Set within the breathtaking Prince Edward County, Picton is one of the most charming small towns in Ontario and makes for a fantastic road trip destination from Toronto.
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Between historical buildings, a quaint downtown area, and its central location in the county surrounded by sweeping landscapes of wineries, mysterious lakes, and provincial parks, Picton makes for the perfect base to explore everything Prince Edward County has to offer.
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Whether looking for a quiet country escape within the community or hoping to venture off into the town’s welcoming environment, these are the 17 most exciting things to do in Picton, Ontario.
A Quick Look at the 17 Top Things to Do in Picton, Ontario
- Climb the Dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park
- Take a Stroll Through the Macaulay Heritage Park
- Hike at Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area
- Enjoy a Quiet Beach Day at North Beach Provincial Park
- Follow the Taste Trail
- Visit Art Galleries Along the Art Trail
- Play a Round at Picton Golf
- Visit the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
- Go Boutique Shopping in Downtown Picton
- Explore Maritime History at Mariners Park Museum
- Enjoy the Views at Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park
- Take a Wine Tasting Tour
- Enjoy the Outdoors at Little Bluff Conservation Area
- Unwind at Wellington Beach
- Take the Glenora Ferry
- Hike or Bike the Millennium Trail
- Explore Local History at the Wellington Heritage Museum
The 17 Best Things to Do in Picton, Ontario
1. Climb the Dunes at Sandbanks Provincial Park
Sandbanks Provincial Park is easily one of the most popular attractions in Prince Edward County and is located just a 15 minute drive from Picton.
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Spanning an impressive 3,800 acres of pristine coastal landscapes, the provincial park boasts a varied topography of ecosystems that include three of Canada’s most beautiful beaches and the largest freshwater sand dunes found anywhere on the planet.
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Along with offering some of the region’s best beaches, the park’s inland landscapes contain numerous hiking trails and 622 campsites, making the park the perfect spot for an outdoor adventure, be it swimming, hiking, camping, birdwatching, or picnicking.
2. Take a Stroll Through the Macaulay Heritage Park
If you’re looking for something to do directly within Picton itself, you should definitely check out the Macaulay Heritage Park. Located just a short walk from the downtown area, the park is home to several historical buildings and gardens, including a rose garden, native plant garden, and the Macaulay Heritage House first built in 1835.
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Everything within the park is open to the public, but the best way to experience the park is with a public tour. Led by an informative guide, these tours transport you back in time to the early days of Picton as you explore what it was like to establish the settlement in 19th-century Prince Edward County.
3. Hike at Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area
The Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area is found just past the heritage park. Within walking distance of the town’s downtown area, this conservation area is a great and convenient spot to embark on an outdoor adventure, with several hiking and biking trails weaving their way through the 400-acre property.
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Hiking trails range from easy footpaths to more challenging treks, each featuring beautiful nature views and lush ecosystems that are home to a variety of wildlife.
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Along with its hiking and biking trails, the Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area is a popular spot for picnics and birdwatching and is even home to the famous ‘birdhouse city.’
4. Enjoy a Quiet Beach Day at North Beach Provincial Park
While Sandbanks Provincial Park is the most famous beach destination in Prince Edward County, those looking for a quieter day along the shores of Lake Ontario should head over to the North Beach Provincial Park.
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Located about a half-hour drive from Picton, the park is located along a thin strip of land that separates the lake from the inland North Bay. As such, visitors can choose to frolic along the white sands of the lakeside shoreline or enjoy a day on the calmer waters of the bay.
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Either way, visitors have a spacious beach area to claim their own corner of the park to enjoy a relaxing beach day.
5. Follow the Taste Trail
It’s no secret that one of the biggest charms of Prince Edward County is its world-class culinary scene which includes a great selection of local restaurants, wineries, and breweries.
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While several of the region’s delicious establishments can be featured on this list on their own, the best way to explore them all is along the Taste Trail.
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Featuring the most popular venues within Prince Edward County, the Taste Trail features mouthwatering stops within Picton, along with some of the best restaurants in Wellington and other surrounding towns.
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The best part is that the tour is self-guided, allowing visitors to choose the stops that best fit their taste. Foodies will find delicious fine dining at Drake Devonshire, while those who prefer live music ambiance will find plenty of entertainment at Acoustic Grill.
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Meanwhile, those more interested in having a few drinks along an outdoor patio can instead plan stops at some of the bars featured on the list, including Parsons Brewing Company, County Cider Company, and Kinship House of Fine Spirits.
6. Visit Art Galleries Along the Arts Trail
Like the Taste Trail, the Prince Edward County Arts Trail is a great self-guided tour through the region’s galleries and studios that is perfect for exploring local art.
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As a self-guided tour, visitors are welcome to add or omit any stops they may like. However, the official itinerary features ten different stops throughout various towns within the county.
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Here is a list of all the stops, which you can visit along an extended tour or independently if you only want to visit one or two.
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- Bark Woodshop
- Tom Ashbourne Gallery
- Sybil Frank Gallery
- Pamela Carter Studio
- J.D. Thompson Fine Paintings
- Oeneo Gallery
- ANDARA Gallery Andre Csafordi
- ANDARA Gallery Tara Wilkinson
- Hatch Gallery
- Mad Dog Gallery
7. Play a Round at Picton Golf
Picton is very much a sleepy country town. And nothing completes a traditional country town getaway quite like playing a round at the local golf course.Â
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First opened in 1907, the Picton Golf & Country Club is one of the oldest in Ontario and promises a beautiful 18-hole par 72 course for a fun day on the tees. The course features four sets of tees, promising varied difficulties for all skill levels.
8. Visit the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory
Prince Edward County is a popular destination for bird watching, and one of the best spots for spotting the region’s avian inhabitants is the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory.
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Located within Sandbanks Provincial Park, the observatory is operated by a not-for-profit organization that monitors the movements and migratory patterns of the local bird populations.
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Open to the public, the observatory is a great spot to observe the local bird species in the area and frequently hosts educational programming, including workshops and field trips.
9. Wander Around Downtown Picton
One of the best things about visiting any small town like Picton is the ability to embrace its quiet, laid-back community feel within its downtown area.
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And while Downtown Picton is small, it is absolutely beautiful.Â
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Take some time to simply wander the streets. Hop into one of its boutiques or stop by a local cafe for a cup of coffee on the patio.
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If you want to do a little sightseeing, pay your respects at the Picton War Memorial, head over to the Picton Clock Tower for some keepsake photos, or explore local history at the Picton Museum.
10. Explore Maritime History at Mariners Park Museum
Located a short drive from Picton near South Bay, the Mariners Park Museum is a great spot to visit to explore local maritime history.
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The museum explores the ways in which Prince Edward County’s historical inhabitants have interacted with the waters all around them, from the early fishing industry and shipbuilding to the days of rum running during prohibition and modern recreational uses of boat racing.
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Among the exhibits are the iconic lighthouse of False Duck Island and an extensive library of books, maps, and resources retelling the stories of the region’s maritime past.
11. Enjoy the Views at Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park
Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park is about a 15-minute drive from Picton but promises one of the most beautiful corners of Prince Edward County for embracing the subtle serenity of the region’s natural landscapes.
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As the name suggests, the park’s highlight is a 1 square kilometre mountaintop lake that overlooks the stunning Bay of Quinte from its perch 62 metres above sea level.
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The cool thing about the lake is that much about it is unknown, leading to several legends and myths developing among the region’s early indigenous tribes and settlers. Even to this day, the lake’s source and depth are entirely unknown, with the most recent tests going as deep as 32 metres below the surface.
12. Take a Wine Tasting Tour
While the Taste Trail is a great way to explore the flavours of Prince Edward County, true wine connoisseurs will want to book a wine-tasting tour to get the full experience of the destination’s wine region.
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Prince Edward County is home to over 40 different wineries, each offering a unique setting and variety of flavours to tour.Â
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Visitors to Picton looking for a quick nearby winery tour can head over to the Three Dog Winery, while those looking for a more thorough exploration of the wine region can join one of Prince Edward County Wine Tours, which often include transportation and stops to several vineyards in the area.
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This Sip & Cycle Wine Tour is a great way to spend an afternoon sampling some of the region’s best wines while enjoying the outdoors along a picturesque bike ride.
13. Enjoy the Outdoors at Little Bluff Conservation Area
There is no shortage of beautiful views around Picton, and one of my favourites is the Little Bluff Conservation Area.Â
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Located in the nearby South Bay, the conservation area boasts beautiful stunning cliffs overlooking half-moon bay and is home to a variety of wildlife, including local squirrels, deer, and birds.
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The best part is that the park has a total of 1.5 km of walking trails, meaning you don’t even have to embark on a long and arduous hike to reap the benefits of the region’s surreal vistas.
14. Unwind at Wellington Beach
Of Prince Edward County’s numerous beach destinations, Wellington Beach offers perhaps the most traditional beach-going experience.
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Located along the shores of Wellington, the beach is found within Sandbanks Provincial Park and promises open spaces of white sands leading into the cooling waters of Lake Ontario.
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The beach is about 15 minutes from Picton and is one of the best areas for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking.
15. Take the Glenora Ferry
One thing you have got to do when visiting Picton is take the Glenora Ferry. Launching from just next to the Lake on the Mountain, the ferry connects Prince Edward County to Glenora between May and October and takes about 15 minutes to complete its passage.
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Along with offering great views of the shoreline, the ferry ride is actually a historical experience dating back to the early European settlements of the region in the 19th century and is an exciting thing to do in Picton during the summer months.
16. Hike or Bike the Millennium Trail
If you are looking to explore everything that Prince Edward County has to offer, I highly suggest checking out the Millennium Trail. Spanning a total of 50 kilometres, the trail weaves its way throughout the county, passing through wetlands, farms, and towns along the way.
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The trail can be started from just about anywhere in Prince Edward County, with Picton being a great spot to launch as the region’s largest town. While you can walk the trail, the best way to ensure you get to it all is along one of the Millennium Trail Bike Tours.
17. Explore Local History at the Wellington Heritage Museum
The Wellington Heritage Museum is an essential stop along any history tour of Prince Edward County. Set about 15 minutes from Picton in nearby Wellington, the museum operates out of an old 19th-century Quaker Meeting House and features exhibits that retell the region’s evolution from an early European settlement to the now popular holidaymaking spot.
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The museum includes several permanent ongoing exhibits and a great selection of rotating exhibits, so be sure to check what artifacts will be featured within the galleries before visiting.
