INSIDE: Prince Edward County
Why Canadians Keep Returning to the County
Written by Rebecca Tate
There are places you visit once, and places that upon first visit become part of your life. For me, Prince Edward County has always been the latter.
Long before it became one of Canada’s most talked-about summer destinations, it was where my family gathered for reunions and long weekends. It was slow mornings, lake water, picnic table beers, ice cream after playing in Sandbanks dunes, and that distinct feeling that time moved a little differently there.
Years later, it also became the place where I got married, which somehow made The County feel even more woven into my story, and apparently, we’re not the only ones who feel that way.
Over the last decade, Prince Edward County has transformed from a quieter Ontario escape into one of Canada’s most sought-after destinations. People come for the wineries, the beaches, the food scene, the boutique stays, the small town vibe, the slower pace. But underneath all of that, there’s something harder to explain that keeps pulling people back.
The County feels personal.
It’s not polished in the way some destinations are. It still feels a little rough around the edges, a little creative, a little independent (and yes, maybe I’m describing myself here, too…). You can spend the morning drinking incredible coffee in Wellington, browse a tiny local shop that feels impossible to replicate anywhere else, eat one of the best meals of your summer on a patio and end the day sitting by the lake in total silence.
There’s a reason so many Canadians return year after year.
This summer, By The North is spending more time INSIDE: Prince Edward County — exploring the places, people, businesses, and stories that make this part of Ontario feel so magnetic. The County is built by local makers, restaurant owners, artists, winemakers, hotel owners, chefs, shopkeepers, families, and longtime residents who have shaped the culture of the region long before it became a trending destination.
Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing:
boutique stays worth booking
restaurants and wineries we genuinely love
hidden gems and slower experiences
local businesses and founders
family-friendly County weekends
design-forward spaces
shops, markets, beaches, and small-town favourites
the people helping shape modern County culture
Because Canadian places like this matter.
And in a time where so much travel content feels rushed, transactional, and designed purely for the elusive ‘algorithm’, we’re more interested in the places people build real relationships with over time. The places you return to and that become part of your family history without you even realizing it. This is just the beginning of our exploration INSIDE: Prince Edward County.
