Discovering Wellness in Ontario’s Prince Edward County
By: Lynn Burshtein
Prince Edward County, a group of towns and villages located on the northeastern shorelines of Lake Ontario, has experienced a renaissance over the past decade. Just a few decades ago, it was primarily farmland with beaches and a fishing area. Now with many discovering the beautiful natural elements, including the gorgeous trails at Sandbanks Provincial Park www.ontario.ca/sandbanks, along with the world-class chefs and other entrepreneurs who have migrated to the region, there has been an explosion in upscale boutique hotels, wineries and fine dining. Prince Edward County has become a luxury destination for summer travel, perhaps rivaling Ontario’s premiere upscale resort area of Muskoka.
It is not only the dining and hotel scene in Prince Edward County that has become more sophisticated. Some notable properties have dedicated wellness experiences to attract travelers and city dwellers (it is approximately 2.5-hours from Toronto and 3.5 hours from Montreal) who are looking to take a deep breath of the fresh county air and unwind. Whether seeking wellness in Wellington, Picton or Bloomfield, plenty of healthy travel options abound.
Wander the Resort in Bloomfield
The 10,000 square foot, lakefront property called Wander the Resort is the most obvious destination for the wellness traveler in Prince Edward County. While the property has been open since 2021, Wander’s Nordic spa opened in January 2025 and with it, various treatments including hot stone and reiki massages, sauna rituals and the traditional Scandinavian practice of alternating between hot and cold thermotherapy (known to promote better circulation, breath work and stress relief).
Upon entering one notices that the property’s décor is equally calming, with neutral tones, clean lines and oversized seating in an open-concept lobby. All typical characteristics of Scandinavian minimalism. Meanwhile, the on-site restaurant, Gather, features beach-side classics such as Lobster Rolls, Seared Local Pickerel and charcuterie boards, along with inventive dishes such as Roasted Delicate Squash with lentils and burrata, and Cubano sandwiches with baguette fries, all made with locally-sourced ingredients.
For visitors to the county who can only spare a few hours,Wander offers the Summer Club Day Pass, which allows guests to wander in for the day and make use of the hydrotherapy circuit, outdoor pools, and the private, aptly-named, Whisper Beach. Whatever the length of your stay, owner Shannon Hunter says the property is a “place for time to stand still for a moment.” More on Wander the Resort
The Royal Hotel / Claramount Club in Picton
The Royal Hotel on Picton’s main street is a buzzy boutique hotel in a fabulously-renovated site dating back to 1879. Opened in 2021, the Victorian-inspired heritage building boasts 33 comfortably appointed rooms, a gourmet Italian-inspired restaurant and a cozy lobby bar – the Counter – which many consider to be “the” place to meet up for a drink in the area.
The Royal Hotel also has a plethora of wellness-based activities. Along with an outdoor pool, sauna and self-care treatments including facials and massages, the property offers early morning fitness activities including Yoga at the Park on Sundays; the Royal Running Club every Tuesday, and on Wednesdays, Boot Camp class in the gym in partnership with local boutique fitness club, Coach Haus. As a former client of Coach Haus proprietor and fitness expert, Danielle Reynolds, I can personally attest to the high intensity of her workouts. More on Coach Haus
Coach Haus’ main headquarters is in the Claramount Club www.claramountclub.ca, a Georgian estate built in the early 1900s that has been converted to an upscale waterfront hotel and private club. A short walk from downtown Picton, the club offers access to the gym, group fitness classes and individualized treatments such as nutritional consulting The Claramount also has an indoor pool and outdoor tennis courts. More on The Royal Hotel
The Drake Devonshire (Wellington)
The so called “Drake-by-the-Lake” is the offshoot – the country cousin, if you will – of the renowned Drake Hotel, Toronto’s internationally acclaimed boutique hotel. Going back to the early 2000s, the Drake was and still is known for promoting musical acts and local artists, and a display of Canadiana throughout the property including at its onsite General Store.
The scene at the Drake Devonshire is not unlike its predecessor – walking into the lobby, the Drake’s brand’s distinct artistic flair is evident. But instead of being on Toronto’s trendy Queen Street West, you are lake-front, making the juxtaposition of hipster hotel against the natural setting a terrific combination.
The property offers on-trend fitness activities including Pickleball and Boules for those with a competitive streak, or bike, paddleboard, canoe and kayak rentals for those who want a more serene workout in nature.
To help the active guest unwind, there is a sundeck area for lounging (here, I fell asleep, even after a good night’s sleep in my room), an outdoor sauna and a contrast hydrotherapy experience. Overnight guests at the Drake are also offered complimentary passes to the private Bloomfield Wellness Club where they can access state-of-the-art fitness equipment and self-guided cardio or weight training.
For more on the Drake Devonshire and the Bloomfield Wellness Club
While Prince Edward County receives many accolades for its wineries, high-end farm-to-table cuisine and burgeoning boutique hotel scene, the three afore mentioned properties, plus a few others, show that the county is a good destination for the wellness-minded traveler.
For more on what Prince Edward County has to offer under the umbrella of wellness.
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Ontario-based Lynn Burshtein is a long-time contributor to Travel to Wellness
