How to Spend a Summer With the Grandkids in Prince Edward County

There is something special about summers visiting grandparents.

Sticky popsicle fingers. Bathing suits hanging on the clothesline. Ice cream after dinner because, well, it's summer. Long afternoons that seem to stretch forever and the familiar sound of "Can we stay a little longer?"

If the grandkids are visiting this summer, Prince Edward County is full of simple adventures that don't require much planning—just a little curiosity and a willingness to say yes to one more stop. Because years from now, they probably won't remember which beach you visited or where you stopped for lunch. They'll remember who built the sandcastle with them.

Some traditions never go out of style.

Pack a cooler, grab the sunscreen, and spend the morning at Sandbanks Provincial Park, North Beach Provincial Park, or Wellington Rotary Beach. Skip stones, hunt for shells, splash in the shallow water, or simply watch little imaginations turn a pile of sand into an entire kingdom.

If the beaches are busy, the Picton Splash Pad is another summer favourite, complete with ships, water cannons, and enough excitement to tire out even the busiest little visitors.

Let's be honest—this was always going to happen.

Whether it's a roadside stand, a waterfront cone, or an afternoon treat after the beach, ice cream somehow tastes better in The County. Sit on a bench. Watch the boats drift by. Count how many napkins it takes to clean everyone's hands. Nobody is keeping score.

Prince Edward County is full of memorable animal encounters.

Visit Carsons Garden + Marketto say hello to the goats, stop by the petting zoo at Waupoos Estates Winery, or wander through Struisvogel Ranch and meet some of the largest birds you'll ever see. Expect laughter, endless questions, and at least one grandchild asking if they can bring an ostrich home.

Summer is harvest season, and there is something wonderfully old-fashioned about stopping at a farm stand.

Visit a local farm to pick strawberries, raspberries, flowers, or whatever happens to be in season. Chances are half the basket will disappear before you make it back to the car. Some of the best summer memories are measured in berry stains.

Prince Edward County rewards curiosity.

Take the grandkids to Birdhouse City at Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area, where tiny handcrafted buildings hide among the trees, or wander the nearby forest trails looking for butterflies and birds.

The afternoon doesn't need much of a plan. Challenge everyone to mini golf at Caddy Shack, ride bikes along a gentle stretch of the The Millennium Trail or explore the outdoor sculpture garden at Oeno Gallery, where giant works of art become part scavenger hunt and part imagination exercise.

Spend an hour strolling through Picton,
Wellington, or Bloomfield, popping into bookstores, bakeries, toy shops, candy stores, and local boutiques.

Kids have a remarkable ability to turn window shopping into an adventure. And grandparents have a remarkable ability to say yes to one more cookie.

There is no rule that says lunch has to be quick.

Find a shady patio, split a basket of fries, or pick up sandwiches and butter tarts from a local café before heading to the waterfront for an impromptu picnic. Some of the best conversations happen while everyone is too busy eating to look at a screen.

This might be the best advice of all.

Pull over because the strawberries looked too good to pass up. Buy sunflowers from a roadside stand. Stop to watch boats in the harbour. Wander into a bookstore. Find a playground you didn't know existed. Prince Edward County has a funny way of turning little detours into favourite memories. Leave room for them.

Sometimes the simplest outings are the biggest hit.

Take the grandkids for a ride on the Glenora Ferry, a short and scenic crossing that feels like a little adventure all on its own. Watch the water, count the boats, feel the breeze, and enjoy those few quiet minutes where everyone is looking out at the same view.

It’s an easy, low-effort detour that adds a bit of magic to the day, especially for kids who love anything that moves. And for grandparents? It’s a rare activity that requires almost no planning, no tickets, and no one asking, “Are we there yet?” for very long.

If everyone still has a little energy left, there is only one way to finish a perfect summer day.

Head to the Mustang Drive-In, order popcorn, (or tacos, new this year!), and settle in for a movie beneath the stars.

Watching a film from the back of the car somehow never goes out of style. And if someone falls asleep before the credits roll? You probably did summer right.

The best days with grandkids are rarely the ones that go exactly as planned.

They're the ones filled with one more swim, another scoop of ice cream, berry-stained fingers, sandy shoes, and "just five more minutes."

The bathing suits will dry on the clothesline. The sand will eventually disappear from the car. But years from now, they'll still remember summers in Prince Edward County with their Grandma and Grandpa.

From beach days and berry picking to outdoor movies, festivals, and family-friendly adventures, our Summer Hub is full of ideas to help you make the most of the season in Prince Edward County.

Stop by the Visitor Information Centre at The Regent Theatre in Picton, where our friendly local team can recommend kid-approved beaches, ice cream stops, rainy-day activities, playgrounds, and hidden gems perfect for making memories with the grandkids.