Sandbanks Living Easy Blog

Shipwrecks on Lake Ontario: Dive the “Grave Yard!”

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:26:00 +0000

Two-thirds or more of the shipwrecks that occurred on Lake Ontario during the schooner and early steam era took place between Point Petre in Prince Edward County and the Main Duck Islands. Today there are a number of two and three masted schooners, barges, and steamers scattered around the bottom of these waters waiting to be explored by divers. To experience some of Ontario's richest Marine heritage, schedule a chartered dive and dive the “Grave Yard” of Lake Ontario!

Prince Edward County: A Globally Important Birding Area

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:24:00 +0000

Prince Edward Point was designated as a Globally Important Birding Area (IBA) in 1998 by the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada. The limestone ledges, sandy and rocky shorelines, deciduous and coniferous woods, small and large lakes and ponds, open fields, and wetlands all provide an inviting environment for the 337 species of birds being recorded. Point Petre, Salmon Point, West Point (Sandbanks Provincial Park), and Huyck’s Point have all been identified as important focal points to view migrating birds. Click here for more information on guided tours, outdoor events, birds, and birding opportunities.

Save Easy this Spring!

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:35:00 +0000

This Spring you can save up to 40% on strucutural upgrade packages for your new vacation cottage, but you must act quickly. Choose your cottage lot, select your floorplan design, and Save Easy with our limited time savings on upgrade packages. Click here for full details.

Grand Opening of the Resort

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:14:00 +0000

On May 19th Sandbanks Summer Village will celebrate the official Grand Opening of the Resort. Join us from 2-4pm as we enjoy live music, delicious treats, and fantastic wines from Huff Estates. Be sure to contact a Cottage Advisor to reserve your complimentary pass to the event because space is limited!

Recipes using one of the county's spring harvests, asparagus

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:20:00 +0000

Take advantage of this year's Spring harvest by making delicious dishes comprised of seasonal produce from the County. This Spring, try some delicious dishes using asparagus, a low calorie, low sodium vegetable that’s also a good source of vitamin B and calcium. When selecting asparagus at the local grocery or farmer’s market, choose stalks of similar sizes so they will cook evenly. For a light side dish, try this recipe for steamed asparagus with lemon or, for an Italian spin, try this recipe for Parmesan asparagus. Try serving this main dish of asparagus and goat cheese paired with a glass of one of the County's red wines and you'll be sure to leave your guests wanting more. Find a local farmstand, and enjoy the County's fresh asparagus while it's in season.

From the Farm Cooking School: The ultimate field to table culinary experience

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:11:00 +0000

For the ultimate field to table culinary experience, sign up for a cooking class at From the Farm Cooking School, and experience the joy of cooking seasonally. You’ll learn how to cook seasonal dishes with some of the freshest ingredients locally grown by the farmers right here in Prince Edward County. Sessions are held in a restored 1830's farmhouse and conducted by owner Cynthia Peters, a personal chef and food writer. Some of the Spring Sessions include: “A Tuscan Spring Celebration,” “A French Dinner, inspired by Julia Child,” and “Monet’s Farmhouse Table & Vineyard Tour.” Click here for a full list of Spring 2012 classes.

Signs of spring in the County

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Signs of spring are everywhere here in Prince Edward County! From the locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables, to the various agricultural fairs and the season opening of Sandbanks Provincial Park, we’re pleased to report Spring has sprung here in the County. Take advantage of Springtime in the County: shop some of the local farm markets, visit tasting rooms at local wineries, or select some award-winning cheese all grown and produced here in the County.

The Ottawa Citizen features Sandbanks Summer Village

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:45:00 +0000

The Ottawa Citizen recently profiled Sandbanks Summer Village and one of our resident families. Read the full article here.

The Toronto Sun Features Sandbanks Summer Village AGAIN

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:33:00 +0000

The Toronto Sun featured us in a SECOND article in April. This time, the focus was on the benefits of our seasonal nature and our no maintenance ownership style. To read the full article, click here.

Prince Edward County’s “Countylicious” is back!

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Any chef will tell you the key to a palatable dish is fresh ingredients, and in Prince Edward County this holds true for every plate. Prince Edward County is a top culinary destination due, in large part, to its abundance of fresh, organic, and locally grown fruits and vegetables, its farm raised livestock, 50 vineyards, 30+ wineries, and numerous organic farms.

Want to savor one of those mouthwatering meals at an incredibly great price? From March 28th – April 21st, you can! During Prince Edward County's "Coutylicious" you can enjoy some of the county’s fine dining with ten restaurants offering three-course tantalizing creations for $30-$35 (appetizer, entrée and dessert). Visit the County and enjoy the fabulous fine dining options residents of Sandbanks Summer Village enjoy all summer long.

An Interview with Howard "Chip" Hall

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Urban Toronto recently interviewed Howard "Chip" Hall, president of Cottage Advisors of Canada. Hall explained why he chose Prince Edward County as the ideal location for his cottage community, noting the beauty of the area, the drivability, the range of activities, the fine dining and wine options, among several other reasons. To read the full article, click here.

Ming Pao features Sandbanks Summer Village

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:57:00 +0000

Chinese newspaper Ming Pao recently profiled Sandbanks Summer Village in a five page spread. They featured our new condo cottage concept, our affordable financing options, and our variety of floorplan options. To read the full article, click here.

The Hamilton Spectator features Sandbanks Summer Village

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:46:00 +0000

The Hamilton Spectator recently profiled our cottage community in its Travel section. Says The Hamilton Spectator, "The love affair that first drew you to a cottage on a northern lake can wane over the years as maintenance jobs eat into vacation time. In Prince Edward County a company called Cottage Advisors of Canada is building a condo cottage community dedicated to taking the work out of cottage ownership while building a community of like-minded owners and preserving the joys of cottage summers." Read the full article by clicking here.

Sandbanks Summer Village Featured in REMonline.com

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:30:00 +0000

REMonline.com, Canada’s premier business publication for the real state industry, recently profiled Sandbanks Summer Village in their "Trends, What's New" section. The writer for REMonline.com announced, "Cottage condos – free-standing, individually owned cottages situated in resort communities filled with amenities and activities – have arrived in Canada." For the full story, click here.

Sandbanks Summer Village Featured in Condo.ca

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:19:00 +0000

Condo.ca, Ontario's Condominium Magazine, recently profiled Sandbanks Summer Village and our unique condo cottage vacation village. Writes Condo.ca, "One of the attractions for people buying in a community like this is the fact that it’s 'hassle free.' Owners don’t have to worry about cleaning the property, maintaining a dock, cutting grass. If you think that those activities are integral to the whole cottage experience, this lifestyle isn’t for you. But if you want a place to laze away the summer with no responsibilities greater than selecting what to read and eat, it could work." To read the full article, click here.

Bicycle Trails in the County

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:05:00 +0000

The County is one of the best places to learn how to tour by bicycle. The distances between points are very short, and there are all kinds of small villages around for rest stops. You really can`t get lost in the County, because sooner or later you`re going to run into water and have to turn around. The roads are beautiful and not crowded. It`s very bike friendly here.” - Rick Willing of the Bloomfield Bicycle Company. Read more about biking trails in P.E.C.

Are you interested in exploring beautiful Prince Edward County by bike? Try the Millennium Trail, a trail 15 meters in width and 49 kilometers in length and a total land area of 73.5 hectares. The trail starts in Carrying Place and winds through the County to Picton with various vistas and natural landscapes to enjoy along the route. The Trail is accessible at several locations throughout the County with specific hiking points in Picton, Wellington, Bloomfield and Consecon. Or click here to view a map of scenic spots to plan your own scenic bike tour!

Sandbanks Summer Village Featured in Toronto Sun

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:30:00 +0000

The Toronto Sun featured our condo cottage vacation village Friday, March 16th and Sunday, March 18th this week in an article titled "Sandbanks condos have family appeal." Writer Lisa Frattori explains how our unique cottage condomininium village was created with community in mind. She writes, "A priority at Sandbanks Summer Village is to create a tight-knit community where people can forge friendships that last a lifetime." To read the full article, click here.

Maple in the County

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 02:11:00 +0000

Sure Prince Edward County’s Maple in the County is 48 hours of all things maple, but it also celebrates art and culture, food, outdoors, nature and, above all, the good spirit of the residents of P.E.C. You can enjoy rides through the sugar bushes, and savor a pancake breakfast. Go on a tour of a sap house, and visit farmyard sugar shacks to watch as sap is turned into syrup the old fashioned way - on an open fire. View the antique tractor displays, watch a live concert, and even try some Maple Cheese or Maple Ham. There will be a range of activities throughout the County, including: cooking classes, wine, cider and beer tastings, and maple themed dining, to name a few. Click here for a list of this year’s participants, and come celebrate and enjoy one of Mother Nature’s sweetest gifts! Follow the maple route and don’t forget to stop by our Visitor Centre for some delicious maple treats and a tour of our model cottages. Our Cottage Advisors will be giving tours of our 80-acre lakefront village and offering information on our available vacation cottages, starting at $179,900 (hst included).

What is a VQA?

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 02:08:00 +0000

Vintners Quality Alliance, or VQA, is a regulatory and appellation system which guarantees the high quality and authenticity of origin for Canadian wines made under its system in British Columbia and Ontario. VQA wines are made with grapes from relatively small agricultural yields per vine and meet specific sugar or brix levels at harvest. The use of additives is regulated, and there are also standards regulating the use of packaging and closures. A wine appellation helps characterize wines of a particular region with unique growing features found in the area, such as soil, geology, climate, and topography. An appellation may also come to represent a reputation for a specific wine style or grape variety.

In 2007, Prince Edward County was officially identified as a VQA appellation of origin. With its foundation of deep valleys digging into the broad flat Trenton limestone, the area produces distinct wines that can be recognized by wine lovers around the world. The broken limestone bedrock and stony soils of the Prince Edward County VQA allows for excellent drainage in the spring and acts like a wet sponge throughout the growing season, forcing vines to grow deeper
during the hot summer months and produce small yields with concentrated flavours. Stop by one of Prince Edward County’s VQA wineries and grab a certified bottle of wine made from some of the most distinct grapes in the world!

Building an Eco-Friendly Village

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

From the way we developed our 80-acre site, to the construction of our buildings and the way we designed our utilities, Sandbanks Summer Village works hard to conserve, protect, and preserve the beautiful environment that makes Prince Edward County so special.

Only approximately 12 acres of the 80-acre site is actually developed. Open space or manicured landscaping makes up approximately 68 acres of the 80-acre site, allowing for preservation of the majority of natural meadows, marshlands, woodlands and waterfront. It was a top goal to double the conservation setbacks in order to protect the natural surroundings and preserve them as an amenity for owners and guests. The Cottage sites are carefully hand cut to preserve as much of the natural vegetation as possible, and trees removed during construction are re-used for many things on the site, including being milled for use in natural landscaping and erosion control.

In addition, cottages are built on sonar tubes to minimize disturbance of surrounding area and disruption of surface water runoff. Anderson Low-E windows and Energy Star rated appliances ensure energy-efficient operation of all cottages and community buildings. Both buildings and cottages are protected with long-lasting, low maintenance TREX decking and railing, and the CertainTeed fiber cement siding is manufactured using partially recycled content by a member of the Canadian Green Building Council.

At Sandbanks Summer Village, even the water treatment system is eco-friendly, using state-of-the-art ionization processes that eliminate the need to introduce salt into the softening process. Lastly, the three-season nature of Summer Village eliminates the winter heating emission and the need for plowing and salt on community roadways.

Sandbanks Summer Village: Live Easy

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:18:00 +0000

Living is easy when you own a cottage at Sandbanks Summer Village. A maintenance free village means your cottage is opened and closed for you, pools and kayaks are waiting for you, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a putting green are ready for playful competition, and acres of trails and meadows are always landscaped and ready for exploring. At Sandbanks Summer Village, you buy an 800+sf cottage, but you own an 80-acre village. Contact our sales office and start living easy today!

Sandbanks Summer Village: Play Easy

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:14:00 +0000

After a long week at the office, getting away for some relaxation and fun is on everyone's mind, but packing up the car can be such a drag. But as an owner at Sandbanks Summer Village, you won't have to pack a thing! Playing at Sandbanks Summer Village is easy when you can arrive to sparkling clear pools ready for a swim, kayaks waiting at the beach for you to take out on East Lake, events and activities already scheduled, and pocket parks designed for gathering with neighbors and friends. With less time to pack and get your vacation home ready, you’ll have more time to play and make the most of your vacation!

Sandbanks Summer Village: Finance Easy

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:10:00 +0000

Not all vacation properties qualify for bank financing. Unlike timeshares and land lease vacation properties, the full ownership, free-standing condominium cottages at Sandbanks Summer Village qualify for bank financing. Howard “Chip” Hall, president of the Cottage Advisors of Canada explains, “We structured our vacation community with mortgage underwriting guidelines in mind. One of our missions is to make vacation homeownership more affordable to more people and that meant we needed our vacation cottages to qualify for bank financing.” Own your dream vacation home today, and finance easy with 15% down, low condo fees, and low taxes - we have preferred lenders ready for you! Please contact our sales office for information on our bank partners and programs.

Sandbanks Summer Village: Own Easy™ lifestyle

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:05:00 +0000

Sandbanks Summer Village's Own Easy™ lifestyle will have you enjoying your dream vacation cottage in just 4 simple steps:

Visit our cottage community for a tour of our six furnished cottages and our amenity-filled community.
Select your cottage lot and cottage design.
Choose from a variety of finish selections and upgrade options to personalize your vacation cottage.
Sit back as we bring your dream vacation cottage to life! The sail boats and kayaks will be waiting for you lakeside, the activities and events will already be coordinated for you, the pool will be cleaned, and the resort landscaping and maintenance will be taken care of for you.

Contact a Cottage Advisor at 613-476-5286 for more information.

Prince Edward County recognized as top world travel destination for 2012

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:02:00 +0000

The Toronto Star recently released a list of 2012 vacation destinations to watch, and it's no surprise to us that Prince Edward County made it on to this elite list. Travel Editor Jim Byers exlained The County is, "on a continuing rise with fresh food and wine and fabulous, sandy beaches." Our Sandbanks Summer Village residents already know the farm-to-table cuisine and the many vineyards and wineries in our VQA make for the perfect complement to the sandy beaches at Sandbanks Provincial Park. If you haven't experienced the well-kept secret charms of The County, learn more about Princ Edward County here.