The Smallest Province in Canada, Prince Edward Island’s concentration of activity means every corner of the island is accessible. Charlottetown, known as the birthplace of Canada, is centrally located, and its tree-lined streets make a gentle start to exploring the outlying country.

Red clay roads guide the visitor through farms and fishing villages to tiny provincial parks scattered throughout the island. Traveling the north coast takes in the splendid rolling green scenery of PEI National Park, with its famous beaches, while southward, warm swimming spots abound.

 

Cavendish

This is such a busy little town that it can be hard to see the gentle, pastoral home of the Anne of Green Gables novels.

The best place to get in touch with its charm is at the site of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Cavendish Home, where the author lived for many years, a simple and authentic site. The town is also the location of Green Gables, the novels’ fictional 19th-century home.

 

Attractions:

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Cavendish Home

Route 6.

(902) 963 2231.

Green Gables

Route 6.

(902) 963 7874.

Cavendish

Routes 6 & 13.

(902) 963 7830.

 

Prince Edward Island National Park

Green Gables is part of Prince Edward Island National Park, whose western entrance is in Cavendish. This is the park’s busier side. The soft sand and gentle surf of Cavendish Beach make it one of the most popular beaches in the province.

The park’s coastal road leads to North Rustico Beach, which is a favorite with sightseers. At the park’s western end, the Homestead Trail leads for 8 km (5 miles) through rustic green woodlands and meadows.

The park’s quieter eastern side features a long stretch of pristine beach and dunes, and a scenic coastal road. The Reeds and Rushes Trail is a lovely short boardwalk track leading to a freshwater marsh pond where local species of geese and duck nest and feed.

 

Attractions:

Prince Edward Island National Park

Charlottetown.

(902) 672 6350

 

The South Coast

Enchanting vistas are found along the roads of the south shore, between Confederation Bridge and Charlottetown. Visitors will also find Victoria by-the-Sea, a small village that is home to some of the island’s most interesting craft shops.

En route to Charlottetown, visitors can make a short detour to Fort Amherst-Port-la- Joye National Historic Site.

It was here, in 1720, that the French built the island’s first permanent settlement. The British captured it in 1758, and built Fort Amherst to protect the entrance to Charlottetown Harbour. While the fort is long gone, the earthworks can still be seen in the park-like surroundings.

 

Attractions:

Fort Amherst-Port-la-Joye National Historic Site of Canada

Rocky Point.

(902) 566 7626.

 

 

Panmure Island

The natural beauty of the island’s eastern area is easy to experience on Panmure Island, south of Georgetown. Level roads make it popular with cyclists. In summer, the octagonal wooden Panmure Island Lighthouse is open, and the view from the top takes in a long vista of the island’s beaches, saltmarshes, and woodlands.

The lighthouse still guides ships into port as it did when it was first built in 1853.

 

Attractions:

Panmure Island Lighthouse

Panmure Island.

(902) 838 3568.