Can the ‘Hamptons of Canada’ dish it out like the real thing?

Ian Nelmes started visiting nan beaches of Prince Edward County (PEC), Ontario — not to beryllium confused pinch “Anne of Green Gables” Prince Edward Island, which lies complete 1,000 miles to nan eastbound — successful nan 1970s. There wasn’t overmuch to it. 

“The region was a destination for nan formation and for fishing, but not overmuch else,” said Nelmes. “After nan beach, we would conscionable get successful nan car and spell home.”

By nan 1980s, things had improved. A vanguard of imaginative winemakers — drawn by nan county’s limestone-rich ungraded reminiscent of Burgundy — started planting vineyards. Restaurants, artists and bed-and-breakfasts followed. 

Today, this 30-mile-wide land successful nan northeast area of Lake Ontario has grown into a deluxe agrarian playground for able Torontonians and Montrealers successful hunt of caller aerial and unfastened space. Some telephone it “the Hamptons of Canada.” 

Nelmes now runs Mirazule connected nan lakefront, a luxe and modern return connected nan B&B, conscionable 20 minutes from nan agrarian formation he visited astatine a child. Since 2018, he’s been welcoming guests pinch goose-down duvets and bathrooms pinch heated floors — a large alteration from nan “Schitt’s Creek”-esque accoms erstwhile recovered successful this area. 

Antiques shops, creation galleries, boutique hotels arsenic good arsenic award-winning wineries and restaurants are now plentiful successful nan county. And while much connected par pinch Hamptons prices of 50 years ago, existent property present has surely popped off. Since 2016, nan county’s median location value of $302,250 has much than doubled to complete $680,000 arsenic of 2024.

Looking for a wallet-friendly replacement to nan East End of Long Island this summertime — why not effort nan South End of Ontario?

Where to stay

Much of nan activity centers astir nan (small) downtown of Picton, wherever family-owned the Royal Hotel has welcomed guests since 1879. This full-service grande dame offers a spa, a gym, a heated saltwater excavation and an award-winning, farm-to-table edifice that useful intimately to root ingredients from nan owner’s Edwin County Farms.

For a hipper vibe, cheque out the June Motel, a mid-century, modern-inflected, heavy-on-the-pink erstwhile fishermen’s motel.

After its opening successful 2017, co-founders April Brown and Sarah Sklash went connected to prima successful nan 2021 Netflix bid “Motel Makeover.”

For groups, cheque retired nan Scandinavian-inspired Wander nan Resort. Set connected a pristine agelong of lakefront, each of its 10 freestanding cabins sleeps up to six people.

And for nan highest grade of personalized service, Mirazule sits connected a secluded portion of onshore pinch reservoir views. 

Where to eat

“One of nan astonishing things present is nan nutrient scene, because you person each these old-school farming families but besides this beardown entrepreneurial tone of group moving here,” said Kyle Nares, a business partner of Montréal personage cook Chuck Hughes.

He recommends: nan farm-to-table fare at Theia, a seven-table vino barroom and edifice successful Picton; nan oatmeal pancakes and eggs pomodoro for Sunday brunch at Stella’s Eatery; authentic New Haven-style pizza, charred to perfection, at Darlings; and thing from nan makers at Fifth Town Artisan Cheese as a souvenir to bring home.

What to do

Wine tastings successful PEC are a must, and pinch complete 35 wineries, location are capable for astatine slightest respective trips.
To sample nan top hits, cheque out Closson Chase Vineyards, whose grapes person helped put nan County’s wines connected nan representation since 2004; nan historical barn and tasting room at the Grange of Prince Edward, the largest property vineyard successful nan County; and Hinterland Vineyards, which exclusively produces sparkling wines.

In summation to its caller nutrient and artisan goods, the Picton Town Hall Farmers Market on Sundays functions arsenic nan town’s unofficial play meeting.

To acquisition nan beauty of this scenery from extracurricular a car, bid immoderate motorcycle rentals from County Bike Rentals (free transportation anyplace successful nan county) and deed the Millennium Trail, which runs 29 miles from nan colony of Carrying Place connected PEC’s occidental edge, to nan mediate of downtown Picton.

And of course, location is ever nan county’s attraction that brought group present agelong earlier thing other did: nan beaches at Sandbanks Provincial Park.