Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about Prince Edward Island in Canada. It’s a great place for a family vacation in the summertime! This Canadian province is one of three maritime provinces, along with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Although PEI is Canada’s smallest province, there are still plenty of things to do in PEI. These are some of our recommendations for your Prince Edward Island vacation.
Visit Green Gables
The primary reason we decided to visit PEI is that Jocelyn is a big fan of the novel “Anne of Green Gables.” You can visit the home that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery to write the book. It’s fun to read the book and watch the mini-series ahead of time. This is probably the most popular tourist attraction on the island, so nearby you’ll see a lot of touristy things, like mini-golf and carnival rides. Avonlea Village is another attraction inspired by the novel, where you can stroll through shops and cafes in an old-time setting.
Beaches of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island has some excellent beaches, including Cavendish Beach, which is close to Green Gables. PEI National Park runs along the north part of the island and has several fun beaches to explore. Basin Head Beach was named the best beach in Canada, so that’s another must-see beach on PEI. Surprisingly, the water isn’t as cold as you think it would be!
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is the capital city of Prince Edward Island. It’s also the largest city on the island with a population of almost 40,000. There’s actually a lot of interesting history here, which is best experienced on a walking tour. There are also boat tours on the harbor and horse-drawn carriage rides. Don’t miss the ice cream at Cow’s, near the harbor!
Brackley Drive-In
If you’re looking for things to do in PEI at night, there’s a drive-in movie theater in Brackley Beach. It’s not specifically a family-friendly theater, so you do want to double-check what is showing before you promise your kids a night at the movies.
Driving Tour of the Island
The best thing to do in Prince Edward Island is just to explore by car at your own pace. There are loads of small lanes to explore, with hidden beaches and beach towns. It’s a pretty small island, so there’s really no way to get lost. And you can drive the entire island in a day easily, depending on how often you stop. Charlottetown is relatively central, so it makes a great base for your PEI vacation.
What to Eat on Prince Edward Island?
Of course, seafood is fantastic on PEI. We had excellent mussels and lobster, plus lots of amazing desserts. There’s some pretty good local beer in PEI, but we all loved the raspberry cordial drink from Green Gables.
When is the Best Time to Visit PEI?
The climate here changes quickly so there’s a fairly short season to visit Prince Edward Island. May through September is the best time to visit PEI. Winter in PEI can be harsh and snowy, and a lot of tourist attractions are only open seasonally. Given that the majority of tourists visit in summer, you do need to book ahead of time before all the PEI hotels are full.
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These are just a few of our favorite memories from our Prince Edward Island vacation. The best part of visiting PEI is the opportunity to relax and unwind while enjoying a slower pace of life. Looking for more Canada travel tips? Check out these other blog posts: