Destination Ontario Archives - The Weekend Fashionista

The Claramount Club: A Luxurious Getaway in Prince Edward County

There is something undeniably charming about Prince Edward County. From its boutique wineries and lavender fields to its picturesque waterfront towns, it has long been one of Ontario’s most beloved weekend destinations. But on our recent visit, we discovered a property that elevates the entire experience.

Nestled along the shores of Picton Harbour, the Claramount Club blends historic elegance with contemporary luxury, creating the perfect home base for exploring everything Prince Edward County has to offer. Originally built in 1906 as a grand Georgian estate, the beautifully restored property honours its rich heritage while offering all the modern comforts expected from a luxury getaway.

Where Heritage Meets Modern Luxury

We checked into one of the property’s beautifully appointed Heritage Suites, located within the original manor house. Each suite is individually designed, preserving the character of the historic estate while incorporating luxurious finishes, plush king beds, curated artwork, and thoughtful touches that make you instantly feel at home. High ceilings and classic architectural details remind you of the building’s history, while modern amenities ensure every comfort is at your fingertips.

For couples seeking a romantic escape, the Heritage Suites offer timeless charm. Those looking for uninterrupted waterfront views may prefer the hotel’s Harbour Front Rooms, each featuring a private balcony overlooking Picton Harbour.

Travelling with family or a larger group? The Claramount Club also offers spacious accommodations such as Taylor House, a beautifully restored four-bedroom heritage home complete with multiple living spaces, a full kitchen, fireplaces, and room for up to ten guests—ideal for family reunions, girls’ weekends, or multi-generational getaways.

Resort-Style Amenities in the Heart of the County

One of the things that surprised us most about the Claramount Club was just how much there is to enjoy without ever leaving the property.

Guests have access to a stunning indoor pool, a state-of-the-art Coach-Haus fitness centre, tennis courts, waterfront fire pits, beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces, and an inviting boardwalk that connects directly into downtown Picton. Whether you’re looking to stay active or simply unwind with a coffee overlooking the water, every corner of the property has been thoughtfully designed.

Dining Worth the Trip

Food lovers will appreciate having exceptional dining right on-site.

We enjoyed dinner at Foundry, where elevated comfort food is paired with handcrafted cocktails in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. On select evenings, live music creates the perfect backdrop for a leisurely dinner, whether you’re dining indoors or enjoying the harbour views from the screened porch and outdoor patio. It quickly became one of the highlights of our stay.

The property is also home to an in-house bakery and coffee shop, making mornings wonderfully easy with fresh pastries and expertly crafted coffee before setting off to explore the County. For guests seeking a more refined culinary experience, Delphine offers sophisticated waterfront dining showcasing seasonal ingredients sourced from Prince Edward County’s farms and producers.

Exploring the County

One of the Claramount Club’s greatest advantages is its location.

The newly built waterfront boardwalk leads directly into downtown Picton, making it easy to stroll into town without ever moving your car. Along the way you’ll find charming boutiques, antique stores, local galleries, cafés, and independent shops that perfectly capture the relaxed character of Prince Edward County.

During our weekend, we also made time to visit PEC Lavender, where rows of fragrant lavender create one of the County’s most beautiful summer landscapes. It’s a peaceful stop that’s perfect for photography, shopping locally made lavender products, or simply enjoying the slower pace that Prince Edward County is known for.

Of course, no visit to the County would be complete without exploring its wineries, artisan food producers, beaches, and scenic country roads. Whether you’re planning wine tastings, cycling the Millennium Trail, visiting Sandbanks Provincial Park, or discovering hidden antique shops, there’s always something new to experience.

The Perfect Luxury Weekend Getaway

Prince Edward County has no shortage of beautiful places to stay, but the Claramount Club offers something genuinely unique. Its blend of historic architecture, waterfront setting, luxurious accommodations, exceptional dining, and resort-style amenities creates an experience that feels equal parts relaxing and refined.

Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend, a girls’ getaway, or a family escape, the Claramount Club offers an elegant retreat while placing the very best of Prince Edward County just moments from your door.

After a weekend of exceptional dining, scenic waterfront walks, lavender fields, and luxurious accommodations, one thing was clear, we’ll certainly be returning to this remarkable corner of Ontario.

Things to do in Toronto this Summer

I’m back! It’s been a while since my last travel blog post and I’m so excited to share what I’ve been up to. Summer is finally here in Canada and what better time to start planning some vacations or staycations! For those of us in Ontario we have an added incentive of the Ontario Staycation tax credit. I although I’m based in Ottawa I always try to get at least one trip to Toronto in each Summer. It’s definitely Ontario’s largest and most popular city with so many sights to see and things to do, there’s something for everyone.

I visited Toronto a few weeks ago and had such a fabulous time thanks to Destination Toronto and their ideas on just about everything you could possibly need to know about planning a trip to Toronto.

Travel + Accommodation

As I live in Ottawa I could have chosen to fly, drive or take the train to Toronto but I really wanted to maximize my time in the city so Sashien and I chose to fly. We flew Porter Airlines directly to Billy Bishop Airport which is conveniently located in the heart of the city. Transportation out of the airport is quick and easy and you can either take the ferry, a taxi or Uber. We chose to Uber and used it to get around to most places during our weekend stay.

In terms of accommodation options Toronto has endless possibilities based on your needs and price point. On this occasion we were hosted by the Ritz-Carlton and we thoroughly enjoyed everything the hotel had to offer. This place is definitely worth the splurge! From the personalized guest key cards to the friendly and accommodating staff the Ritz-Carlton exudes five star service. We also had the chance to check out their onsite spa My Blend by Clarins. This spa was exquisite and offers so many high end services exclusive to Clarins, we both had the rebalancing massage and left feeling relaxed and ready to take on the weekend!

Sights + Attractions

Toronto has so much to see and do it’s impossible to see everything in one weekend but we did visit some really unique and interesting places on our trip. Of course there’s the traditional CN tower visit and the trip to Ripley’s Aquarium, which are great family friendly activities but as we had both seen them in the past we wanted to check out something different. One of our first stops was Little Canada which is an exhibit featuring animated miniatures of various cities and vistas around Canada. The exhibit is a work in progress as they build different parts of Canada. We enjoyed visit miniature versions of Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec City. This is a great family friendly exhibit!

If you know me in person then you’re quite aware of my shoe addiction, so this shoe-a-holic definitely couldn’t pass up a chance to visit the Bata Shoe Museum. This museum covers the history of shoes and features notable footwear from various centuries. At the moment there’s a brand new exhibit called Future Now which explores over fifty futuristic footwear designs from the auto-lacing Nike MAG to the virtual RTFKT x Staple Meta-Pigeon. My favourite item at the museum were the Christian Louboutin shoes for Barbie, how cute!!

If you’re looking for something more on the relaxing side then you must check out Hoame Meditation Studio. They offer a number of different meditation classes and experiences. We took a breath work meditation class at Hoame, I must admit I struggled with this one as I’m quite the chatterbox and we had to stay quiet. But if zen is your thing then you should definitely check it out.

Theatre + Shows

We arrived in Toronto on June 10th just in time for the National Ballet of Canada‘s opening night of Swan Lake. I’ve always enjoyed Tchaikovsky’s pieces so I was thrilled to get to see Swan Lake. The ballet runs until June 26th at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. If ballet is not your thing you can also check out Harry Potter and the Cursed Child which is playing throughout the Summer and into the Fall. If you’re in to musical theatre there’s also many other shows scheduled for the Summer a full list can be found here. I would highly recommend Singin’ in the Rain which plays this Fall. In addition to these there’s also concerts and other shows to check out.

Restaurants + Nightlife

We checked out a lot of great restaurants during our trip and Toronto definitely has so many choices to offer. On day 1 we had lunch at Oretta located on King St. West. I loved the decor and ambiance in this traditional yet modern Italian restaurant. They also have another location in midtown. This is a lovely spot for a casual drink and some gelato.

As we were staying at the Ritz-Carlton we got to check out some of the restaurants at the hotel, my favourite was Epoch which features indoor and outdoor dining spaces. This newly renovated restaurant features signature drinks a brand new menu and a patio with a great view of the CN Tower. I really enjoyed grabbing a cocktail outside, I would recommend the Lychee Queen cocktail. We also had breakfast at Toca which is located inside the hotel, Toca stands for Toronto Canada and the main attraction in this restaurant is their Cheese cave. It’s definitely a unique feature and a must see if you’re at the hotel.

Yorkville is one of my favourite areas of Toronto featuring high-end shops and unique restaurants. We stopped in for lunch at Bar Reyna which was totally worth the hype! We loved the mediterranean spin on traditional brunch dishes. I also really liked the ambiance and the decor on their patio. For drinks I’d recommend 7 am in Ibiza it’s a great take on an espresso martini!

One of the highlights of our trip was our dinner and evening at Lula bar. This was such a fun experience. Lula Bar is a latin resto-bar that features live bands and salsa dancing on the weekends. We enjoyed a three course meal, there is a set menu to choose from; followed by a salsa class and live music. I would highly recommend checking them out if you’re spending a weekend in Toronto.

On our last morning in Toronto we had breakfeast at OEB Breakfast Co. This restaurant is a great family friendly place that offers gourmet style meals at an affordable price. If you do go be sure to check out the Canadian Lobster and Shrimp Crepe. It’s such a fancy first meal!

Of course there are so many dining and entertainment options in Toronto and you can learn more about them on the Destination Toronto website.

Other fun stuff

One thing I didn’t cover yet was shopping! Toronto has so many malls it can be overwhelming but my favourite is definitely Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Not only does it offer an assortment of stores and designer boutiques it also houses my favourite Macaron shoppe Ladurée. I’ve visited in the past and wrote about my high tea experience there, you can read all about it here.

If you’re looking for the city that has something for everyone then Toronto is definitely for you! We had such a wonderful time on our weekend stay, a huge thank you to Destination Toronto for helping us plan our trip. We’re already planning another trip back this Summer. Don’t forget to check out Destination Toronto to help you plan the ultimate Toronto vacation and see Toronto now!