Anne of Green Gables & Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is known for its beautiful scenery, rich soils and abundant seas. It is a land of farms and fields and small communities, where white sand beaches mix with red soil cliffs and fields, and flowers and berries grow riotously during the summers. But what P.E.I. is perhaps best known for is a fictional character, created by an island school teacher almost 100 years ago, called Anne of Green Gables.

	One of Prince Edward Island's many photogenic lighthouses Photo Courtesy Mirrorlock Photography

Published in 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, which follows the adventures of the orphan Anne Shirley after her arrival on P.E.I., has become the definitive Canadian book, one which serves as a representation of Canada throughout the world. Almost every Canadian knows who Anne of Green Gables is, and many others around the world are fans of this imaginative, fearless girl. They also know of the land that was the fictional Anne and the real Montgomery's home: the scenic north-central area of P.E.I. that Montgomery so successfully and lovingly portrayed in her books, now affectionately referred to as Anne's Land.

ANNE'S LAND

Anne's Land has, with the success of Montgomery's books and the wildly popular Anne movies based on them, become a huge tourist destination. While most visitors come to see the many attractions associated with Anne and Montgomery, many of them return frequently for the scenery and laid-back lifestyle of one of Canada's most beautiful areas. Cavendish, the childhood home of Montgomery, with its rolling fields, red soils and spectacular white sands beach, is merely one example of the area's beauty.

The entire region, which stretches across the inner curve of P.E.I.'s north coast, is blessed with temperate weather, warm ocean waters, rich farmland, sheltered harbours, sandy beaches and striking cliffs. Time moves slowly here; people settle into the land, know their neighbors for generations, and come together to celebrate life at ceilidhs, kitchen parties and festivals held in the many tiny communities throughout the region. The area is proud of its native daughter, Lucy Maud Montgomery and her success with Anne, and most of the area's tourism is directly related to its association with the spirited redheaded heroine. As such, Anne's Land is scattered with attractions and accommodations bearing tribute to Montgomery and her many heroines.

Anne's Cavendish Attractions

	Green Gables House Photo Courtesy Wendi Seskus-James

Situated in Prince Edward Island National Park, the tiny farming community of Cavendish was where a young Lucy Maud Montgomery was raised by her MacNeill grandparents. Cavendish was always close to the author's heart, and Montgomery used it as the model for Anne's fictional village of Avonlea. She also found inspiration in a local green-roofed house that became immortalized through her writings as Green Gables. It is to this house that thousands of visitors flock each year to 'discover' Anne. Now owned by the government, the house has been restored to encapsulate a turn of the century farmhouse–Anne's 'home'. Visitors can tour the house, view Anne's bedroom, listen to live commentary, read information explaining Montgomery's contribution to Canadian literature, and take walks down Lovers' Lane and through the Haunted Woods.

Cavendish also has several other Anne attractions; tourists can visit the Lucy Maud Montgomery Cavendish National Historic Site which was once the homestead of Montgomery's grandparents and now features a small museum, bookstore and gardens, or view Montgomery's grave in the Cavendish cemetery. The home Montgomery once lived in with her grandparents still stands, although it has been moved from its original site. It now houses Cavendish's visitor information centre and displays local crafts and arts.

Cavendish is also home to Avonlea: Village of Anne of Green Gables. This theme park brings to life turn-of-the-century Avonlea by drawing upon the Anne books and movies. Costumed players roam the streets of Avonlea, impersonating characters from Montgomery's stories, including Anne. There are daily reenactments of pivotal scenes from the first book and movie, singing shows featuring “Anne, Diana and Friends”, carriage rides, and mock school classes with Miss Stacey at the replica 1900s schoolhouse. Visitors may also enjoy touring the heritage buildings that reside at Avonlea or visiting the impressive flower gardens. Many people get married at Avonlea's small church each year through one of the theme park's wedding packages, which include a horse-drawn carriage arrival and photographs with Anne.

Cavendish also has many other attractions which are well worth visiting, especially Cavendish Beach, where red cliffs and white sands meet with P.E.I.'s warmest waters to create a perfect place to relax.

Anne's Land Attractions

	The Silver Bush Property Photo Courtesy Anne of Green Gables Museum

Despite Cavendish's being the main location for Anne-related activities, there are many Anne or L.M. Montgomery related attractions outside of the community. Silver Bush, as Montgomery called the Park Corner home of her Campbell cousins, was the setting for her books Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat. Montgomery's favourite place as a child, she chose to be married at Silver Bush in 1911, and today many of her fans flock to the old white farmhouse to exchange their own vows. Still owned by the Campbell family, the house now hosts the Anne of Green Gables Museum. Visitors can also enjoy Matthew's Carriage Rides, the beautiful gardens, and Anne's Lake of Shining Waters while at Silver Bush.

While in Park Corner, also visit the Lucy Maud Montgomery Heritage Museum. The home of Montgomery's paternal grandfather, this museum features artifacts belonging to seven generations of Montgomerys, including some owned by L.M. Montgomery, or featured in her novels.

Also of significance to the author's fans is Montgomery's birthplace in New London, where she lived until her mother's early death. This modest house is now a museum, which showcases several of the author's scrapbooks and photographs, as well as her wedding dress.

Probably the most recognizable of all Anne-related places is Dalvay-by-the-Sea, the luxurious 19th-century bed and breakfast inn that was used as the White Sands Hotel in both the Anne of Green Gables movie and the TV series Road to Avonlea. As a working bed and breakfast, Dalvay-by-the-Sea is not open for tours, although its beautiful Victorian architecture and furnishings make it a special place to stay, and the public dining room is known for its excellent regional cuisine.

Anne's Land Activities
When in Anne's Land, visitors can also find many things to do that are unrelated to Anne. There are several scenic villages, many craft stores, and breathtaking vistas to be enjoyed the length and breadth of it. Excellent ways to see the region include bicycling or hiking the Confederation Trail, which passes through Cavendish and several other communities in Anne's Land or by joining one of the province's bicycling tours. A particularly scenic way to explore the region is by following the Blue Heron Drive, which circles around central P.E.I.. However, tiny villages and scenic views can be found by driving down any of the area's many roads.

	P.E.I.'s red soil roads lead to many interesting places and activities

The town of Kensington is a useful place to stay or visit if planning to see the rest of the island, as five major roads meet in this quaint town located at the junction of Anne's Land, Charlotte's Shore, and the Ship to Shore regions.

Outdoor activities abound in Anne's Land and North Rustico, the nearest town to Cavendish, is the local hub for adventures and equipment rentals. Kayaking or canoeing adventures can be found in almost any waterside community and at both Brackley Beach and Cabot Beach Provincial Park. Anne's Land is also home to several of P.E.I.'s championship golf courses, where golfers can play a game or two while enjoying the surrounding scenery, which often encompasses ocean views.

ANNE'S ISLAND

Anne's Land is not the only place worth visiting on Prince Edward Island, nor is it the only place with any attractions related to Montgomery and Anne. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island's capital, is a beautiful place well worth a visit, and has the added incentives of a branch of Anne of Green Gables chocolates (complete with tours and taste testings), and performances of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, which are held every year during the Charlottetown Festival. There is also the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island, a research centre which often holds events concerning the author's works and their impact. The Confederation Centre of the Arts Museum contains images and photographs by and of Montgomery, as well as several of her manuscripts and first editions.

In Bideford, where Montgomery first taught, the parsonage where she roomed is now a museum which includes an exhibit on Montgomery's time in the community. The museum also hosts the summertime event Wednesday Evening with L.M. Montgomery.

There are many more Anne-related sights on the Island, including Anne's House of Dreams in French River. Drawing inspiration from the fifth book in the Anne series, this small century house is furnished to embody Anne and Gilbert's first home, and a physical representation of the fictional Avonlea Schoolhouse that Anne both attended and taught at is on site. Borden-Carleton is home to Cavendish Figurines, where unique Anne ceramic figurines are manufactured. Visitors to the store can also be photographed as Anne and see the large Spirit of Anne statute. Located outside at the foot of the Confederation Bridge, this waving statue both welcomes visitors to the Island and wishes them well upon their leave.

ANNE EVENTS

Prince Edward Island is known throughout Canada for its never-ending lineup of events. While Anne's Land is particularly rich in special occasions, which include many concerts, festivals, ceildihs, and boating events, celebrations incorporating Anne and Montgomery can be found anywhere on the Island.

The annual L.M. Montgomery Festival, which celebrates the author's contribution to Prince Edward Island and to Canadian literature, is held at many venues across Anne's Land. This three-day event occurs in August, and features such events as an ice cream social, a square dance, open houses at places associated with Montgomery, reenactments of events in her life and writer's workshops. The closing ceremonies incorporate a memorial service at Montgomery's grave followed by a moonlight walk in the grounds of her grandparents' homestead.

There is also the Charlottetown Festival, a summer-long arts festival at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, which has built its schedule for over 30 years on the world's longest-running theatrical show, Anne of Green Gables: The Musical. This play features a huge cast of professional performers, a symphony orchestra, and elaborate staging and costumes and sees thousands attend its yearly run. Opened in 1965, the musical brought the Charlottetown Festival to the attention of the world, and has seen audience members from as far away as Japan, where Anne is a perennial favourite.

SHOPPING WITH ANNE

The Anne of Green Gables Licensing Authority keeps a close eye on Anne merchandise on the Island, ensuring that, at least the majority of the time, the merchandise purchased by visitors is authentic. The most popular souvenirs include sets of the Anne books, Anne dolls and of course, the famous Anne hat–a straw sun hat with a pair of long red braids attached. Anne collectibles can be found anywhere on the island, although some items can only be bought at a particular location or manufacturer. Products of this type can encompass everything from brooches depicting Green Gables, to P.E.I. clay Anne figurines, to ceramic bookends of Matthew's cart. The best option when purchasing gifts or souvenirs is to look for the licensing authority symbol (a white oval featuring the outline of a green sun hat with red braids attached), and not be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of goods available.

ISLAND ACCOMMODATIONS

The island boasts many accommodations, due both to the annual summer population explosion caused by tourists, and also to the P.E.I. tradition of having a unique community, with shops, churches and often accommodations every 2 km (1.2 mi) along any given road. Many of the island's accommodations, especially those in Cavendish, capitalise on their association with Anne, with names that invoke the characters or aspects of the books. In Anne's Land, Cavendish is the main location for accommodations, but its heavy influx of visitors makes booking ahead, especially in the peak months of July and August, absolutely essential. The same can also be said for Prince Edward Island's other main tourist attractions, major towns and commercial hubs, including Charlottetown, Borden-Carleton and Summerside. However, in many smaller communities overnight shelter can be found easily without prior arrangement.

Most types of accommodations can be found on Prince Edward Island, with tiny bed and breakfasts, vacation home rentals (most with a mandatory minimum stay of a week), and waterside cabins and cottages being the most populous. There are also plenty of motels, hotels, and inns, several resorts and hostels, and many campgrounds, which are usually located in provincial parks.

For visitors coming outside the main tourist season, discounts can often be found, although be forewarned that most of the island's accommodations are seasonal, and do not operate before May or past October.