PEI's Tours & Activities
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Canada.
Tucked away in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and nestled between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia lies Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada's smallest province, spanning just 280 km (175 mi) from tip to tip. What it lacks in size, it makes up for with scenic coastal and pastoral landscapes that provide the backdrop for numerous tours and activities for visitors to enjoy year round. From arts and culture to outdoor adventure, PEI has it all.
TOURS & ACTIVITIES
PEI is divided into three counties—Kings, Queens and Prince—and five touring regions: North Cape Coastal Drive, Green Gables Shore, Red Sands Shore, Charlottetown and Points East Coastal Drive. All of these regions offer scenic landscapes, outdoor adventures, culinary delights and a taste of island culture and heritage.
Nature & the Outdoors
PEI's natural beauty offers outdoor enthusiasts plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy this beautiful province.
With gentle slopes and a maximum elevation of 142 m (465 ft) above sea level, cycling is a popular activity on PEI. Spanning the entire island, Confederation Trail offers cyclists and hikers plenty of opportunities to experience the outdoors. The trail covers 357 km (221 mi) and crosses through different communities and landscapes.
With 1,600 km (994 mi) of coastline and surrounded by warm summer waters, it's no surprise that PEI is ideal for a variety of water sports, including kayaking, canoeing, deep-sea fishing, parasailing, kiteboarding and sailing. The island is home to several outfitters that offer sea and river kayak and canoe tours for all experience levels. A number of fishing charters are also available, offering fishing trips for mackerel, cod, herring, tuna and even lobster. And for those looking for a little R&R, PEI's splendid beaches offer a retreat from the hectic pace of city life. The island has over 800 km (500 mi) of beaches, including notable red-sand beaches. Summer brings with it warm waters reaching temperatures of approximately 21ºC (70ºF), making for a pleasant swim.
Visitors shouldn't let PEI's size be misleading when it comes to the greens. The island has 30 plus golf courses and multiple vendors offering all types of golf packages, making it a top golfing destination in Canada. Some of the island's notable courses include The Links at Crowbush Cove, Dundarave, Mill River and Brudenell River.
Arts, Heritage & Culture
PEI has a rich heritage and a vibrant arts and culture scene. History buffs will want to take a trip to the Province House National Historic Site in Charlottetown where visitors can learn more about the birthplace of Confederation and the current Legislative Assembly.
Fans of Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved novel Anne of Green Gables also flock to the province to experience first hand the setting of the story. One way to capture the world of Anne is to visit Avonlea Village, which offers a number of events, including dramatic presentations from the book.
Many visitors to the island enjoy the experience of attending an authentic island ceilidh—a traditional Gaelic gathering or party that usually features fiddles, bagpipes and guitars along with plenty of dancing and storytelling. The island hosts several music events and concerts, including the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, PEI Jazz and Blues Festival and the Indian River Festival.
Culinary
No trip to PEI would be complete without sampling the bounty of fresh seafood and local produce the island has to offer. Its abundant farmland and long coastlines support a thriving food industry that comprises an important part of the island's economy, along with tourism. Visitors can join a guided culinary tour, stop at u-pick farms, farmers' markets and restaurants or try their hand at shucking oysters. The island is a foodie's dream come true.
PEI is world renowned for its lobster, and with numerous fishing harbours, the North Cape Coastal Drive region offers several opportunities to experience a traditional lobster dinner. Other culinary highlights include seaweed pie, Acadian food in Region Evangeline, and traditional foods (such as island bannock) of the Mi'kmaq culture in the community of Lennox Island.
Essential culinary experiences across the island also include eating PEI's famous potatoes, grown in the rich, red earth found here, digging for clams in the Red Sands Shore region or enjoying the fine wines and spirits brewed in the Points East Coastal Drive area, including vodka made from those tasty local spuds. Two major food festivals are held in the province: the Fall Flavours Festival and the Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival.
GETTING HERE
Part of the adventure starts by getting to PEI. One way to arrive is to drive in via the Confederation Bridge. A 10-minute drive across ice-covered water, this engineering marvel spans 12.9 km (8 mi) and connects the island from New Brunswick to the town of Borden-Carleton and the Gateway Village visitor centre. A toll is collected only when leaving the island.
Another way into PEI is via ferry. Northumberland Ferries operates from May to late December, departing from Caribou Bay near New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island. The trip takes about 75 minutes and a toll is collected when leaving PEI.
Travellers arriving by air will land at Charlottetown Airport, located north of the city. A cab fare from the airport to downtown Charlottetown ranges from $10-15 CDN for a single fare and $3-5 CDN for additional passengers.
CLIMATE
The peak tourist season is from early July to late August when the weather is moderately warm with daytime temperatures usually in the 20s ºC (70s ºF). Spring and autumn also offer decent weather, with temperatures that range from 8 to 22ºC (46 to 71ºF ). Winters can be cold, with temperatures dipping from -3 to -11ºC (26 to 11ºF), and the island experiences more storm activity between December and April.
TOURS & ACTIVITIES
PEI is divided into three counties—Kings, Queens and Prince—and five touring regions: North Cape Coastal Drive, Green Gables Shore, Red Sands Shore, Charlottetown and Points East Coastal Drive. All of these regions offer scenic landscapes, outdoor adventures, culinary delights and a taste of island culture and heritage.
Nature & the Outdoors
PEI's natural beauty offers outdoor enthusiasts plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy this beautiful province.
With gentle slopes and a maximum elevation of 142 m (465 ft) above sea level, cycling is a popular activity on PEI. Spanning the entire island, Confederation Trail offers cyclists and hikers plenty of opportunities to experience the outdoors. The trail covers 357 km (221 mi) and crosses through different communities and landscapes.
With 1,600 km (994 mi) of coastline and surrounded by warm summer waters, it's no surprise that PEI is ideal for a variety of water sports, including kayaking, canoeing, deep-sea fishing, parasailing, kiteboarding and sailing. The island is home to several outfitters that offer sea and river kayak and canoe tours for all experience levels. A number of fishing charters are also available, offering fishing trips for mackerel, cod, herring, tuna and even lobster. And for those looking for a little R&R, PEI's splendid beaches offer a retreat from the hectic pace of city life. The island has over 800 km (500 mi) of beaches, including notable red-sand beaches. Summer brings with it warm waters reaching temperatures of approximately 21ºC (70ºF), making for a pleasant swim.
Visitors shouldn't let PEI's size be misleading when it comes to the greens. The island has 30 plus golf courses and multiple vendors offering all types of golf packages, making it a top golfing destination in Canada. Some of the island's notable courses include The Links at Crowbush Cove, Dundarave, Mill River and Brudenell River.
Arts, Heritage & Culture
PEI has a rich heritage and a vibrant arts and culture scene. History buffs will want to take a trip to the Province House National Historic Site in Charlottetown where visitors can learn more about the birthplace of Confederation and the current Legislative Assembly.
Fans of Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved novel Anne of Green Gables also flock to the province to experience first hand the setting of the story. One way to capture the world of Anne is to visit Avonlea Village, which offers a number of events, including dramatic presentations from the book.
Many visitors to the island enjoy the experience of attending an authentic island ceilidh—a traditional Gaelic gathering or party that usually features fiddles, bagpipes and guitars along with plenty of dancing and storytelling. The island hosts several music events and concerts, including the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, PEI Jazz and Blues Festival and the Indian River Festival.
Culinary
No trip to PEI would be complete without sampling the bounty of fresh seafood and local produce the island has to offer. Its abundant farmland and long coastlines support a thriving food industry that comprises an important part of the island's economy, along with tourism. Visitors can join a guided culinary tour, stop at u-pick farms, farmers' markets and restaurants or try their hand at shucking oysters. The island is a foodie's dream come true.
PEI is world renowned for its lobster, and with numerous fishing harbours, the North Cape Coastal Drive region offers several opportunities to experience a traditional lobster dinner. Other culinary highlights include seaweed pie, Acadian food in Region Evangeline, and traditional foods (such as island bannock) of the Mi'kmaq culture in the community of Lennox Island.
Essential culinary experiences across the island also include eating PEI's famous potatoes, grown in the rich, red earth found here, digging for clams in the Red Sands Shore region or enjoying the fine wines and spirits brewed in the Points East Coastal Drive area, including vodka made from those tasty local spuds. Two major food festivals are held in the province: the Fall Flavours Festival and the Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival.
GETTING HERE
Part of the adventure starts by getting to PEI. One way to arrive is to drive in via the Confederation Bridge. A 10-minute drive across ice-covered water, this engineering marvel spans 12.9 km (8 mi) and connects the island from New Brunswick to the town of Borden-Carleton and the Gateway Village visitor centre. A toll is collected only when leaving the island.
Another way into PEI is via ferry. Northumberland Ferries operates from May to late December, departing from Caribou Bay near New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island. The trip takes about 75 minutes and a toll is collected when leaving PEI.
Travellers arriving by air will land at Charlottetown Airport, located north of the city. A cab fare from the airport to downtown Charlottetown ranges from $10-15 CDN for a single fare and $3-5 CDN for additional passengers.
CLIMATE
The peak tourist season is from early July to late August when the weather is moderately warm with daytime temperatures usually in the 20s ºC (70s ºF). Spring and autumn also offer decent weather, with temperatures that range from 8 to 22ºC (46 to 71ºF ). Winters can be cold, with temperatures dipping from -3 to -11ºC (26 to 11ºF), and the island experiences more storm activity between December and April.
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