Plan your perfect PTBO Picnic and explore the region of Peterborough & the Kawarthas through a new lens. Spend a night with friends or family at a local inn and indulge in delightful bites from local shops, bakeries, and grocers.
After a while, you begin to realize that it’s not just where you explore that matters but also how. The approach that we take when visiting new places (or familiar places in a new way, for that matter) makes a difference.
On a larger level, that, of course, means visiting places with an open mind and, ideally, with some kindness in our back pocket to share with anyone you might meet along the way. But it’s also fun to appreciate a region by establishing a theme that you’re going to focus on.
It can be as simple as saying that on a particular weekend, you’re going to visit an area of the province and, for example, check out one of its most beautiful hikes, take one of Ontario’s most breathtaking drives, or visit one of the province’s latest festivals or events.
This time around, I decided to head to the Peterborough & the Kawarthas region to fully embrace a “fall road trip getaway” angle.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas has a list of “Authentic Adventures” to choose from during your visit, which is all about honing in on unique adventures that focus on local, sustainable experiences, connecting visitors to the region with incredible local business owners. I had such a nice time on the “Farm to Forest Getaway” with my partner, Chris, in the past, and I knew I was in for a treat this next time around.
I looked through the list of their “Authentic Adventures” and settled on the “PTBO Picnic” experience for my fall getaway.
What Exactly is the PTBO Picnic?
The PTBO Picnic is an experience that aims to get people outside to visit Peterborough & the Kawarthas in the shoulder seasons of the year. It’s a DIY experience, but you can get some inspiration from their website on some amazing local markets, bakeries, and Peterborough restaurants to get your picnic food. They also have a list of fantastic local inns and hotels along with picnic destinations to make your Peterborough picnic unforgettable.
This authentic adventure is ideal for four people, but it’s also great for couples, two or more friends, or even as a solo getaway.
It’s all about picking the perfect food, accommodation, and picnic location FOR YOU! I’m going to map out everything that you need to plan the perfect picnic experience.
When you find yourself shopping around for your fall picnic, you might find yourself wandering into some other fantastic shops along the way. There are so many delicious food stops and shopping hubs in the region that I found myself still snacking on some of the delicious foods that I brought back a few days after I returned.
Below, I’ll map out some of the best places to get food and accommodation and, of course, find the perfect Peterborough picnic spot.
Where To Find The Best Food For Your Peterborough Picnic
Lakefield Bakery on Queen
Lakefield Bakery on Queen is a short walk from The Village Inn. They’re known as an excellent stop for artisanal bread, delicious pastries, and sweet treats. They also sell local spreads and maple syrups.
If you’re focused on gathering items for your picnic, then you’ll likely want to go for the dessert angle. If you’re feeling up for it, you could even use your gift card here to nab a whole pie.
They’re well known for their desserts, so I tried some of their delicious Butter Tarts (which I’d highly recommend), as well as grabbing a few of their Date Squares.
To keep the energy high, I also grabbed myself a cup of their delightfully brewed Pilot Coffee.
The Cheesy Fromage
The Cheesy Fromage is a lovely cheese and wine shop located on the main street in Lakefield. It’s a spot you can go for a lunch, afternoon, or evening charcuterie board, or you can order one to take with you on your picnic.
They have an expertly curated selection of home goods, which are perfect for making a great cocktail, serving wine and appetizers at home, and finding the unique preserve to pair perfectly with your charcuterie spread.
Their cheesemonger will take you through all of the best options for you to indulge in for your picnic spread and can create a charcuterie-to-go for your picnic.
The opportunities are endless for a spread, with Ontario and Quebec cheeses from sheep’s milk to blue cheese and preserves that are made in-house, like antipasto or apple preserves, and other locally sourced preserves, too.
The Grape and Wedge
The Grape and Wedge is an artisan food store located in the quaint town of Apsley. They offer everything you’d expect from a local boutique grocer and then some.
You can find preserves, meats, and cheeses for a picnic charcuterie here, plus homemade hummus, other delicious dips, and even artisanal sandwiches. On the day of my visit, the sandwich special was a smoked ham and brie sandwich, which I happily grabbed for my picnic.
I also picked up a few jars of local jams, artificial crostini, and stuffed olives on my stop here for my picnic basket.
Kawartha Country Wines
Kawartha Country Wines is another great stop for a picnic getaway in the region. They have a cute local shop with delicious honey, spreads, sauces, preserves, and maple products. And, of course, they have an excellent selection of wine to choose from.
They create their own fruit wines at Kawartha Country Wines, offering a flavour of wines like pear, blueberry, cranberry, and raspberry.
If you’re coming through on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday for your picnic getaway, then it’s an excellent opportunity to take one of their wood-fired pizzas for your picnic, too.
More Places To Get Picnic Food In Peterborough
Now, the places above are just the stops that Chris and I made during our Peterborough picnic tour. But there are some more great restaurants, bakeries, and markets worth checking out.
Millbrook Mercantile features Locally sourced products whenever possible. Small batch, artisanal, hard to find. Boutique chic meets quaint small town.
The Millbrook Mercantile is a mix of both retail and culinary products, including freshly prepared gourmet food, over 130+ fine cheeses from around the world, and fine Italian cured meats.
Leahy’s Farm and Market is one of the most popular farm markets in the Peterborough area. This famous spot, located on HWY 28 between Douro and Lakefield, serves up the highest-quality fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked goods, and beef from their farm.
Hard Winter Bakery, located on Hunter Street in downtown Peterborough, is a neighbourhood sourdough bread bakery specializing in rustic treats and really good handmade bread. Everything is 100% made by us. Sourcing locally & organic when possible. It’s a perfect spot to grab some bread for your picnic sammies.
On the other side of town in the rural community of Keene is Harley Farms – Farm Gate. You can purchase food straight from the farm, including high-quality meats. While you’re there, visitors are welcome to check out the farm and see all of our amazing animals.
Great Accommodations For Your Peterborough Picnic Weekend
Peterborough’s not a one-day city. There are far too many amazing things to do in the city to set aside just one day. For our overnight Peterborough picnic, we stayed overnight at The Village Inn in Lakefield.
This adorable hotel has been hosting guests in historic and picturesque Lakefield for nearly 20 years. They offer 30 distinct room choices and two lavish suites tucked in the scenic Kawartha Lakes region.
If you opt to stay at The Village Inn, I’d recommend booking a room on the street-facing side of the inn. These rooms have spacious balconies and west-facing views of sunset over the Otonabee River.
Westwind Inn – Buckhorn
The Westwind Inn on the Lake sits on scenic Buckhorn Lake. It’s a beautiful place for guests to immerse themselves in nature and unwind. The inn has a cottage-like feel without being a cottage.
There are several different rooms in their lodge, some of which have a heart-shaped jetted tub. They also have more spacious rooms in their chalet, which is tucked away from the main lodge on a footpath.
I recommend staying in one of their rooms with a balcony during your visit so you can relax amongst the natural surroundings from the comfort of your room. You can check out their rates and availability here.
Viamede Resort
Viamede Resort, on the shores of beautiful Stoney Lake, is one of our favourite Ontario staycation destinations.
They focus on incredibly friendly service, farm-to-table food, and a wide range of on-site activities. One of the best things is resort fees, no waivers, no hidden fees! You can even bring your furry friend to Viamede.
More Great Peterborough-Area Hotels
Those are a few of our top Peterborough and the Kawarthas hotels, but they are not all of them. Some more great places to stay in the region are:
- Pine Vista Resort on Stoney Lake In Douro-Dummer
- Burleigh Falls Inn, overlooking the water, is just 10 minutes from Lakefield.
- Lake Edge Cottages in quiet Lakefield.
- Elmhirst’s Resort on Rice Lake in Keene is one of the most beautiful properties in all of Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
- Beachwood Resorts on Lower Buckhorn Lake is a wonderful weekend getaway.
The Best Places To Picnic In Peterborough and the Kawarthas
Let’s face it: the location is the glue that holds the perfect Peterborough picnic weekend together. So, I’ve mapped out some of the best picnic spots in the area to
Depending on whether you venture to Buckhorn or Lakefield for your PTBO Picnic, there are several areas to choose from when it comes to bringing your picnic outside.
Consider taking your Lakefield picnic to the Lakefield Conservation Area or Warsaw Caves Conservation Area. Both areas are in beautiful locations and have picnic tables and walking trails to take before or after your picnic.
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy your Buckhorn picnic, Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park or Burleigh Falls are excellent options, too. There are picnic tables at Lock 28 in Burleigh Falls, perfect for enjoying the afternoon next to the rushing falls and watching the boats coming in and out of the locks.
I ended up taking my picnic to the top of Lookout Trail at Warsaw Caves, which was a beautiful, protected, and scenic place for a picnic.
More Great Peterborough Picnic Spots
- Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 27 in Young’s Point – Tip: grab some ice cream at the nearby Lockside
- Selwyn Beach Conservation Area on Birch Island Road in Lakefield. It’s beautiful and quiet, even on busy summer days.
- Isabel Morris Park – This is an ideal spot for family picnics. They have a wonderful playground for kids.
- Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 31 in Buckhorn
Bidding Adieu to the Peterborough Picnic
As I was packing up my picnic in Warsaw Caves Conservation Area, I realized that I’d more or less accidentally amassed this incredible array of memories and deeper connections to this region on the picnic road trip.
How, for example, can I ever pass through Apsley now without stopping in at The Grape and Wedge? How can I ever roll past Lakefield without stopping to get myself a fresh coffee and baked goods at Lakefield Bakery?
That, in essence, is the beauty of an experience like this. Peterborough & the Kawarthas has put forth a map that they feel encapsulates some of the best of the best in the region, and we get to take part in that once but have this newfound knowledge and experience for a lifetime.
This province is full of new experiences. I write about this province for a living, and I came across places on the PTBO Picnic that downright wowed me and that I will be recommending for years to come. Now, that, to me, is something special, and I hope that if you do decide to take part in this authentic adventure, you’ll have much the same experience as me.
Bon appetite!
I want to humbly thank Peterborough & the Kawarthas for hosting us as media. All opinions are completely my own. If you appreciate this article, you’ll love our newsletter and our Ultimate Ontario Facebook group! Feel free to join. All are welcome.
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Bri Mitchell is a travel writer and content creator from Toronto, Ontario. She loves to highlight all things nature, food, wellness, history and adventures in her work. Bri writes and shares her travel experiences from across Canada and beyond on Instagram and TikTok @brimitchelltravels, and in her articles for travelingmitch.com, Ultimate Ontario, and here on We Explore Canada.