6 Free Things to Do in Sandbanks, Ontario

Prince Edward County, with its Sandbanks Provincial Park, has been a popular destination for several years. A little less than 5 hours’ drive from Montreal, it is popular for its splendid beaches where the water of Lake Ontario is almost turquoise, its farmers’ markets, its antique shops as well as its retro hotels and motels. The region is perfect for a road tripbut be careful, going there in summer can be expensive!

Here are 6 free activities that will help you save money during your vacation in this favorite Ontario county.

1. Explore Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington on foot

The charms of Prince Edward County pass through its charming villages. Wander for hours in Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington, where you’ll find antique shops, farmers’ markets, small cafes, revamped hotels and motels. Each municipality has its own flavor and you will not lack places to stop for a bite to eat, do some shopping or simply take some pretty photos.

The what? The Barn Quilt Trails or rather the barn quilt circuit. Created to encourage visitors to explore rural communities, this tour introduces you to large wooden blocks hand-painted in traditional quilt designs, installed on barns. You will be able to view more than 100 barn quilts. How many will you find during your stay?

3. Hike the Sandbanks Dunes Trail

Bring the whole family on an easy 2.5 km hike on the Sandhills Trail in Sandbanks Provincial Park. You will explore a fragile habitat which is home to very diverse fauna and flora. This group of dunes is also the largest of its kind in the world, all the more reason to walk there and discover all its beauty. In addition to this trail, there is also a one-kilometer loop to walk if you want to extend the walk.

• The park entrance cost for the day is $21 per car, tax included.

4. Discover local art

Wander for hours to discover the county’s local art through galleries, studios and public art installations. The Arts Trail is a circuit created to take you to explore around ten addresses where you will observe works of sculpture, paintings, photographs, woodwork, prints, drawings, mixed media, furniture, glass, fabrics, ceramics and more.

5. Enjoy the sublime beaches

Eh yes! Sandbanks is known for its dream beaches, it would be sad to deprive you of them! First of all, Sandbanks Provincial Park, where you will find 3 vast sandy beaches: Outlet Beach, ideal for families, but also the busiest, Lakeshore Beach, then Dunes Beach. To avoid the big crowds, head to North Beach Provincial Park instead, which is equally beautiful.

• The cost of entry to the park for the day is $21 per car, tax included.

6. Cycling

Prince Edward County is ideal for bike rides between vineyards, market gardens and flea markets. Take the Millienum Trail, a 46-kilometer cycle path, to discover bucolic landscapes.

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