What to do on Prince Edward Island with Kids
Tour the Canadian Maritimes for family fun, especially during the summer. Prince Edward Island with kids offers warmer water for splashing and learning to clam. Listen to costumed docents recount early Canadian history and tour the original farm that inspired the Anne of Green Gables books.
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. Admission.
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.
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 Seashore–Located on the northern shore of PEI, visit the popular beach that extends for 40 km. The water temperature is warmer than the North Atlantic because of its protected location. And in August, it reaches a high temperature of 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.
Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site—Built in 1895, it’s a 25-room summer resort tucked in the park that recently hosted HRH Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, in 2011. A public tour isn’t offered but enjoy afternoon tea on the weekends. Located at 16 Cottage Crescent, York.
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.
The Province House is open to the public and free. Take a quick tour to learn some Canadian history. Located at 165 Richmond St., Charlottetown.
Update for 2018: The Province House is closed for a renovation. Visit the Confederation Center of the Arts to see the Story of Confederation with costumed docents for more Canadian history.
The Confederation Center of the Arts is located at 145 Richmond. Open daily during the summer season from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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.
- Province House National Historic Site
- Anne of Green Gables, the Musical–at the Homburg Theatre
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.
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 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 May 20, 2018 to October 10, 2018. Admission
The Site of Lucy Maud Montgomery Cavendish Home—A quarter of mile east of the Green Gables Heritage Site, take a hike to see the remains of L.M. Montgomery 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 free.
Anne of Green Gables, the Musical—See the largest running musical in history at the Homburg Theatre. Shows start in late June and continues until late September. Located at 130 Queen St. in Charlottetown. Tickets required.
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
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 world-wide. 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.
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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
This post contains affiliate links. And considerations for brands mentioned.
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.