Older, wiser and looking for fun

Please welcome Tricia Mumby, co-founder of Mabel's Labels Inc., Mama of one little lovey.

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Celebrating aging with my gal pals

Vegas? Bermuda? NYC? All great potentials for a 40^th birthday getaway. Three BFFs from our university days, we were determined to let loose, relax and catch up while slipping fabulously into our 40's together. But I was feeling a little travel-weary (read: sick and tired of airports) and we know we can have an amazing time anywhere. After a few minutes of needless worrying where to celebrate, I made some calls and arranged a girlfriend-only-road-trip to Prince Edward County Ontario.

girlfriend getaway ...Prince Edward County (known as The County or #PEC on Twitter) is an island that jets into Lake Ontario between Belleville and Brighton. It's a water-lovers dream with bird's eye view of Lake Ontario, West Lake, Lake-on-the Mountain and the Bay of Quinte. The terrain of the area is entirely unique and diverse with so many beautiful views of many waterways and lakes.

The climate and terrain have also given way to the county's main industries: wine and tourism. In the 70's and 80's, Prince Edward County was considered an economically depressed area. Industrious entrepreneurs and creative government programs have completely transformed the area, turning it into a HOT tourist destination and retirement plan for many people.

Exploring Prince Edward County

exploring Prince Edward CountyWhile Picton is the largest town, our favorite gems are hidden in the much smaller communities. My sister lives in the area, so I had a planning advantage. But really, it's an easy place to navigate and you're going to have fun, guaranteed.

Waupoos

Located on Lake Ontario with an amazing view of Waupoos Island, make this tiny hamlet your first stop. The County Cider Company is home to award-wining ciders - available for sale and sampling - as well as a delish patio experience. Their lounge chairs rock. As does the view.  We enjoyed a beautiful lunch of stone-baked pizza from their outdoor kitchen and left with a cellar's worth of cider and lots of fond memories. In fact, we liked it so much, we returned the next day...

Sandbanks Winery

Wimeries of Prince Edward CountyYou may begin to see a theme - but again - awesome lawn chairs. The Sandbanks Winery was our gateway to the very shoppable and beautiful town of Wellington. While it doesn't boast a stunning view, we loved the location and the friendly people. The wines were amongst our favorites and while they don't have a restaurant on-site, they welcome picnickers. Before arriving, we stopped at Black River Cheese Company and were fully stocked for a beautiful picnic. If you're lucky, you might stop when a local band is performing.  

66 Gilead Distillery

We had no idea that gin, vodka, rum, and rye-whisky were being made in Prince Edward County at 66 Gilead Distillery. The stunning farm house, which dates to 1874, serves as the tasting room. The distillery is located in a large barn and in a smaller barn, the owner crafts the barrels on-site. It was a beautiful tour and these people are clearly dedicated to the craft. Again, we left with more than a few souvenirs in-hand.

We also toured Norman Hardie Winery, Waupoos Winery, Casa Dea Estates, and a few other stops. How, you're wondering? The county is filled with tour operators just waiting to show the beauty of this place. We hired a lovely gentleman recommended thru my sister's network, to tour us around in our own car but there are also taxi and limo options - thousands of people flock here each summer.

what to do in Prince Edward CountyThe weekend was magical. Our accommodations at Lake-on-the-Mountain Inn were fantastic. We rented a small but adorable 2-bedoorm, 1 ½ bath cottage directly on the lake. Each cottage is fully equipped with bedding, kitchen stuff, a barbecue and fire pit. The family that owns the Inn could not have been nicer. They brew their own fantastic beer on-site (which we sampled, of course) and have a wonderful restaurant.

Prince Edward County is a 2.5hr drive from Toronto and is completely worth checking out. As a Girls-Getaway, it was perfect. Accessible, inexpensive, laid-back, spotty cell service and lots of food & drink.

If you go to Prince Edward County, take time to explore:

• girlfriends road tripWineries
• Shopping in Bloomfield and Wellington
• Sandbanks Provincial Park
• Lake on the Mountain Restaurant
• County Cider Company
• Fifth Town Artisan Cheese & the Black River Cheese Company

Ever been to Prince Edward County? We’d love to hear what you loved best! Find us on Twitter or Facebook and let’s start talking!

About Tricia Mumby

Trish Mumby ~ @mumbyTricia Mumby is one of the co-founders of Mabel's Labels Inc. Mabel's Labels markets and manufactures durable "Labels for the Stuff Kids Lose". Doing business primarily online, the real-time web has proven to be a valuable sales channel as well as an essential business tool. Follow Tricia on Twitter at @Mumby.