Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Prince Edward Island, Canada! With cool history and awesome beaches, PEI is really a great place to visit. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate on your Prince Edward Island vacation.
Hate #1: Getting to Prince Edward Island
It used to be that you could only get to PEI by ferry. While you can still take a ferry to Prince Edward Island, there’s now the Confederation Bridge connecting the island to the mainland. It’s a very long bridge, about ten miles long, so if you are leery of long bridges, or bridges with low sides, it can be a bit nerve-wracking. There are even some stoplights on the bridge, so you will be on it for a while. Fortunately, the views are amazing, especially if you are crossing the bridge at sunset. However, if you are squeamish about long bridges, I recommend taking the ferry to Prince Edward Island.
Love #1: PEI Nature and Beaches
Prince Edward Island is an outdoor paradise, with several beautiful beaches to explore. Cavendish Beach is one of the most popular things to do in PEI, or you can go out to the East End and see the lighthouse. Basin Head Beach was once voted the best beach in North America. Surprisingly, the water here is a bit warmer than some of the East Coast beaches that are further south, so in the summer, you can get a true beach experience.
Hate #2: PEI in the Off-Season
The best (and some say only) time to visit Prince Edward Island is from May through September. PEI is absolutely beautiful in the summer. However, winter lasts a really long time in this part of Canada. They don’t measure the snow in inches; it’s measured in feet. By February, the locals are getting cabin fever. A lot of tourist places close up for the winter, so it’s not the best time to visit Prince Edward Island.
Love #2: Prices on Prince Edward Island
A Prince Edward Island vacation is actually pretty affordable, especially compared to other destinations in Canada. Most Americans visit Canadian cities, like Toronto or Vancouver, which tend to be on the pricier side. While Canada is generally a bit more expensive than the US, Prince Edward Island is very reasonable. The hotels, food, and attractions are all fairly priced. If you are planning a Canada road trip, plan to end it on Prince Edward Island and you’ll love having lower prices at the end of your trip.
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Hate #3: Summer Crowds
PEI is gorgeous, and attractions like the Green Gables house bring a lot of tourists to visit. Since we know the best time to visit Prince Edward Island is in the summer, the majority of tourists are all visiting in the same short window. This means you need to plan ahead when reserving your PEI accommodation, as there aren’t a ton of hotels and cottages to rent, so they can book up quickly.
Love #3: Prince Edward Island History
There is so much history to take in on Prince Edward Island. Some of it is fictional history, like at Green Gables. But this is actually where Canada was founded, and PEI recently celebrated 150 years anniversary. In Charlottetown, you can see the historical government buildings like the Province House, and there are interpreters who give historic tours as well.
Hate #4: Green Gables Attractions
One of the most popular things to do in PEI is to visit the Green Gables house. The house itself is pretty small, but it seems an entire tourist industry has built up around the house, making it feel a bit over-commercialized. The house itself is worth visiting, but the hype around it gets old after a bit. There are so many interesting historic attractions on Prince Edward Island but they tend to get overshadowed by some of the tourist traps.
Love #4: Eating and Drinking in PEI
Yes, you will eat lobster when you visit Prince Edward Island. It’s fantastic and much better than the lobster you can get at home, even when it’s out of season. All of the seafood in PEI is fantastic. Make sure you get out into some of the smaller villages and eat at the mom and pop places, which are more authentic and less expensive. Something you must try when you visit PEI is the Raspberry Cordial. It’s part of the Green Gables lore, but it’s actually really tasty. There are some pretty good local beers in PEI, too!
Hate #5: Driving on Prince Edward Island
Driving on the island can be a bit frustrating, especially when you first arrive and are finding your way around. A lot of drivers on the island are from New Brunswick, and they are typically aggressive East Coast drivers. There are also a lot of cyclists and pedestrians, so you really have to pay attention when you are driving on Prince Edward Island.
Love #5: PEI Locals
Canadians, in general, are a friendly bunch and the locals on Prince Edward Island are no exception. We’ve had great conversations with locals, including bartenders and the folks at our hotel. Everyone has been very nice and forthcoming with travel tips. You might think a small island that gets overwhelmed with tourists for a short window each summer might be annoying for the residents, but if they are annoyed by tourists, they certainly don’t let on.
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We really enjoyed our Prince Edward Island vacation, it’s really a neat place to visit in Canada. The “hates” are really just things to have a heads up on rather than a reason not to plan a Prince Edward Island vacation. Want more tips for planning a Canada trip? Check out these other blog posts: