A DAY TRIP TO WINE COUNTRY WITH KIDS? OH YES YOU CAN!
Are you itching for something to do for the day with your kids that you will enjoy too? Or maybe you’ve been wanting to check out Ontario wine country for a while, but have been hesitating because of your kids? If so, you’re not alone. I know so many parents who feel they can’t visit wineries with their kids. Well, hesitate no longer and plan a day away! I’ve got the itinerary for you!
NOTE: This post is based on a trip to Prince Edward County in Ontario, Canada. If you’re not based in Ontario or planning to visit here, but are someone who wants to visit wine country with your kids on a day trip to a region that is near where you live or somewhere you’re planning to visit, I think this post will give your a framework to figure out how to make it happen!
(By the way, this itinerary works just as well for anyone who wants to do a day trip without kids. You’ll probably be more relaxed and see/do more if you fall in this camp ;-))
ESTABLISHING THE BASICS
Before you read on, if you’re a parent with young-ish kids, I’m sure there’s a few things running through your head that I might as well address right at the outset:
One: Am I crazy? The answer is no :)
Two: Have I actually done this before myself? The answer is yes, many times :).
Three: How old are my kids? The answer is they are nine and seven, but I’ve been taking them to wine country with me (here in Ontario and abroad) for years. So I do really believe it can be done :)
Do I have your attention now? Awesome! Now, let’s get into it!!
The very first thing is that on a day trip, and that too with your kids, there is no way you are really drinking in wine country. Let’s face it - the experience is never going to replicate a girls or boys weekend away :) But if you are interested in learning about and tasting wine, being in natural beauty and being exposed to new wines to try at home, then you can safely take this trip and make great memories along the way. I think the trick is to share tastings and ensure one person is the designated driver and that person does not drink at lunch, or skips some of the tastings.
The second thing that’s worth noting is that there are many, many, many itineraries that could work. In particular, if you spend a few days in or around a wine region, experiencing wineries with your kids can become easier because you can space your winery visits out and only go to one winery a day for a few days. But my focus here is on a day trip because that is doable for most parents and this is what I’ve typically always done.
The final thing is that the key to success as parents doing a day trip in wine country is to have a plan, and balance your kids needs and wants with your own. Ensure they have enough to do, and I doubt there will be any issues. You’ll want to make sure they are well fed throughout the day, and have something to do in the car while you drive. I’m relatively relaxed with my kids because they are a bit older now - nine and seven - so I let them bring along books and their tablets. When my kids were younger, I would bring along some of their favourite books, paper and markers and a few new toys from the Dollar Store to keep them entertained if they had to be contained for a period of time in either the car, a restaurant or a tasting room at a winery. It’s worked like a charm for years!
MORE BASICS: WHERE SHOULD YOU GO?
This is a great question. In Ontario, we are blessed with two great options when it comes to wine country, namely Niagara-on-the-Lake and Prince Edward County. I say, whether you have kids or not, you can’t go wrong with Prince Edward County. Why you ask? Personally, I’ve loved Prince Edward County for years, well before it became a popular destination. Located about 2.5 hours away from Toronto, it’s a further drive than going to the ever famous and very popular Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region but in my eyes, it is far cooler!
Why, you ask? Well, for one, Prince Edward County (also known as “the County”) is actually an island in Lake Ontario. I’ve been going there for years but just recently figured this out and it practically knocked me off my chair because you’d seriously never know. Except that it’s mind-blowingly beautiful. I guess now I know why! Another thing that’s worth knowing is that the County is a cluster of several small towns and rural communities. There is so much to explore across each of these individual towns, hamlets and areas and each has its own distinct personality and points of interest to offer.
Secondly, it’s mind-blowingly beautiful! Did I say that already? Picture pretty cottages, sparkling lake views that appear out of nowhere, quaint little towns, vast and open fields and lots of peace and quiet. Even at its busiest, Prince Edward County is waaaaaaaaay quieter than Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is a definite blessing when you’ve got little ones in tow.
Thirdly, the wineries here are fantastic. Some of the best in Ontario, in my view. According to the Prince Edward County Winegrowers Association, there are over 35 winemakers in the County and this number continues to grow! The climate, soil and topography here present conditions that are ideal for wines that really display a sense of place. In addition, every winery I’ve ever visited in the County has a unique vibe and they all share a small-town, artisanal feel. In general, the wineries are also extremely family friendly, which makes it more comfortable to visit as a family. For more information on County wineries, click here.
Last but not least - this one’s for you fellow parents - Prince Edward County comes hand in hand with lots of beach. And I really do mean LOTS of beach. There is more than 500 miles of shoreline here! Options abound, the three public areas I think are worth highlighting to other parents are Sandbanks Provincial Park, North Beach Provincial Park and Wellington Beach. Each of these three options is open to the public, easy to access, and comes with plenty of space for families to set up and hang out. In most cases, little ones can safely wade around in shallow and relatively warm water, under the watchful eyes of their parents of course! My favourite of the three is Sandbanks Provincial Park, and more specifically Outlet Beach therein.
SO WHAT’S THE ITINERARY?
As I said, there are lots of itineraries that could work, especially in terms of the specific wineries that you visit. Ultimately, it comes down to planning and knowing what you want to see/do/taste and how long the drive between different points of interest is. What I offer below is what I did on my most recent trip to Prince Edward County and thought worked really well. Here’s how it goes:
Beach (or other child-centric activity) in the morning -> Lunch -> Tasting, Tasting ,Tasting in the afternoon, with a focus on places that your kids can play
Pretty simple, right? Well, it was. Read on for more deets on how I structured this itinerary in Prince Edward County a few weeks ago!
STEP 1: SANDBANKS PROVINCIAL PARK
Step 1 is crucial as a parent - it sets the tone for the day with your kids. For that reason, I say start on a high note with time at the beach. You can start your day early this way and make sure the kiddos have had their share of fun in the sun before you drag them to wineries and tastings. This is doubly important in the midst of summer, when the beaches in Prince Edward County fill up pretty quickly and the early bird gets the prize in terms of finding a good spot for the family to set up, spread out and enjoy a bit of time in the sand and water.
We started our day off at Sandbanks Provincial Park. We arrived at 8am (we had to leave Toronto at 5:20am to accomplish this), waited about 15 minutes in a line in our car to get into the park, and were set up and lounging on Outlet Beach by 8:30am. In order to accomplish this early start, we packed our stuff into our car the night before, and put the kids into the car in their PJs in the am. One slept for the duration of the trip, the other talked our ears off! We also stopped along the way for a quick breakfast at an Enroute pit stop on Highway 401.
We stayed at the beach for the morning and really did forget that we were in Ontario. Sandbanks has velvety soft sand, shallow and calm waters for about 100 metres out from the shore and a seemingly endless, long beach. It does get crowded but at the end of the day, it’s a public beach and this comes with the territory. Our kids romped and played to their hearts content until we packed up, changed them by our car and took off for lunch at 12:30.
STEP 2: LUNCH AT SAND AND PEARL OYSTER BAR
Located in West Lake and about 5 minutes away from Sandbanks Provincial Park, Sand and Pearl Oyster Bar is THE place to grab lunch if you want the feeling of eating right by the beach as far as I’m concerned. With a laid-back beachy vibe, and an excellent seafood-based menu, this restaurant does not disappointed.
Named one of top 10 new restaurants in Canada by EnRoute Magazine in 2018, Sand and Pearl is an unassuming former diner that has been turned into a chic and cool spot with a vibe that is reminiscent of a beach shack restaurant somewhere far more tropical than Southwestern Ontario. It’s easy to feel like you’re really far away when you’re here - a perfect continuation of the theme of Sandbanks Provincial Park and Outlet Beach!
Another reason I really love coming here is that my kids love to eat here too. The restaurant always seems to have a good number of families with kids dining here during the day, the staff are incredibly patient and kind with children and they have a cool seafood bar that my kids get a kick out each and every time.
I love the story of the owners and I also love that they partner with several local businesses to bring the best food and drinks to their customers. Check it out, I’m sure you will fall in love with it too!
Top tip - order the fish and chips for the kids and the caldosa and oysters to start for the grown-ups and everyone will be happy! And if possible, choose to sit in the backyard so the kids have space to run around and play after they’ve finished eating, while you enjoy a glass of wine or simply just finish your food in peace :)
To learn more about Sand and Pearl, or make a reservation, click here.
STEP 3: VISIT TO KINSIP HOUSE OF FINE SPIRITS
I have to sheepishly admit that prior to my last visit to the County, I had never heard of Kinsip. I can’t tell you why - it has rave reviews online and clearly receives tons of visitors every year. We actually ended up here because one of the staff members at Sand and Pearl recommended it as a place worth visiting.
Located in the heart of the County, Kinsip is a craft distillery that focuses on producing hand made spirits from top quality ingredients. The setting of the brewery itself is beautiful, as it is located on a farm with a beautiful old historic home on the property, cute little farm chickens, an idyllic swing hanging from a tree branch and lots of open space to sit and enjoy their products.
Because we visited during COVID-19, we were not able to indulge in a tour (which we heard is amazing), but were pleasantly surprised to be seated at a really nice table in the grounds with shade cover and a great view even though we didn’t have a reservation. Not wanting to get drunk too early in the game, we ordered one Kinsip Tasting Experience to share, which consists of three spirit samples and one sample sized cocktails for $15. The options they had available for tasting were so interesting - from Juniper Gin to Pine Vodka to Maple Whiskey and everything in between - that it was really hard to pick just three!
Aside from the amazing spirits and great scenery, the best part about coming here as a parent is that the kids will have a great time playing in the grounds while you sample and/or shop at Kinsip’s retail store. My kids were completely enamored by the chickens that Kinsip leaves to roam free in the grounds, and they also had a ton of fun on the swing. We all felt welcome (even when the kids were fighting about who could use the swing first ;-)) and I would highly recommend this as a stop to anyone who asks me what they should do if they are coming to the County, with or without kids!
Top tip - buy the County Cassis and/or the Kinsip Bitters to take home with you. Both are easy to use and enjoy at home. We bought both the County Cassis and a few Bitters, and we’ve been enjoying both ever since.
For more information on Kinsip, including booking a tasting or current hours of operation, click here .
STEP 4: VISIT TO KEINT-HE WINERY
With so many wineries in the County, it’s often a challenge for any wine lover to visit them all.
Keint-He Winery is one of those wineries I have always heard good things about and wanted to visit but have never made it to. But with this itinerary, we had the perfect opportunity to finally visit.
Located 15 minutes away by car from Kinsip, essentially on your route back to Toronto, this is the perfect second stop in your day trip.
Keint-He prides itself on producing wines that reflect a European character, right here in Ontario. They source their grapes from three different vineyards and work hard to reflect terroir in each of their wines. They also have the most beautiful label on their bottles. It is a historic painting by a Canadian artist which gets full thumbs up from me!
Canoes in a Fog, Lake Superior (Frances Anne Hopkins) - Keint-He Label
Keint-He’s tasting room is located on their Big Lake Vineyard. This vineyard faces Lake Ontario and as a result, affords you beautiful views as you taste their wines on their small patio. A tasting of three small pours is $5. We once again split the tasting and tasted the Portage Pinot Noir, the Bentway Pinot Noir and the Greer Chardonnay, all of which were really lovely wines. I would agree that these wines do indeed reflect their terroir.
To be honest, there isn’t really all that much for kids to do at this winery, so this should be a quick stop if your kids aren’t big fans of sitting around. Having said that, there is ample room for them to run around while you enjoy your tasting and you can all take in the beautiful views of the vineyard with a backdrop of Lake Ontario!
Top tip - try the Portage Pinot Noir and Greer Road Chardonnay. Both are excellent wines!
For more information on Keint-He Winery, including hours of operation, click here.
STEP 5: VISIT TO CASA DEA WINERY
Our last stop was at Casa Dea Estates Winery. We also hadn’t visited this winery on prior visits, but decided this would be a good choice this time because it is well situated on the route back to Toronto.
Situated just off the Loyalist Parkway which is one of the main arteries through the County, Casa Dea is located on the same road as two other well known jewels of the County - Norman Hardie Vineyard & Winery and Rosehall Run Vineyards. This is a nice benefit, because if you don’t want to drive around too much with your kids, you can just visit these three wineries and call it a day! Alternatively, if you are more adventurous than I am, you can easily add these two other amazing wineries to this itinerary! :)
The name “Casa Dea” means “Home of the Goddess” and is a tribute to the winery’s founder’s wife, Dea. While the property is expansive, they have certainly accomplished their vision of a “home” because the property it is welcoming and inviting at every turn.
In addition to a tasting area, there is also a restaurant on site where you can have a meal. There was a live band playing music at the restaurant when we visited, giving the whole property a magical feel.
There is also an area for playing bocce ball (bocce balls included!), several muskoka chairs and picnic tables to sit on and enjoy the surroundings, a big “LOVE” sign which is perfect for cute family photos and a big open field where kids can tumble around while you watch them with a glass of wine in your hand!
I really enjoyed the wines we tried here - they have a very different and interesting lineup. For $10, we shared four wine samples before heading over to play a game of bocce ball.
Top tip - try the less traditional wines here for a taste of something from a far away land! And definitely be sure to take a totally insta-worthy photo at the LOVE sign.
For more information on Casa Dea Estates Winery, including hours of operation and restaurant bookings, click here.
AND THAT’S A WRAP!
That’s it, folks. After this, you pack up and drive home! See, I told you it was easy! :)
With the way we timed everything, we were back in the car, heading home by about 4:30 and back in Toronto just a little bit after 6:30 and just in time for dinner. It was almost as if we never went anywhere new, or did anything just a little special with our day…. ;-)
I hope this helps you think about going to Prince Edward County (or another wine region you’ve been eyeing) with your kids too!
Have fun and safe travels!!
IF YOU”RE A WINE LOVER WHO LOVES TO LISTEN TO PODCASTS OR SIMPLY WANTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WINE, DON’T MISS THE WINEITUPANOTCH PODCAST!! CLICK HERE TO TUNE IN!