy at Maple in the County
On March 28 and 29, you can join in the celebration of all things maple in PEC! Activities to enjoy include pancake breakfasts, maple smores over cozy fires, petting zoos with newborn chicks and lambs, and of course the much-loved maple taffy on snow, along with many more delights! Come on out and celebrate your sweet thing while filling up on sweet things! (Okay, we’ll stop with the puns.)
Step 2: Cue the romantic evening
After a wonderful Date Day together, it’s time to blow Date Night out of the water. Here are 3 of our favourite restaurants in Prince Edward County. We love them for their cozy atmospheres, amazing customer service, and of course their next-level food. We know you and your SO will love them too!
1. Drake Devonshire, Wellington
The Drake is like a little piece of the Big City in the heart of Wellington. Its opulent charm dazzles diners, yet it also feels inviting, warm, and welcoming. Like many restaurants in the county, the menu represents local ingredients from the surrounding farmers. And there’s something for everyone – even those with allergy concerns – including oat milk risotto, their signature Drake veggie burger, Prinzen roasted half chicken, and more!
2. The County Canteen, Picton
There is something simply comforting about The County Canteen. The food is excellent, the people are wonderful, and the atmosphere is chill. (If you’re chilly in the winter, they’ll bring you a blanket. Seriously!) If you’re a beer fan, this is the place to be, with 26 of Ontario’s finest beers on tap. Their menu changes regularly but it’s often varied and contains some unusual cuisine – from crocodile to kangaroo! Not to worry tastebud traditionalists, there’s chicken, beef, and cod too.
If your Date Night falls on a Wednesday, you’re in for a treat with Canteen Karaoke. If it’s a Thursday, even better, you’re there for Trivia and Taco night. If you’re going on the weekend you can enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night!
3. Flame and Smith, Bloomfield
Flame and Smith in Bloomfield, ON is HOT – and not just because they believe in cooking food over an open fire. Our office happens to be right across the street from this restaurant, so we speak from experience when we say their food is delicious! So bring your loved one and experience woodfire cooking in a rustic setting with contemporary touches.
Step 3: Stay The Night
The third step to a Perfect Date Night? Extend it! Make it an a weekend thing with cozy, romantic accommodations from yours truly. Check out these Accommodation Specials:
1. SAKURA
2. CORNER HAVEN MAIN
3. THE PICTON
