Our Getaway to PEC
Do you remember that first time you fell in love? The first time your heart skipped a couple of beats because you were mesmerized by something, someone, somewhere, so beautiful?
Last October, not knowing what this year would bring, I booked a couple nights away (child-free) to reconnect with my husband. Every now and then you have to break away from the routine to recharge. I remember hearing from so many people how serene and romantic Prince Edward County was, so I hopped onto Airbnb and searched up places for us to stay. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit of a decor snob so I specifically looked for places to stay that were "up to par" with my decor standards, lol, and there it was... A cute little one-bedroom studio apartment in PEC, specifically just outside of Wellington.
When we first arrived, I immediately fell head over heels with this place and the town. When I try to explain PEC to people, I tell them it’s like watching a Hallmark movie. Everything is so picturesque, the people are friendly and incredibly welcoming.
About 10 years ago, an old client of mine (who is now a great friend), packed up, sold her Mount Pleasant home, and moved the family out to the County. As a freelance writer, she was scooped up by the local magazine and was able to write for some incredible local businesses and now manages a few social media accounts (give her a follow @lifeaulait). With that hat being said, who better to provide tips on where to eat, stay and visit than someone who writes about it every day? So our itinerary was packed full of hiking tours, wineries, coffee shops, and delicious restaurants to visit during our first initial stay.
Well this year, enduring the pandemic while moving into a new home and a new salon space, the mental and physical stress of it all took a toll and I knew my body and mental state needed to get the *&&% outta dodge. We decided to book another few nights in my fave spot in the County. It was perfect timing because my daughter Madison was turning eight so we invited a few close friends and family to celebrate with us for the weekend. We were all able to just break away, laugh, eat, and breathe in that good old country air. I prepared for online learning to begin during our stay but it had turned out, the girls’ school had been delayed yet again so we took full advantage of our stay and kept the kids busy with a lot of exploring.
Now that I have a few calm minutes up here staring at the lake reflecting on the gratitude I hold in my heart, I wanted to share some of my favourite things to do in PEC. If you’re planning a weekend stay here, check out some of my favourite places below…
Piccolina
Enid Grace is an amazingly talented pastry chef who opened a charming café called Piccolina. They specialize in delicious Italian-baked treats including my favourite, Bombolinis. I also picked up some fresh bagels and warm blueberry scones which were heaven. The lattes were also good, so good in fact, we returned a second time for more. I also appreciated the thoughtful treats they included with our lattes, almond biscotti balls - they were delicious and perfect for dipping in your latte.
The Drake Devonshire Hotel
This is a very popular place to visit and it’s easy to see why. Once we had our temperatures taken at the entrance, we immediately were taken to the back of the hotel where we took in the gorgeous views of Lake Ontario. Fire pits were set up all around with cozy blankets. It felt as though you were on a cruise ship or in the Caribbean somewhere, you could hear the water as though you were by the ocean. The cocktails were OUT OF THIS WORLD, so I had to get two! I had the County Lavender Lemonade with Bourbon. WOW! It was garnished with a dried lemon, taking on an orange colour. EPIC! I would definitely stay here next time we visit.
Karlo Estates
Every year, the town comes together to volunteer their time to harvest grapes so of course, we wanted to be a part of this event. We let the children run free through the vineyard filling their buckets with loads of grapes. Of course, we made sure they understood the importance of how these grapes eventually turn into wine which is what us moms need to keep our sanity. Overall, it felt good to be a part of the community.
We even saw a snake slithering its way through the vines. Apparently, their purpose is to keep the bugs away from the grapes. We ended up celebrating with a friend who happens to work at the vineyard, it was her birthday! The owner, Sherry, brought out a charcuterie board for all of us and poured some very yummy rosé to celebrate the birthday girl.
Parsons Brewery
This gorgeous property was a win-win for us adults and kids. They had a play structure for the kids and cute little picnic tables and Muskoka chairs set up for adults. They also served delicious food so we sat around the fire pit eating empanadas, drinking our cider, and enjoying the little time we had left on our stay. It was amazing to watch Madison go around and make friends. I’m definitely not concerned with that child’s socialization LOL.
There were actually a few places we didn’t get to visit this time around but on our last visit, we loved Flame and Smith, La Condesa, and Bloomfield Beauty.
After a long day of wandering around, we went back to our hotel where I napped, grabbed a bite to eat on our last dinner together, and roasted marshmallows by the fire.
During our final hours at the County, I took one last gaze at the waters (almost in complete silence) until I saw my girls run towards me. We had uninterrupted conversations about God and our gratitude before leaving on the dock. This moment had me thinking, I have a ton of things I can complain about, but right now all I have is this moment. This exact moment to be present with my children and appreciate it before the chaos of our daily lives and stresses creep back in.
Whatever you have going on in your world or even just your mind, know how important it is to find that space every so often to drown out the noise and take a break. Whether it be in Prince Edward County or in your bathroom, dedicate time to yourself to be present and appreciate YOU! Appreciate YOUR journey and value yourself for all that you do. No one else can do that for you.
If you’re up for a mini getaway, check out the County, I promise you’ll fall in love with it just like I did!
XO
Pammy
(p.s. if you’re not already, follow me on my personal IG account @pamelafacey! I’m sharing my most perfectly imperfect moments, from motherhood to running a business and everything in between.