Rosalie's Trip: An Artist’s Take on Visiting The County

Go to County Traders and you will probably find the coffee table of your dreams or an obscure but very attractive landscape painting or maybe some old California Raisin figurines.

This contemporary gallery boasts a 3-acre sculpture garden and showcases mid-career to established Canadian artists, with a notable focus on Francophone creators. Their collection includes a monumental sculpture by Marcel Barbeau. It's a big deal, representing a piece of Quebec's art culture.

The gallery regularly hosts opening receptions and an annual celebration party in July, offering a chance to enjoy art, meet artists, and immerse in the local community.

I love Trail Estate! This small winery embraces low-intervention methods, resulting in wines that are fantastic! Through a rigorous wine-making practice, they are not afraid of pushing boundaries and experimenting with what mother nature provides them with. They offer delicious orange wines, fun pet nat but also more serious cab franc, and elegant chardonnays. And their visuals/branding is fresh and fun!

Set sail on Lake Ontario with Evan, the charming owner and captain/instructor who speaks also speaks French. Located at Waupoos Marina, he'll guide you to hidden natural gems accessible only by boat, where you can swim or jump in. Evan treats his guests like VIPs with delicious snacks from local producers.

Besides offering boat trip experiences, Happy Sailing is also offering courses on how to cruise for novice to intermediate-level sailors.

Don't miss Stella's Eatery, located right next to Waupoos Marina, after your sailboat trip. It's one of the best restaurants in The County, offering farm-to-table dishes with local and seasonal produce. Chef/owner Leah Hannon is so talented and their patio is super charming. Love that place forever!

More art! With the Art Trails and so many galleries, PEC is known for its artistic community. The Maison de Poivre gallery is a great part of it! Located at Base 31, the gallery is owned by Vincent Depoivre and Christophe Doussot, both francophone. The gallery represents a lot of local artists as well as international ones. They always have great curated exhibitions. A must-see!

Base 31 is a vibrant hub featuring other art galleries such as Melt, an antique store, local businesses, and art installations by the Department of Illumination. Designed by local landscape architect Victoria Taylor, they have created a nice environment to enjoy. Also, food trucks are on site offering various options. Base 31 is an evolving project, so each year more is added to it!

Look at their concerts/art events programming too! The summer is full of concerts at Base 31!

Off Main Street, you will find Mary Street Vintage, a super tiny vintage store with very cool clothing. It gives Brooklyn vibes. Their collection is so well curated, with real treasures! 

I love finding unique fashion pieces and City Revival delivers just that with its chic vintage offerings! It's a big store with a lot of inventory and a lot of designer, luxury pieces. Plus, the team there is the greatest!

The property at Three Dog Winery is beautiful and so cozy. Andrew, the winemaker, is very passionate and creates very delicious wines. The whole team is super welcoming. They have live music on the weekends and they're open all year round. Winter is fun at Three Dog Winery, you can go snowshoeing and enjoy a glass of wine in front of a bone fire. Be sure to visit their website for updates on events like local markets and special theme days!

Andrew and Adam, the two brothers can both freestyle an impressive French! They also offer a French menu to their visitors.