The Tom Petty and Bob Seger tunes were blasting as we cruised down the Loyalist Parkway, soaking up the sun along the northeastern shores of Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County. The electricity of a summertime getaway was in the air — and our vehicle. Armed with an electric vehicle, we set out to experience PEC, a lakeside haven two hours east of Toronto, through a more eco-conscious lens.
We share the general mindset of many Canadians who have never been behind the wheel of an EV but have an increasingly piqued interested as more and more neighbours and friends take the leap into the world of all-electric vehicles. Pardon the electricity pun but after this weekend consider us converted. For those open to the idea of an EV and incorporating eco-conscious practices into personal travel, the good news is that, if our PEC getaway was any indication, going a little greener is only getting easier, both in daily life and on vacation.
Enjoy a complimentary EV charge while you recharge at the Everly Inn , a newish PEC accommodation that blends the best elements of a bed and breakfast with the privacy and amenities of a boutique hotel, all on one purpose-built sustainable property. Tonja Buder and husband Mark Pavlidis were determined to “make a difference, even in a small way” when they set out to design the three-bedroom bed and breakfast in Hillier, PEC. “Every aspect of the build, we tried to say, ‘What is a material that stands the test of time?’” Tonja said.
A massive solar panel on the lot powers the entire building in the summer months, while Everly is heated and cooled solely by the earth using a geothermal heat pump. Even the placement of the accommodation on the lot was intentional to allow for maximized heating and cross-breeze. The 6,700-square-foot build features long-lasting materials such as metal roofing instead of shingles, argon-filled fibreglass windows, and stucco cladding.
Interior touches include rubber-filled organic Obasan mattresses, beds constructed by a local carpenter using locally sourced white oak, and refillable toiletries by Telford Basics. The minimalist interior design allows the surrounding wild meadows to shine with incredible views from the A-frame Meadow Suite loft. “It’s showing people that it’s attainable,” Tonja said of the net-zero approach.
“It’s just about taking the time to organize yourself and do a little research.” Breakfast is made from scratch by Tonja, including a waffle that might be as perfect as the accommodation itself. The Everly offers a zero-emission Tesla car service for evening dinner reservations, private wine tours and the like.
A good way to get nature-forward is to get up close and personal with Lake Ontario while brunching directly in front of the shoreline at The Drake Devonshire . It’s difficult to imagine a more beautiful setting than this one in the quaint County community of Wellington. We were particularly fond of the Devonshire’s extensive temperance options that were ideal for our driving trip, including a tasty Solly’s Craft Soda and Stay Classy IPA from Bellwoods Brewery to wash down our excellent main dishes.
Torontonians who have been to The Drake Hotel in the west end can expect similarly artsy-cool vibes out at the PEC property, which also includes The Drake Motor Inn for elevated overnight stays. Like the Everly Inn, EV charging stations are available to guests. Continue your eco-conscious road trip with a dinner reservation at The Royal Hotel restaurant in downtown Picton, where executive chef Albert Ponzo’s Italian-inspired dishes honour regional terroir with much of its farm-to-table offerings coming from The Royal’s own organic farm just down the road from the restaurant.
Charge your electric vehicle in the municipal parking lot about 100 metres west of the hotel. Don’t leave PEC without visiting Sandbanks Provincial Park , widely regarded as one of the province’s best beach areas. Pro tip: Register for day-use parking in advance to avoid disappointment as the park attracts more than 700,000 visitors each year.
After you’ve dried off, head over to nearby Base31 to catch a concert or grab some grub at the former Second World War training base which has been smartly reimagined as a cultural hub, or opt for a summertime staple, a hamburger, at Harry’s Charbroiled . Part of the pleasure of being in the County is poking around the many shops in Picton, Wellington and our favourite, Bloomfield, easily accessed along the Loyalist Parkway connecting PEC from Hwy. 401.
There’s an astonishing amount to see and do in PEC. If anyone claims boredom in the County, we don’t know if we can help them. Sam Grosso had a logical response when asked about his collection of vintage cars.
“When you open up a place called the Cadillac Lounge, you can’t be driving a smart car or a Jetta,” the Torontonian-turned County resident said with a laugh. Music aficionados will recognize Grosso as the longtime owner of the Cadillac Lounge bar and music venue in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, among others. Grosso moved on from the Cadillac Lounge a few years ago but he can still be found lounging in a Cadillac as founder of Prince Edward County’s Vintage Car Wine Tours , which has been rolling around PEC for the past four years.
The County is home to more than 40 wineries, breweries and distilleries, all of which can be experienced while leaving the driving to someone else and cruising in style. “Just the best experience ever,” Grosso said of what he hopes his customers come away with, whether riding around in his 1937 Oldsmobile, ’54 Mercury Monterey, or Lincolns and Cadillacs from ’61 and ‘69. We started our afternoon cruise in the green ‘61 Caddy with a visit to The Grange of Prince Edward Winery , a mainstay in the County since 2001.
A highlight of the Hillier-based estate vineyards is the 200-year-old barn, which houses a beautiful tasting room along with the option to fill a picnic basket with goods such as local cheeses, charcuteries and dips before setting up next to the vines should you wish. Go there with an appetite, as the Grange offers an extensive food menu, with steak sandwiches, tacos and wagyu hot dogs among the offerings. Rain washed away our plans to drop in at Old Salt , a vintage trailer across from the Grange offering fun cocktails and a vibey outdoor games space, but it just means we’ll have to return soon.
We loved every second at Bare Bones Farm and Distillery , which sells excellent small-batch spirits in an unassuming setting that was once dirt floors and feeding stalls for cows. “It’s that farm mentality — nothing goes to waste,” said owner Jason Clarke, adding they make their own maple syrup, honey and even garlic, using the scapes as drink garnishes. TerraCello Winery is a small Old-World Italian operation where you’ll find not only small-batch wine but also quite possibly the best wood-fired pizza in the County, from owner Anthony Auciello Jr.
(he’ll be the one personally crafting your pie). Finish your afternoon tour at Karlo Estates Winery , another winery that meets the apparent threshold of being housed in a barn hovering around 200 years old. We’d tell you about the speakeasy, but gatekeeping is all the rage these days, so we’ll keep this one to ourselves.
The folks at Volkswagen Canada lent us one of their newly launched 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 all-electric vehicles for our weekend road trip. The learning curve was minimal, and charging was a breeze.
VW’s ID.4 offers a range of up to 468 km on a single charge. We plugged in once for 45 minutes at the Flo charging station around the corner from our home, then again overnight in PEC.
In addition to the sleek pure grey exterior and leatherette interior of our Pro S all-wheel drive model, we didn’t mind that it accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, though we never tested that theory (just kidding, we did, and can confirm it’s fast). For those wondering about the adjustment from gas to electric, we’ll say this: If you can drive a car, you’re golden.
If you know how to drive a car and operate a smartphone, even better as the ID.4, like most EVs, is effectively a smartphone on wheels. As we neared our drop-off, I told my wife (not for the first time) that I would buy an EV tomorrow without hesitation.
She’s more cautious than me but didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of going the EV route before long (there’s hope!) and we both shared the general feeling of being green with envy as we hopped back into our 10-year-old car and eventually back to the gas station. [email protected] On X: @IanShantz.
