During the rainy days of spring, Shane and I were trying to figure out how to spend our summer vacation. A Euro trip? somewhere with a great beach? We decided to split our time into 3 mini-trips, so that we could pack in more adventure. This past weekend was trip #1. Until last Tuesday (days before the trip!), we were supposed to go across the border to Watkins Glen in upstate New York. As the days got closer, I got more and more worried about the length of the drive, etc. I cancelled last minute and worked hard to find us another vacation-y type getaway somewhere a little closer. We booked a safari tent at the Lakeside Inn, in the Prince Edward County wine region. Shane and I went “glamping” a couple years back in Nova Scotia, and came home pregnant. Needless to say, we had a great time. We were excited to do it again, though our tiny, prone-to-crying tagalong definitely added some stress to the idea!
Because it was a long weekend, we couldn't book the tent for three nights due to their availability. We booked Saturday at the Waring House, a century home-turned-hotel. They gave me the option of booking a "modern" room or "antique" one, and we went with "antique" to really get the vibe. The room was adorable, comfortable, and had a good-sized private balcony attached. To any mamas and papas out there travelling with kids: you know just how important that balcony is for post-bedtime hangs! The other nice thing about booking the "antique" room, was that a pub is attached to the main building. Our monitor stretched no problem, and we were able to grab a nice dinner.
On to the next leg of the journey.
Until a few weeks ago I didn’t even know that the Lakeside Inn existed. My in-laws had gone up to the region and ended up seeing the Inn just by chance. The tents are a new feature for the Inn, and weren’t even advertised online when I called. I had the insider scoop, and was so happy I did.
Any time Shane and I have had a knockout experience, it has been when we visited some place in its early stages. If you go somewhere before it’s very established, you have more freedom to make the experience your own. The rules are a little looser, and I find that they don't nickel-and-dime you for every little thing. That is exactly what happened this weekend. The pièce de résistance of the Lakeside Inn - gorgeous aesthetic aside - was the lake view. There were fire pits, Muskoka chairs, and loungers, all looking over Lake Ontario. The rolling waves made me feel like we were back on the Atlantic Ocean. We’d sit out, eat charcuterie and drink wine after Lu fell asleep, and would wake up to it with a coffee in hand, first thing in the morning. The other people at the Inn went elsewhere at night and weren’t early risers, so it felt like we had the place to ourselves.
The entire weekend was super dreamy, despite throwing all schedules out the window. I think it was super dreamy BECAUSE of that. We explored as we liked, and would just toss Lucy in the car and go for a country drive when she got tired.Our days were filled with beaches, cat naps, sink baths, farm stops and wine tasting. But next to the amazing family time we got in, that was just the icing on the cake.
Recommendations:
1) Sandbanks Provincial Park. On a long weekend you are better off going early so that you can get a spot. The park does fill up. However, it is SO worth it, and very family friendly. The water is shallow for quite a way, making it easy for babies to play. There are clean washrooms and parking.
2) Dunes Beach. Even better than Sandbanks, is Dunes Beach. Shane and I stumbled across this beach accidentally last summer, and it was incredible. It is very family friendly, in a type of bay that keeps the water calm and warm. The sand dunes are gorgeous to walk around, and there are a lot of both shady and sandy spots to set up camp for the day.
3) Waupoos. Waupoos is a mega-compound that includes a gorgeous winery, a farm with a petting zoo, shops with local food and products, and a couple restaurants. We grabbed some rosé (Pink Rabbit) and walked around for ages with Lucy, who got out all her energy running in the expansive and scenic grassy areas. She chased the chickens in the petting zoo, and snacked with us before heading back to the Inn.
4) Midtown Brewery. Great beer, tasty treats. Need I say more?
5) Flame + Smith. This Bloomfield restaurant is a must-visit when we're in the county. Everything is cooked over open flame, and is absolutely delicious. For my birthday, we ordered the 50oz tomahawk steak to go with our old fashioneds (Lucy stayed at home for that particular trip). Make a reso so that you can get a table.
