Prince Edward Island, located in the Canadian Maritimes, offers summertime fun centered around the ocean. From clamming to lighthouses to a world-famous redheaded orphan, PEI offers lots to do. Easy to explore as a road trip, even from Maine, travelers can navigate ferries and bridges to get to the island off Nova Scotia. Here are the top things to do on Prince Edward Island.
Top Things to do on Prince Edward Island
Tour a Lighthouse
Go Clam Digging
Chase Waves on the Prince Edward Island National Seashore
Go by Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site
See Province House National Historic Site
Walk through Charlottetown
Visit Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place
Take a Hike in the Haunted Wood
Sample PEI Seafood
Point Prim Lighthouse
Constructed in 1845 of brick, it’s the oldest lighthouse of the 30 lighthouses on Prince Edward Island.
Take the tour and scale a series of ladders to the top of the 60-foot round lighthouse for views of Northumberland Strait. Walk through the living quarters of the lighthouse keeper and imagine living in the spartan rooms that were frigid in the winter.
Located at 2147 Point Prim Rd. Belfast. Open daily in July and August from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is $5 CAN, $3.50 for kids 5 to 12 and free for kids 4 and younger.
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Clam Digging
Take the kids clamming. A local guide will bring all that’s needed to harvest clams and teach the family the safe way to harvest.
Tip: Bring water shoes or sandals. The cost depends on the tour operator.
Parks Canada Sites on Prince Edward Island
The national park system of Canada, Parks Canada, offers numerous sites to explore across Prince Edward Island.
Prince Edward Island National Park
Located on the northern shore of PEI, visit the popular beach that extends for 40 kilometers. The water temperature is warmer than the North Atlantic because of its protected location. In August, it reaches a high temperature close to 70F, so it’s great for splashing and wading.
Divided into three sections, Cavendish-North Rustico, Brackley-Dalvay and Greenwich. Open seasonal and admission required.
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Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site
Built in 1895, it’s a 25-room summer resort tucked in the park that hosted Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, in 2011. A public tour isn’t offered but enjoy it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Located at 16 Cottage Crescent, Dalvay.
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Province House National Historic Site
The birthplace of the Confederation and the seat of the Prince Edward Island provincial legislature since 1847. Tour the grounds of the neo-classical building.
Located at 165 Richmond St., Charlottetown. The Province House is closed for renovation.
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Walk through Charlottetown
The hub of activity on Prince Edward Island is Charlottetown. Walk along the downtown streets to enjoy the pubs and shopping along with historic sites.
- St. Dunstan’s Basilica Cathedral—Walk by the historic church at 65 Great George St.
- Anne of Green Gables, the Musical–at the Confederation Center for the Arts
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All About Anne
For those who aren’t familiar, Prince Edward Island served as the inspiration for the children’s classic book series, Anne of Green Gables. First published in 1908 by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the series tells the story of a red-headed orphan named Anne. Through a series of good-hearted mishaps, Anne endears herself to the community.
The majority of the Anne of Green Gables sites are located in and around Cavendish, a town located in central Prince Edward Island along the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 40 km from Charlottetown, the province capital.
Green Gables Heritage Place
Start at the Green Gables Heritage Place for an introductory film along with a tour of the house that inspired the books. For fans of the series find Lovers Lane and the Haunted Wood Trail.
Haunted Wood Trail—Walk to the Site of L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish Home. Easy and .9-km roundtrip.
Balsam Hollow Trail—Originates along Lovers Lane and meanders through the woods and along a brook. Easy and .8-km roundtrip.
Green Gables Heritage Site is a Parks Canada site. Located at 8619 Cavendish Road and is open seasonally. Admission.
More Anne of Green Gables Locations
Continue and explore more Anne sites around Cavendish and beyond.
Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace—Born in nearby New London, L.M. Montgomery was born in a modest home. After her mother died when she was less than two years old, her grandparents raised her.
Located at 6461 Route 20 and open from May to October. Admission
The Site of Lucy Maud Montgomery Cavendish Home—A quarter of a mile east of the Green Gables Heritage Site, take a hike to see the remains of L.M. Montgomery’s homestead remains.
Cavendish Post Office—The official Cavendish Post Office offers an Anne of Green Gables exhibit since she and her family operated the post office out of the family kitchen.
Located at 8555 Cavendish Road and is free.
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Lodging on Prince Edward Island
During our visit to Prince Edward Island, I rented a small guest house.
Where to Eat on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island Preserve Company
During our visit, we dined at the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company. A charming restaurant and tea shop that features local products along with a kid’s menu and signature blended teas, jams and jellies.
I started with the Seafood Chowder, a mix of local seafood in a creamy base with potatoes and leeks. Then moved on to the Seafood Bubbly Bake, a combination of shrimp, salmon, scallops and haddock in a cream sauce and topped with a panko crust.
Don’t hesitate to order the PEI mussels, known worldwide. The local mussels are a must for every visitor and farmed along the rivers on PEI. I recommend ordering the Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie for dessert.
Located at 2841 New Glasgow Rd in New Glasgow. Open seasonally from May through October. Serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, I found family-friendly dishes.
Cruising?
Charlottetown is a cruise ship destination. Take a look at the Regent Fall Color cruise.
More Information
Know Before You Go
Reserve lodging months in advance since Cavendish is popular during the summer season.
Disclosure
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2 Comments
Great adventure on PEI so far!
Can’t wait to read more!
The cute little
Mouse in Charlottetown is Eckhart! You can find him throughout the downtown area.
There’s even a fun scavenger hunt to help you locate him. http://downtowncharlottetown.com/pdf/eckhart_brochure.pdf
Happy travels!
We love PEI! Such a great place for families. So glad to know the little mouse’s name! Thank you for stopping by.