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Prince Edward Island, Canada - Best of the best

Ask this member a question. Cda_one Regular travelling on Prince Edward Island leads me to pick these favourites for the middle aged traveller
29 Jul 2006
4.5 of 5 stars based on 12 votes
A small place with lots to see and do, these are the highlights chosen for those who have outgrown water parks (although PEI has those too) looking for a sightseeing vacation, with lots of scenery, beaches, local entertainment, culture, golfing and good food, all at a reasonable price.
  • Category: Best of
  • Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Beachgoers
  • Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Honeymooners, Singles, Seniors, Tourists
  • Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
  • Tags: PEI, Prince Edward Island, Beach, Scenery, Anne of Green Gables, Lobster
1. Confederation Bridge - PEI to New Brunswick
The bridge connects PEI to the mainland via New Brunswick. I recommend travelling to the Island by Northumberland Ferries from Pictou, Nova Scotia and departing by the Bridge (or vice versa) to get the best of both worlds. This 13 km. long bridge is worth seeing, even if you don't drive over it - a good view is available from both ends before getting on the bridge. Remember, it costs nothing to get to PEI by ferry or bridge, but costs to get off - about $40 for a car by bridge and $60 by ferry.
2. Lobster suppers
PEI is famous for lobster suppers. My favourites are the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers in New Glasgow, PEI and Fisherman's Wharf in North Rustico. Both have all you can eat condiments, but at New Glasgow, you are served whereas Fisherman's Wharf is a buffet (and has a salad bar included too). If you are in Charlottetown and cannot make it to the country, try MacKinnon's Lobster on the Wharf restaurant for you lobster meal. And be sure to try the PEI mussels.
3. Woodleigh Replicas
An attraction with miniature walk through models of Engish castles and historic buildings. Built from stone and to scale, it is very interesting, and has a beautifully landscaped site for a leisurely walk in the outdoors.
4. Confederation Trail
Trains no longer travel PEI, but the tip to tip railway line is now a hiking and biking trail during the spring, summer and fall; a snowmobile trail by winter. If you are a hiker or biker, the trail is relatively flat, as would be expected for a rail line, with rolling hills indicative of the PEI country side, and it passes through every type of PEI scenery.
5. Anne of Green Gables
PEI has everything to do with Lucy Maude Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables - Anne is to PEI as Mickey Mouse is to Orlando, Florida. In addition to the museums and parks, I think the highlight is the musical stage show at the Confederation Centre of the Arts every summer telling Anne's story - great music and singing, fun, laughter and tears - a world class production. The Confederation Centre also has a second show every summer, which you should consider if Anne is not your style; they also have free productions at noon time for much of the summer in their outdoor amphitheatre which are lively and entertaining.
6. Beaches in PEI
I challenge anyone to compete with PEI on the beauty of its beaches. There may be no palm trees and the water is not as warm as Florida or Hawaii (though our water is warmer than expected because we are not on the Atlantic Ocean), but we have miles of sandy beaches and huge sand dunes through out the Island. The nicest beaches in my opinion include Cavendish, Brackley,Greenwich (all in the PEI National Parks system) Basinhead, Cousins Shore and Blooming Point, but there are many more too numberous to mention. Imagine a mile-long beach with 20-40 foot sand dunes and a couple dozen people - that is lots of PEI beaches outside of the national park.
7. Dinner Theatre in PEI
Check out the Dinner Theatres in Charlottetown (Rodd's Charlottetown Hotel) and Summerside (Brothers Two Restaurant) if you love rock'n roll music, family-oriented humourous entertainment and a good meal, all for a reasonable cost. I have seen dinner theatres in many cities, including Disney, and never miss one of these shows
8. Ceilidhs, fiddles, step dancing and fun
Every summer, and often throughout the year, somewhere in PEI is a local community ceilidh (pronounced "kaylee"). Ask at the local tourist bureau. This is a must-see if you want to experience great talent and local culture. In Summerside, visit the College of Piping for regular shows and entertainment, where they teach Scottish pipes, drums, dance, etc. Elsewhere, throughout the Island, there are nightly concerts in community halls, etc. - you will not believe the high level of talent.
9. Scenic Driving
PEI is beautiful with its scenic drives - small farms with quilt-like patch works of green fields, golden grain, red soil and acres of potatoes. Add to that our coast lines with red cliffs and pink sand beaches, and the rolling hills, you have everything but mountains (" there ain't no rock collectin' in PEI!"). The ideal trip to me is arriving by PEI ferry in Wood Islands, driving north to Souris and East Point, then following the north shore until you at least reach Kensington. The whole Island is beautiful, but this gets a lot of unique scenery. Stop along the way, take some side roads, and relax on a quiet beach here and there. Near New Glasgow, take in a lobster supper, visit PEI Preserve Company and the nearby gardens, drive to nearby North Rustico and walk the boardwalk through this fishing village. Do not be fooled. You cannot appreciate PEI by driving on one end and departing on the other within a day or two. It may be a small Island, but you need to stop and enjoy to get a true feeling. Of course, if you just want to say you've been to PEI, then drive on, pick up a souvenir, and watch out for the farm tractors and the pedestrians on the highway as you race for the other end.
10. History and rainy day activities
Charlottetown has a lot of history to offer - The history of Canada is told through exhibits and video at Founder's Hall in Charlottetown, a visit to Province House where the fathers of Confederation met in 1864 and a tour of the lieutenant governor's mansion, Fanningbank, are all interesting. Be sure to walk through the flower gardens at Fanningbank, which are open to the public every day. There are historic buildings and museums throughout PEI.