When it comes to summer, I'm picky about how I spend my weekends. Go for a
bike ride or browse an antique fair? Hit the Beaches Jazz Festival or ride the
roller coasters at Canada's Wonderland? Summers are so short here in Toronto
that every weekend matters!
East Lake Shores in Prince Edward County
So when we spent a week recently at
East Lake Shores (formerly Sandbanks Summer Village)
I wanted to tell you all about. If you're looking for a vacation that brings
the best of lake + cottage + beach + country, this one can't be beat. Here's
my review of East Lake Shores (ELS) and tips on what to do while you're in
Prince Edward County:
Prince Edward County:
ELS is a cottage condominium resort located in Prince Edward County, with
cottages available for sale or rent. PEC itself is a growing culinary and
artistic destination and ELS is a great base to access the area's wineries,
food shops and artist studios. I feel like the area is on the verge of
becoming the next hottest vacation destination for people living in Toronto,
Ottawa, and Montreal. It has an amazing beach,
hip hotels, and
the charm of the countryside. Plus, the drive east from Toronto is so much
more pleasant than the drive north to cottage country :)
Many of the cottage owners at ELS have made their cottages available for rent through the season, April to October. It is a really popular resort and is almost 100% rented out during the summer months. There are three areas to rent in: the open field Meadows, the Woodlands, and Water's Edge (pretty blue cottages shown above). You can search for available rentals online and there's many different models to choose from. We stayed in the Woodlands in a Picton model because it had a loft (fun for Chloe!) and the largest porch.
ELS has a management property company which takes care of the rentals so check
in is easy. You register at the front desk and also talk to staff there if you
want to make use of the watercraft (canoes, kayaks) or the Sandbanks beach
pass which comes with the rental. That's a great perk - the pass allows you to
bypass the waiting line to get you right into the beach.
The cottages are really very pretty. They're all new builds so everything is in great working condition. Our unit was bright, open and airy. The only issue was that the cottage owner had cordoned off the loft so we weren't able to access it. I wish we had known that before we rented the unit. Cottages will comfortably sleep six with two in the master, two or three on the bunk beds in the second bedroom, and two on the pullout sofa.
Renting at East Lake Shores:
Many of the cottage owners at ELS have made their cottages available for rent through the season, April to October. It is a really popular resort and is almost 100% rented out during the summer months. There are three areas to rent in: the open field Meadows, the Woodlands, and Water's Edge (pretty blue cottages shown above). You can search for available rentals online and there's many different models to choose from. We stayed in the Woodlands in a Picton model because it had a loft (fun for Chloe!) and the largest porch.
The Cottages at East Lake Shores:
The cottages are really very pretty. They're all new builds so everything is in great working condition. Our unit was bright, open and airy. The only issue was that the cottage owner had cordoned off the loft so we weren't able to access it. I wish we had known that before we rented the unit. Cottages will comfortably sleep six with two in the master, two or three on the bunk beds in the second bedroom, and two on the pullout sofa.
My favourite feature was the large 200 sq ft covered porch. I knew I was
going to spend lots of time out here and brought my favourite summer throw
from Indigo just so I could sit with a good book and lounge in an
Adirondack chair. We started each day with breakfast outside and ended the
night with coffee (or wine) on our (or the neighbour's) porch. Did I mention
how friendly everyone was?
Activities at East Lake Shores:
I was surprised to learn that ELS had an Activities Director who planned
lots of events throughout the week. We enjoyed the drum circle and made new
neighbour friends around the campfire. There were fireworks for Canada Day
and a weekend brunch for all owners and renters.
Chloe loved movie night at the pavilion - Big Hero 6 plus free popcorn! The
rain kept us from getting out on the lake but we did manage to sneak in some
time in the pool. The resort also has an adult-only pool and hot tub, gym,
basketball and tennis courts, playground, and mini golf. I liked having the
option to get water time at the lake, pool or nearby beach!
Many of the other resort dwellers were also families so Chloe made some fast
friends. It amazes me how quickly kids make friends - basically, you smile
at each other, share marshmallows, and you're besties for the rest of the
week!
If you're just looking to get away, I think renting at Sandbanks Summer
Village makes for a relaxing vacation. The resort is quiet and picturesque
and the staff work hard to make your stay enjoyable.
Things To Do In Prince Edward County
But there is so much to explore in Prince Edward County - we've been here
four times in the last six years and still find something new to do each
time we come! Beyond the resort gates, here's a few of our County
favourites:
1. Sandbanks Provincial Park
Enjoy quiet shallow waters at Dunes Beach or expansive views at Outlet
Beach. We like to park near the middle of Outlet Beach near the restaurant -
very handy for a 3pm ice cream run!
2. Antique Shopping.
You'll find antique and vintage shops dotted throughout the County. Worth a
stop:
- MacCool's Re-Use
- Hickory Tree
- Funk & Gruven
- Dead People's Stuff
- The Local
- Amor's Antiques
- Koopman's Auction Services
- Stowaway Vintage
3. Local eats
The County offers lots of opportunities to enjoy fresh foods straight from
local farms. Here's a few of our favourites:
- Get produce and visit the farm animals at Hagerman Farms.
- Your choice of cheese (I like the Goat's Milk Cheddar) at Black River Cheese.
- Enjoy wood oven pizza and a glass of peach cider at County Cider Company.
- Weekend breakfast (get the farmer's sausage!) at Picton Harbour Inn
4. Fancy Fare.
Sandwiches in the garden at Saylor House Cafe and ice cream for dessert at
Slickers are a summer Must-Do. And I've only seen their amazing patio, but
we'll definitely be stopping for drinks at Drake Devonshire on our next
visit to the County.
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