There are many things to do on Prince Edward Island, but the best part may be the drives down two-lane highways, seeing flashes of its unusual bright red soil, yellow potato blossom fields, and old-world charm of small villages you pass through.
I spent several days on PEI near the end of a 1.5-year solo road trip through the United States, Mexico and Canada and found it different from all the places I’d been. This island is still relatively untouched by modern sensibilities except where it counts. The roads are grand, the amenities top notch and the cleanliness unparalleled. Still, many homes are from another era; farming is still a viable trade, and watching the sunset from the porch is a pastime worth doing.
Here are 8 things to do on Prince Edward Island.
1 Cross Confederation Bridge
If you’re like me, you’ll likely drive to the island and to do that, you must cross Confederation Bridge. The eight-mile suspension bridge is a feat of engineering and is the longest bridge in the world that spans ice-covered waters. It traverses the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait, connecting Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick, Canada. It is the only fixed link between Prince Edward Island and the mainland of Canada. It’s a toll bridge that costs about $50 for standard vehicles.
2 See the Lighthouses
PEI has more than 60 lighthouses along its coastlines, which is exceptionally substantial considering the island is only 140 miles long and 40 miles wide. It’s about the size of Delaware or twice as big as Martha’s Vineyard, which has only five lighthouses.
The lighthouses are round, square, tall and short, wood and brick. Many were built around the mid-19th century to protect passing ships from treacherous seas. Some are still active and a few, like the Souris Lighthouse on the island’s southern coast, allow visitors to climb to the top.
Fun fact: As you travel around Prince Edward Island, you’ll notice the earth is incredibly dark red. It gets its color from the high levels of iron in its sandstone which oxidizes and rusts when it meets the air.
3 Visit Green Gables
Drive through the fields of purple, yellow, red and orange to Green Gables is a farm on Prince Edward Island, better known as the setting for the classic novel, “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It is one of the most beloved books worldwide, especially in Canada. Take a tour of the house and learn about the property’s history and the book’s inspiration. While there, you can explore the grounds, hike the trails, walk through the gardens, and interact with people dressed as book characters.
Smart tip: If you like sweets, stop by a bakery and try a butter tart. They’re a Canadian specialty and worth every scrumptious bite.
4 Go to Prince Edward Island National Park
Just down the road from Green Gables is Prince Edward Island National Park. The park has various natural features, including beaches, dunes, forests and wetlands encompassing 57,000 acres, including 68 miles of coastline. It’s the perfect place to see the province’s uniqueness, including the many picturesque white and red-sand beaches.
I stayed at the campground and spent two days hiking the red cliffs and exploring the many boardwalks like Greenwich Dunes floating boardwalk – a popular choice in the national park as it juts into the rolling sea. The campsites line the coast and are filled with wildflowers and spectacular amenities, making staying there a joy. The trails feature dunes and cliffs, so red you’ll need to check your eyes. The flowers grow so wild it looks like someone planted bouquets to line the trails. You’ll see daisies, field roses, lupine, and other purple, pink, blue, yellow, white and orange flowers I’d never seen before.
Smart tip: If you’re looking for wool, there’s no better place to buy it than in PEI, where it’s known for its high quality and soft texture. You’ll see MacAusland’s products around the island. They’re the oldest woolen mill in the area.
5 Visit Charming Small Towns
When considering things to do on Prince Edward Island, visiting the many small communities should top your list. The island is so picturesque with farms, pristine old homes, colorful fields and a glorious coastline. If all you do is drive around, it’s a treat. Aside from the beauty, several towns have small businesses and attractions worth seeing.
- Victoria-by-the-Sea is a historic fishing village and a popular stop on Prince Edward Island as artists have set up shops in the fronts of houses and there are several seaside restaurants. It’s a charming tiny town with a windmill and a busy waterfront with kayakers and paddleboarders in the ocean.
- Summerside is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, historic buildings, and annual Summerside Lobster Festival. The Confederation Centre of the Arts is home to the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra, the Confederation Players, and the Anne of Green Gables Festival.
- New London is where you’ll find the birthplace of author L.M. Montgomery. The home is now a museum. There are several other nearby shops and attractions.
6 See the Bottle Houses
Have you ever seen a house made out of glass bottles? Starting in 1980, this recycling project grew from just one to eight buildings, including six cottages, a tavern, a chapel, and a gift shop. The Bottle Houses were featured in “Ripley’s” and “1000 Places to See Before You Die.” The property is reminiscent of the Earth Ships in New Mexico.
Note: You can’t see the bottle houses from the road. You must pay $10 per person to enter the property through the gift shop.
7 Go to the Canadian Potato Museum
You’ll pass many potato fields with white and yellow flowers that seem to go for endless miles, as Prince Edward Island is famous for its potatoes. The province grows over 100 varieties of potatoes shipped worldwide, so it’s no surprise that they have a museum dedicated to the spud in O’Leary. It’s cost $10 per person to enter.
Fun tip: The Canadian Potato Museum is the only place that sells Irish moss pie. Irish moss is algae used as a binding and thickening agent. Collecting and selling seaweed was once a lucrative economy, but now it’s primarily used in this pie.
8 Visit the “big city” of Charlottetown
If you’d like a slightly faster pace, Charlottetown may be more your speed; you should visit Charlottetown.
As you near this city, you’ll see less farmland, more subdivisions, and big box stores. Like many of the island’s small towns, this one lines the water and is filled with art centers, shops, and heritage buildings. One of the highlights is Victoria Row – aka The Row. It’s one of Charlottetown’s prettiest streets, with Victorian red brick buildings, cobbled streets and shady trees. The road has bars, restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, and independent shops selling art, antiques, and gifts. It often hosts a summer street market on Sundays.
Hot tip: If you like ice cream, don’t leave PEI without stopping at Cows. This creamery is a Prince Edward Island must-do – ice cream so rich it’s considered the best in Canada. Try the Moon Mist – a Canadian specialty with grape, banana and bubblegum-flavored ice cream. You’ll find one on Victoria Row.
No matter which of these stops you take on the island, the most important thing is that you go and see it for yourself. It’s a place like no other and worthy of adding to your travel bucket list – sooner rather than later.
Read more stories about Canada here.
