Top Ten Things to do on PEI
Posted on 27. May, 2010 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in Prince Edward Island
Here’s my list of the top ten things to do on PEI. Bear in mind that my top ten things to do on PEI are heavily influenced by my personality. I love rural areas, people and the simple pleasures of Summer!
Top Ten Things to do on PEI
1. Anne of Green Gables:
Come on, it’s Prince Edward Island. No top ten PEI list would be complete without Anne of Green Gables.
Basically, you should visit Anne of Green Gables house. It’s where the story was set. You’re basically just going to go on a tour of the house, which is small and quaint. The grounds are lovely. Lots of crowds here, and be sure to get your picture taken in the buggy (see above)! It’s run by Parks Canada. If you’re a real LM Montgomery fan, be sure to take the walk across the highway to the site where LM Montgomery lived. The house is no longer standing, but I found it moving to be there. This is included in the admission. Make sure the weather is nice!
If you’ve got kids, you’ll probably want to go to Avonlea Village, too. It ain’t cheap though!
2. Cavendish area:
All of the Anne of Green Gables PEI craziness is in the Cavendish area. So while you’re doing the Anne stuff you should probably see all the touristy craziness that is Cavendish. Be sure to go to Cavendish Beach too. It’s very busy but very nice. It’s the most popular beach on PEI.
Also in Cavendish area are tons of kid-friendly places, like water parks, crazy museums, all kinds of silly touristy fun stuff.
Once you’ve got #1 and #2 out of the way, you’ll have finished with the made-for-tourism part of PEI. Please spend the rest of your visit on PEI exploring the rest of PEI. In other words, please spend the rest of your trip exploring the real PEI!
3. Beaches:
Yes, Cavendish Beach is the most popular beach on PEI. But guess what! There are lovely beaches all of Prince Edward Island, most of which are similar to Cavendish and totally deserted. Singing Sands (Basin Head) beach in Eastern PEI is also very popular. It’s called the “Singing Sands” beach because the sand squeaks when you walk on it. I didn’t believe it, but we went there last year and it’s true! It’s a very cute beach, with a canteen and it’s very popular with teenagers and kids.
Explore!
4. Live music and ceilidhs:
Please go see a ceilidh on Prince Edward Island. They are variety shows that include singing and dancing, and they are just a really good time. Look in local newspapers to find out where they are. Or just ask around. They’re everywhere! They can range from being rather touristy to being totally real, where you may be one of very few tourists there. I love ceilidhs! Check out the Buzz Magazine or musician Gordon Belsher’s schedule. My personal favourite ceilidhs are in rural communities, whereas ceilidhs in Cavendish or in more urban areas are more geared to tourists. The less advertised they are, the more authentic they’ll be. But it really depends on what you’re into. Either way, check one out.
5. Spend a day in Charlottetown:
Have dinner, walk around the harbour, get Cows Ice Cream, you know, do the city thing for the day. Lots of great restaurants. Check out Victoria Row. Check out the Charlottetown Farmer’s Market (great place to grab lunch if it’s open). It’s a nice city, particularly by the water and near Victoria Park (nice houses to drive by near Victoria Park).
6. Drive along the coast:
Prince Edward Island is pretty small. Look at the map and start driving. You’ll be amazed at how far you can get in an hour or so. I think it takes five hours to drive from end to end. Please go for a drive along the coast and enjoy the view. Red sand, rolling hills, houses dotting the landscape, this is the real Prince Edward Island. There’s a bunch of recommended coastal driving routes, including Points East Coastal Drive.
7. Have dinner in a small town:
Spread out your map of PEI. Pick a town. Drive there. Meet local people. Grab a bite to eat. Some destinations could be Murray Harbour (Brehaut’s Restaurant), Cardigan (Cape Light Restaurant), Tignish, Victoria-by-the-Sea (Landmark Cafe), Hunter River, Margate (Shipwrights) and much more. (I’d advise planning where you’re going to eat first because sometimes restaurants can be hard to find.) Just ask people for a recommendation!
8. Eco-tourism, arts and crafts:
There are so many interesting home-based artists, bakers, artisans, craftsmen, farms, wineries and more. Just pick up the Buzz Magazine (free, available almost everywhere) and you’ll see lots of artists listed there. There must be a good online directory or something. (If anyone has a good link to share let me know in the comments and I’ll add the link here.)
9. Dairy bars:
While you’re driving, stop by a Dairy Bar (ice cream stand). There are tons in Kensington!
10. Lobster suppers:
Lobster suppers are a PEI thing. It’s a huge dinner. It includes a lobster. The best “experience” you’re going to have is at a place that only serves lobster suppers. Otherwise you’ll just be experiencing a normal dinner, which is nice but not very memorable. We’ve been to Fisherman’s Wharf. It was a crazy huge buffet. What an experience! It’s just full of tourists but who cares! I’ve also heard good things about Mary’s Lobster Suppers? I think they’re church-run or something. I don’t think the name is quite right. Sister Mary’s? Something like that. Please correct me!
11. Bonus: Brackley Beach Drive In Movie Theatre
Brackley Beach Drive In — It is what it sounds like. Drive-in movie theatre! The movies are usually pretty bad, but who cares? It’s all about the experience!
Your Top 10 Things to See and Do on Prince Edward Island
For those of you who have ever been to Prince Edward Island, how does my top-ten list compare to yours? What would be your top ten things to do on PEI? What did I miss????? I know, it feels like I barely scratched the surface.
Vicki Lerch
May 27th, 2010
I love PEI. I was fortunate to vacation with Cam & Laura-Jane summer 2009! (Mom’s privilige) We experienced 10 of the 11 Top ten Things to do on PEI thanks to our fab hosts Cam & Laura-Jane.
Cr
May 28th, 2010
We are in PEI right now on our honeymoon. Thanks for posting your top 11! We are currently driving to the AA macdonald gardens in Georgetown. Have you been there? Apparently we’ll pass montague soon. Any recommendations for restaurants with good vegan options would be awesome.
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
May 29th, 2010
Congratulations on your marriage and honeymoon! Hmm, vegan places to eat in Eastern Kings… that’s not easy! There are a few vegetarian options… I’ve had a good veggie burger in Cardigan at the Cape Light Restaurant, but I recognize that that’s not vegan. In Montague, there are really only a handful of restaurants… Pizza Delight (chain restaurant), “Sir Isaac’s Restaurant and Mr. Gabe’s Pub” (not very many vegetarian options last time I was there), Windows on the Water (never been there, but seems like a seafood place. It’s only open in Summer.), there’s also a Chinese food place. In Georgetown, there’s the Georgetown Inn which I think is supposed to be OK but we’ve never been there either. I am sure I’m missing a few places but I just woke up and my brain is foggy!
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
May 30th, 2010
Also, “Landmark Cafe” (only open in Summer) has a few vegetarian options. It is located right by the water on the Montague River.
Johanna
May 28th, 2010
Spot on but I would add spending a night at West Point where you can actually spend a night in a Lighthouse. It’s hard to keep it to 10 things though. There is a lot to do on PEI.
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
May 29th, 2010
That sounds neat. I like the concept of novelty hotels like that. I’ve never heard of that place.
Johanna
May 29th, 2010
http://www.westpointlighthouse.com/
We camped at the campground there. So very peaceful and quiet.
Louise
May 28th, 2010
We went there on a conference in 2003. Toured as a group to the touristy places. Woodleigh replicas were not interesting. I enjoyed going to O’Leary and the potato museum and cafeteria. Had potato soup. Many potato items on the menu. Enjoyed walking around the old homes in downtown Summerside. Loved Anne of Green Gables. No tour when we went. Walked through the Haunted Wood. The rooms were just like the descriptions in the books. BTW, I just read the prequel by another author, and it was good. Lobster dinner at New Glasgow was the best ever. There was a preserve place close by to purchase jams. Loved the green hills, blue sky, red dunes and white sand. But best of all, everyone we met truly liked talking to us tourists, which is a treat in itself.
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
May 29th, 2010
Oh yes, the preserve place is very famous. Haven’t been there, but here’s the link. I think they give tours or something. It’s supposed to be a good place to visit.
N&M
Jun 1st, 2010
This is getting me excited for my trip to PEI!! Yes, Vicki, I will be visiting
L-J in 11 sleeps!
Meg S.
Jun 1st, 2010
Ahhh also don’t forget the windmills (on both tips of the Island) and Bottle Houses in Cap-Egmont. We liked both of those places. We honeymooned in NS & PEI in Fall 2006 and visited again in 2008 – our adventures from our 1st trip are documented at http://www.threedown.com/honeymoon/ we are hoping to make our next trip back in 2011!! So many wonderful things to see and do there!
Danielle Chitty
Jun 3rd, 2010
My favorite was Green Park Provincial Park. We camped there Labour Day weekend last year. There were only two other camping parties there. We basically had the whole park to ourselves. The parks representative was wonderful and we had the best night of our lives. He filled us in on the local fishing trade, gave us tips for coming in the fall, and where to get the best seafood. He showed us how to shuck an oyster and we enjoyed fresh oysters over the fire as the sun went down over the river. It was peaceful and quiet an my kids and husband and I will never forget it. We’re coming back this labour day weekend, but don’t spred it around too much. We loved having the huge park to ourselves. Oh and P.S. we got to eat the fresh veggies they were growing in the garden over at the house ( which is just as great as Greene Gables ) as the park was closing the next day. What a treat.
Ellen
Jun 24th, 2010
Hi Laura jane
remember me? We’re actually in pei now until sat and actually staying at a cottage in montague so naturally thought of you! I really dig your top ten list and I have one to add. Since I’m travelling w a todler a really neat little place at least for vintage-y pics is kings court prov park. It has old school playground rides for the kids and life size statues from children stories. Someof the areas looked a little dinged out or rusty so I didn’t let my 1yr old on afraid he might hurt himself but it was great for pics like near the antique train or the huge pumpkin. Hope this
Helps!
And if anything this vaca makes me want to move here even more!
Ellen
Jude
Jun 28th, 2010
Hey! L.J.V. Steve and I went to a concert this afternoon in Metchosin. Marjorie was there, natch- playing Baroque Violin. I wanted to send you the pictures I took, but don’t know your actual E-mail address?? Have just entered the” Wonderful World of Whimfield” for the first time tonight. Great to finally see your smiling faces!! Big “Highland” hugs from Jude and Steve and Taffy!! (Steve won’t let us do Facebook.)
Craig
Jul 11th, 2010
Hey Laura-Jane. I’m so glad you posted this and I came across it just in time. This weekend I’ve been (very roughly) planning out an impromptu solo road trip to PEI leaving in 3 days! Got some time off and refuse to waste it sitting around the house.
I have no idea what I’m doing or really where I’m going other than “I want to see the east coast” so I’m sure I will make very good use of your to-do’s here. :)
Now to hunt down any missing camping gear… hmmmm.
Thomai
Aug 7th, 2011
Hi LJ- thought I’d add another fun way to fill a few hours in PEI. The Great Canadian Soap Company sells amazing products made from goat’s milk and olive oil like soap, shea butter creams and other divine products. It’s the best place for souvenirs that you can’t buy anywhere else, and better than another T-shirt. You can also feed and meet the goats. It’s fun for adults or kids too.