If you’re heading for a fall colour tour in Prince Edward County, you’ll find that fall colours are in full bloom the first two weeks of October due to the island’s moderate temperatures. Making Bloomfield your home base will give you quick access to both the Town of Picton about five minutes away, as well as Sandbanks Provincial Park, ten minutes south on Hwy 12.
You’ll find several charming B&Bs on Bloomfield’s Main Street including Ballyclare Bed & Breakfast, Hillsdale House B&B, Nap-n-Nosh B&B and Sunrise B&B for your fall colour tour in Prince Edward County.
Take Hwy 12 south of Bloomfield to Sandbanks Provincial Park where you’ll find one of Ontario’s best beaches, the Outlet Beach. You can walk for several kilometres and listen to the waves break against the shore.
You also won’t want to miss climbing the huge sand dunes at the Dunes Beach on West Lake that is also within Sandbanks Provincial Park. Another bonus of visiting Sandbanks in the fall is you won’t find the hoards of people that flock to the park in the summer months.
When leaving Sandbanks Provincial Park, make sure to have your camera ready to take pictures along Hwy 12.
When hunger hits, you can choose from several restaurants in Bloomfield. You can enjoy homemade sandwiches and soups at the Saylor House Café’s garden patio at 274 Main Street. For fine dining, the Carriage House Restaurant features local and organic produce while Angeline’s serves tapas and cocktails in their lounge and on the patio. Picton, only a few kilometres east, offers a wider selection of cuisine including the Blumen Garden Bistro, a deluxe dining room at 647 Hwy 49. You can also purchase superb Prince Edward County produce including purple and orange cauliflower and Heirloom tomatoes at Hagerman’s, located on Hwy 33 on the north side midway between Bloomfield and Picton.
When it’s time to leave Bloomfield, you’ll find the Loyalist Parkway (Hwy 33) will take you on a scenic drive that hugs the lake and passes through Wellington, a seaside town with innovative restaurants including Tall Poppy Café and East & Main Bistro.
Once you find your way back to Hwy 401 and head west back to Toronto, don’t put your camera away. You’ll get some excellent shots of fall colour between Trenton and Cobourg.
