Peterborough 
Picton, facing the Bay of Quinte, and Sandbanks Provincial Park, facing the open waters of Lake Ontario, together offer a diverse range of activities and scenery. The park, town, and county are a definite beach destination, offering places to swim and relax on the shores from Sandbanks to Picton, as well as other beach areas. The numerous options for places to stay only add to the area’s appeal as a vacation destination.
©Humyn/Rami Accoumeh/Destination Ontario
Off the water, there is still a great deal of County to explore, featuring beautiful trails, local art, and local wineries.
Sandbanks Provincial Park is nearer to Wellington than to Picton (14 km). But if you like to combine a beach destination with a relaxing, quaint town getaway, Picton offers various options to make the best of your getaway to Prince Edward County.
Sandbanks Beaches & More Water Fun
©Destination Ontario
The beaches and sand dunes are a major signature feature of Sandbanks Provincial Park. Those dunes are easy to explore with park trails, while the park’s three beaches all have long stretches of soft sand.
- Sandbanks Provincial Park operates three beaches open to campers and day-use visitors: Outlet, Lakeshore, and Dunes Beaches. Outlet Beach is the largest of the three while Dunes Beach is the smallest. They each have a designated swimming area, washrooms, picnic areas, and trail access to the rest of the park. Plus, each beach is walking or cycling distance from local food and drinks.
- Find a quiet fishing spot on the East or West Lakes, both home to pickerel, bass, pike, and panfish.
- The best spot in the park for canoeing and kayaking is the Outlet River from East Lake. Boat rentals are available through the Provincial Park.
- Explore the scenery of Prince Edward County from the water with the help of various local tour operators. Choose between Dunes Boat Tours, County Sailing Adventures, or Picton Harbour Boat Tours. Use Cabin Fever Kayak Rentals for your own self-guided water adventure.
- There are even more beaches in Prince Edward County and near Picton including North Beach Provincial Park, Wellington Beach, or Roblin Lake Beach.
Cycling & Hiking
The ultimate way to see this stretch of Lake Ontario shoreline, or the Bay of Quinte shores, is on a bike! Prince Edward County is incredibly bike-friendly, with trails connecting all major areas like Picton and Sandbanks Provincial Park. Plus, there are many places in the area from which to rent bikes or e-bikes.
Lake on the Mountain Lookout/ToDo Canada
- Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park, just 10 minutes from Picton, features a mysterious freshwater lake 60 metres above Lake Ontario. With a lookout platform, short shoreline trail, picnic spots, and a scenic lookout overlooking the Bay of Quinte and Glenora Ferry. If you like, head down for a free Glenora Ferry ride, a scenic 15-minute ride linking Prince Edward County with Adolphustown across the Bay of Quinte.
- Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area offers over 7 km of trails for all skill levels and features Birdhouse City—home to 100 creative birdhouses. Enjoy nature, heritage, and wildlife just a short walk from downtown in this charming outdoor escape.
- The many hiking trails around Sandbanks Provincial Park are rated as “easy.” The Woodlands Trail is the longest among them at 7km total and connects the park’s three campgrounds. The Sandbank Dunes Trail is a shorter 2.5km loop that connects to the Woodlands Trail and offers views of the park’s signature scenery.
- Cycling is only permitted on the park roads, but there are numerous trails across the County which allow for cycling- also one of the best ways to get around the area!
- Bike rentals are available from shops like County Bike Rentals, Westlake E-Bikes, Ideal Bike Wellington, and Pedego Prince Edward County.
Prince Edward County Arts & Culture
Take in the local festivals, music, arts, and culture numerous ways in Picton, or near Sandbanks Provincial Park.
- Take in a live show near Picton or the Provincial Park with the County’s Theatre Roulant (Canada’s only horse-drawn travelling theatre!), County Stage Company, or County Roads Theatre Co.
- Picton is home to Base31, a former air base that was transformed into an arts and culture venue and event space. The space’s feature events include live concerts scheduled all year long.
- There are dozens of art galleries and studios to tour throughout the county. See them all here.
Dining and Winery Tours Around Picton
Picton offers a variety of dining options. Plus, the nearby communities like Wellington have even more to offer. Additionally, many hotels and resorts offer excellent family dining options. A great way to get a taste of the area is through the many wine, beer, and distillery tours offered, with culinary tours also available.
- Head to Picton to enjoy patio weather with local spots like Angry Birds Rotisserie Chicken, 555 Brewing Co., Vic Social, or the Lighthouse Restaurant.
- Join Prime Vine Tours, PEC Wine Tours, Revolving Axis, Odyssey Tour, Country Sips, Get Corked, A County Experience, for drink tours around Prince Edward County.
- The County Picnic Tours, and Sandbanks Vacations, offer culinary experiences and wine tours.
- Beachgoers can take advantage of many different types of eateries around the beaches and beach resort areas. This includes places like the Sand & Pearl Oyster Bar, The Knoll, Up in Smoke Pizza, or Currah’s Park Store and Grill.
Where to Stay in Picton
There are dozens of accommodation options between Picton and Sandbanks Provincial Park. The small community of Wellington near the park also has many places to stay. Around these areas are cottage resorts, camping resorts, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and many waterfront options. Plus, camping is available at the Provincial Park, and through other nearby Provincial Parks.
- Altogether, there are over 600 campsites at Sandbanks Provincial Park. These include tent and RV sites, campsites with or without services, group camping, and cottage rentals.
- For places closer to the Provincial Park, check with The Eddie Hotel & Farm, The Birch Cottages, The Drake Devonshire, or Log Cabin Point Cottage Resort.
- Across the County in Picton are numerous other options for great places to stay. Choose between bed and breakfasts, small inns and boutique hotels, or private vacation rentals.
- Away from the parks and towns and within the more rural parts of the county are numerous places for a quiet cottage vacation: Black River Cottages, Jackson’s Falls Country Inn, or Smugglers Cove RV Resort.
