Travel
A primary timer’s information to Prince Edward Island
Lengthy sandy seashores backed with crimson cliffs. Freshly caught lobster, oysters and clams. Toe-tapping music at energetic kitchen events or native pubs. And loads of out of doors adventures, from biking to kayaking to mountain climbing. Within the Gulf of St Lawrence, on Canada’s japanese shores, Prince Edward Island (PEI) stands out as the nation’s smallest province, however there’s a lot to see and do.
In addition to its pure setting, PEI’s different declare to fame is a sequence of early Twentieth-century novels a couple of feisty red-haired lady. Lucy Maud Montgomery set the Anne of Inexperienced Gables books round her PEI hometown of Cavendish, and a number of other island points of interest can inform you extra in regards to the famous creator and the beloved Canadian character she created.
You possibly can go to Prince Edward Island as a part of an Atlantic Canada highway journey – the practically 13km-long (8-mile) Confederation Bridge connects PEI to the mainland – or come for a peaceable seashore escape. Convey your bathing go well with and your urge for food too. PEI’s nickname is “Canada’s meals island.”
Here is all it is advisable know to plan your first journey to Prince Edward Island.
When ought to I’m going to Prince Edward Island?
PEI shines below the summer time solar, its quick peak season working from late June into September. The climate is often heat, with temperatures hovering round 20–25ºC (70–80ºF), prime time for beach-going, mountain climbing and picnicking. With cooler mornings and evenings, the climate stays temperate into October, because the leaves tackle their autumn reds and golds. Fall brings meals fests too, together with the Fall Flavours Festival and the PEI International Shellfish Festival.
Many island companies are seasonal, opening in Could or June and shutting in September or by the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in October. Costs are sometimes considerably decrease within the shoulder months of Could, June, September and October. Anticipate extra rain and different temperatures in each fall and spring, though you might need delicate, sunny days too, that are good for mountain climbing, bicycling and island exploring.
The Atlantic hurricane season formally runs from June to November, though the worst storms have beforehand hit the maritime provinces within the fall. Anticipate snow anytime between November and April, with fierce winter winds making the temperatures really feel a lot colder than the typical ranges of -11ºC to -3ºC (11–26ºF).
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How a lot time ought to I spend on Prince Edward Island?
You probably have a protracted weekend, begin in Charlottetown, exploring the province’s historic capital, and find out about its function because the “the birthplace of Confederation,” creating the union that may turn into the nation of Canada. Have a drink overlooking the waterfront, then seize a chew from one of many distributors in Founders Food Hall. Your subsequent cease is Cavendish on the island’s north shore, the place a number of sights inform you in regards to the Anne of Inexperienced Gables story. Then discover the seashores of Prince Edward Island National Park, maybe taking a hike by the Greenwich dunes earlier than dinner at Dalvay by the Sea, a historic summer time house turned inn. The subsequent day, go kayaking or biking. Dig into a conventional lobster supper, ending your journey with music in a neighborhood pub.
To discover extra of the island, plan a one-week highway journey. After your time in Charlottetown, Cavendish and the nationwide park, drive west for an Indigenous cultural expertise on Lennox Island, a Mi’kmaq group. Circle the island’s west facet, sampling the spuds on the Canadian Potato Museum, stopping for a lunchtime live performance on the Stompin’ Tom Centre and spending the night time within the West Point Lighthouse. Returning to Charlottetown, cease off within the village of Victoria by the Sea for a lobster roll or freshly steamed mussels. You probably have extra time, proceed east to Souris for a cruise on a lobster boat.
How do I get to Prince Edward Island?
You possibly can fly continuous to Charlottetown Airport (YYG) from Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa 12 months spherical, and seasonally from Calgary and smaller Canadian cities. For extra flight choices, take into account jetting into Nova Scotia’s Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), which has continuous flights to further Canadian, US and European cities. It’s a three-hour drive or bus journey from Halifax airport to PEI over the Confederation Bridge. Maritime Bus can take you to Charlottetown from Halifax airport or from different locations in Nova Scotia and neighboring New Brunswick.
Though PEI has no prepare service, Canada’s nationwide rail provider, Via Rail, can carry you from Montreal or Quebec Metropolis to Halifax or to Moncton, New Brunswick. From there, take the bus or hire a automobile to proceed to the island.
How do I get round Prince Edward Island?
In compact, walkable Charlottetown, most points of interest are alongside the waterfront or within the historic heart. T3 Transit, the island’s public transit service, runs buses to Charlottetown Airport and across the metropolis. T3 Transit’s rural routes present restricted service between Charlottetown and different island locations. Whereas companies are rare, the fares are incredible worth – solely C$2 to journey anyplace on the island – when you can align your travels with the bus schedule.
PEI is comparatively flat, making it vacation spot for cyclists. Following the route of a decommissioned rail line, the Confederation Trail runs 273km (170 miles) by the island heart, and you can even cycle the Island Stroll, which takes you totally on less-busy roads.
Prime issues to do on Prince Edward Island
Go to the seashore
PEI has dozens of them. A few of the greatest stretches of sand are alongside the north shore in Prince Edward Island Nationwide Park, however there are sandy seashores across the island.
Dive right into a novel
Be taught the story of Anne of Inexperienced Gables, one in all Canada’s most beloved fictional characters, and her creator Lucy Maud Montgomery at sights like Green Gables Heritage Place or Anne of Green Gables Museum.
Catch your dinner with a fiddling fisherman
JJ Chaisson is a lobster fisher and musician. Alongside together with his spouse Julie, he runs The Fiddling Fisherman, taking visitors out on their household fishing boat for a lobster dinner, accompanied by music from Chaisson’s fiddle.
Study Indigenous tradition
Take a meals, music or artwork workshop within the First Nations group of Lennox Island. You would possibly study to bake bannock – a biscuit-like bread – over an open fireplace, get an introduction to conventional quill work, or craft your individual moose-hide drum.
Clap alongside at a ceilidh
Drawing on Irish, Scottish and maritime traditions, a ceilidh (pronounced KAY-lee) is an element live performance and half kitchen celebration, mixing energetic fiddle music, singing, dancing and storytelling. These musical occasions happen in pubs, group halls and live performance venues throughout Prince Edward Island.
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My favourite factor to do on Prince Edward Island
My favourite factor to do on PEI is stroll, following sections of the Island Walk, a 700km (435-mile) route across the whole isle. Modeled after Spain’s Camino de Santiago (although with out a pilgrimage historical past), the Island Walk has 32 sections of 20–25km (12–15 miles) every, which take you alongside PEI’s sandy seashores and into its forests, above its crimson cliffs and thru its small cities. You possibly can stroll for a day, every week, or extra, listening to the splash of the surf, the chirps of the birds and the quiet sounds of island life.
Learn extra:
When you’d like assist planning an prolonged stroll, contact Go for a Walk: Island Walk Coordination Service and Outer Limit Sports, native outfits who can set up a strolling itinerary, present baggage switch companies and prepare lodging. You possibly can cycle the Island Stroll, too. MacQueen’s Bike Shop in Charlottetown rents bicycles and gives trip-planning companies for cyclists.
How a lot cash do I want for Prince Edward Island?
Whereas PEI isn’t as expensive as main Canadian cities like Vancouver or Toronto, it’s not cheap both, particularly in the course of the summer time excessive season. The island has only some funds lodgings, with dorm beds beginning at C$50 and primary doubles round C$120. Many conventional inns and B&Bs fall into the midrange, starting round C$150 per night time. When you’re watching your loonies, take into account a cottage or motel room with a kitchen the place you may put together a few of your individual meals.
Take public transit when you can. T3 Transit fares for adults are solely C$2 a trip, whether or not you’re touring throughout the capital or throughout the island, and youngsters trip free. Neither Uber nor Lyft presently function on PEI, however Kari, a neighborhood rideshare firm, gives service, primarily within the Charlottetown space. Relying on the season, automobile leases in Charlottetown vary from C$50 to over C$100 per day.
Some pattern food and drinks costs round PEI:
- Espresso: C$3–4
- Craft beer in an island taproom: C$8–10
- Pound of PEI mussels: C$14–18
- Lobster roll: C$27 and up
- Conventional lobster supper: C$50–60 per particular person
Put on the lobster bib
Many seafood eating places offer you a bib to put on when you’ve ordered a complete lobster. Don’t be shy – tie it on to guard your garments. Consuming a lobster generally is a messy enterprise.
Pack layers and rain gear
Whereas the climate is usually temperate from spring by fall, it may possibly get breezy and funky by the shore or within the night and it may possibly rain at any time. Hold a light-weight jacket or sweater in your day pack. PEI winters are chilly, damp and infrequently snowy. Not solely do you want heat jackets, hats, gloves and boots, however be ready for winter journey circumstances, together with snow-covered roads and excessive winds.
It’s colder on the water
When you’re heading out on a lobster boat or different cruise, keep in mind that it’s chillier on the water, even in summer time. Convey a jacket or garments you may layer.
“Ask an Islander”
If you wish to know extra about Prince Edward Island or have a query whereas planning your journey, “Ask an Islander.” On the web site of Tourism PEI, the provincial tourism group, you may put up a query and a neighborhood resident will reply your question.