• Cities
• Other destina...
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Drink
• Get out

Prince Edward Island (or PEI) [1] is one of the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. It is Canada's only island province. It is the smallest province by both area and population, but is also the most densely populated province.

[edit] Cities

• Charlottetown
• Summerside
• Tignish
• New Glasgow
• Montague
• Murray River

[edit] Other destinations

• Prince Edward Island National Park covers much of the central north coast and tourist destinations.

"The Island", as locals call it, is well known for its beautiful sandy beaches and dunes. It is also the home of the gregarious Anne Shirley from Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic Anne of Green Gables. It became the "Cradle of Confederation" after the Fathers of Confederation met there in 1864 to discuss the possible union of five British North American colonies. Canada was formed three years later in 1867.

Gateway Village, located just off the Confederation Bridge, is a 30 acre development of food and retail shops aimed at tourists. The Visitor Information Centre provides free maps and tourist information.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

Being an island, PEI has limited access by car.

• The monumental Confederation Bridge [2], almost a visitor attraction in and of itself (viewing stations on the New Brunswick side offer good photo opportunities), crosses the Northumberland Strait between New Brunswick and PEI. It's reached from the mainland on TCH Route 16 near Aulac, and stretches 13 kilometers across open water to the island. The CND $41.50 toll (2 axle vehicle) is collected on the PEI side when returning to the mainland. The bridge is a long boring drive across the ocean and you can't see any views off out it. It is kind of slack.
• PEI Express Shuttle, +1-877- 877-1771, [3] offers van service between PEI and Halifax. 3 days advance reservation is recommended.
• There are a number of car ferries into PEI.
  • The Northumberland Ferries, +1 888- 249-7245, [4] cross from Caribou, Nova Scotia to Woods Islands about once every hour and a half, from 6:30AM to 7:00PM ($15 per passenger or $68 per car). The ferries do not operate during the winter months.
  • CTMA, +1 418 986-3278, [5] runs ferries from Cap-aux-Meules on Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec to Souris about once a day ($40 per passenger or $75 per car).

[edit] By air

Prince Edward Island is served by a single airport located in Charlottetown (Template:IATA) [6]. The following airlines operate passenger flights into the airport:

• Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz (Halifax (Nova Scotia), Montreal, Toronto)
• Westjet (Toronto)
• Northwest Airlines (Detroit)
• Sunwing Vacations (Toronto)
• Delta Airlines (Boston)

[edit] By ship

Throughout the summer months, cruise liners stop in Charlottetown for one day visits.

[edit] Get around

Non-metered taxi service is available within the city limits of Charlottetown and Summerside, as wall as in most large communities. Most taxi companies are willing to provide transportation to rural areas of the island as well but be prepared to pay a higher rate for this service.

In 2005, the city of Charlottetown introduced a new public transit system [7] that provides bus transporation at a cost of $2 to various locations around the city. Althought the service does not extend very far beyond city limits it does provide fast, reliable transportation to most locations within them.

In the summer cycling is popular. Although most roads do not have wide shoulders or designated bike lanes, drivers tend to be quite courtous to cyclists. The landscape consists mostly of rolling hills; there are few steep hills to climb. Additionally, the Confederation Trail stretches from one end of the island to the other. Built on a disused rail bed, the trail has low grades and is reserved for cyclists and pedestrians.

[edit] See

Greenwich dunes and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Tourism in PEI often focuses on beach, seafood, music and the Anne of Green Gables House which seems especially to appeal to visitors from Japan, for whom this is the third or fourth most popular destination in North America (after the Grand Canyon and Banff, Alberta and often ahead even of Niagara Falls).

PEI features many scenic fishing villages.

Malpeque Harbor is the source of not just the famous oysters but many postcards and posters of the picturesque fishing boats, colorful barn-shaped boat houses, and neatly stacked lobster traps. Arrive in late afternoon or early morning for the best light on the water.

St. Peter's Bay is bordered by the 900 acre Greenwich Dunes [8] on one side, and is full of row upon row of buoys used for mussel farming.

[edit] Do

• The Confederation Centre of the Arts [9] in Charlottetown hosts a variety of theatrical and musical acts throughout the year in addition to the long running Anne of Green Gables musical which plays every summer. The centre also houses a small art gallery and a public library.
• The Victoria Playhouse [10] in picturesque Victoria by the Sea presents up to 85 live theatre and performance events each season. The playbill includes a mix of established classics and new plays by young playwrights.
• Prince Edward Island bike tours [11] The tour starts in Cape North and winds its way through Malpeque Bay, along the Bay of St. Lawrence, to the most easterly point of the island, passing through many lovely villages, including Cavendish, North Rustico, Brackley Beach,and Stanhope.
• Basin Head is a popular beach which also has a bridge that you can go and have some fun jumping off of.
• Victoria Park is in the heart of Charlottetown's west end. It contains within its boundaries many recreational and historic sites. The baseball fields, tennis courts, skateboard park and swimming pool should give you lots to do on a hot summer day or evening. The play ground is great for the kids. Two historically relevant sites should spark your interest, Fort Edward was an old British fort set up to protect Charlottetown harbour and on the east end of the park stands the majestic residence of the Lieutenant Governor of PEI, Fanningbank.

[edit] Buy

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Most stores remain closed on Sundays although all essential services are available. Given the island's large tourism industry, there are many, varied souvenir shops all over. Some of the more impressive are Prince Edwards Island Preserves in New Glasgow, Vessy's Seeds in York and The Dunes in Brackley. These shops carry locally produced art work, food and clothing items.

• <listing name= "bestofpei Store" alt="Authentic Island Excellence" address="156 Richmond St., Charlottetown" directions="on Historic Victoria Row" phone="+1 (902) 368-8835" email="info@bestofpei.com" url="http://www.bestofpei.com" hours="9am-9pm, seven days a week, open year round" price="">Carries a host of works by more than 250 of PEI's finest artisans. Continues to seek out talented Island artists, musicians, craftspeople, and specialty chefs who offer authentic Island excellence in their work.</listing>

[edit] Eat

In recent years, Prince Edward Island has seen a tremendous improvement in the quality of its restaurants. The traditional tourist restaurants serving boiled lobsters with all-you-can-eat coleslaw still exist, and can be a lot of fun, but those looking for a more refined or exotic meal now have several options.

[edit] Budget

• Malpeque oysters are known around the world for their large size, soft flesh and sweet, mild flavour. Eat the freshest possible Malpeque oysters at the Malpeque Oyster Barn, Malpeque Harbor, +1 902 836-3999. Oysters are a bargain at $18/dozen. They also serve chowder, mussles, beer and sodas. Open until 8PM.
• McDonalds it is a cheap place to eat, and is really greasy. If you want to get fat this would be the best place to go.

[edit] Mid-range

• Lobster suppers are a highly popular dining experience and ubiquitous on the island. These meals are built around a main course of locally-caught lobster and usually include appetizers, soups, salads and desserts. Look for a large, red lobster claw on the front lawn of a church or social club, or a handpainted sign at a crossroad.

[edit] Splurge

• Widely recognized as the best dining on PEI is the Inn at Bay Fortune, Bay Fortune, +1 902 687-3745 (winter +1 860 563-6090), [12]. The menu was originally developed by chef Michael Smith, and his Food Network series The Inn Chef was filmed at the Inn. Smith has since left to focus on his television programme, but the quality of the food has not decreased. Chef Warren Barr offers a daily tasting menu. The restaurant has been awarded three stars (the maximum) by the Where to Eat in Canada dining guide.
• The Lucy Maud Montgomery Dining Room at the Culinary Institute of Canada, a well respected school for chefs. 4 Sydney St, Charlottetown, +1 902 894-6868, [13]. The students prepare and serve meals under the tuttelage of their professors. The food is classically and competently prepared. The dining room has an excellent view over Charlottetown Harbour, though the institute's building itself is hopelessly municipal in appearance. Begins service at 6PM, reservations requested.

It is a really nice place to eat, and the food is really fancy. It is one of the highest class restruants in PEI, and it has really good looking chefs.

[edit] Groceries

If you choose to cook your own meals at a rental cottage or a camp site there are a number of large grocery stores located around the island. Atlantic Superstore [14] (locations in Charlottetown, Summerside, and Montague) and Sobeys [15] (locations in Charlottetown, Summerside, Montague, Stratford, and West Royalty) are the largest grocery stores in the province, and both carry a wide selection of staples as well as international imports. Sunday shopping is currently in effect for the summer season, and will be in place until further notice. If you also want to have some fun getting a photo of your family, go to Grampas Photo studio and get a old picture and get dressed up and have some fun with that.

[edit] Drink

The legal drinking age in Prince Edward Island is 19. Bars, clubs and liquor stores will typically ask for a government-issued ID from anyone who looks under 25. Retail alcohol sale on the island is restricted to the government controlled PEI Liquor Commission [16]. Their stores carry a reasonable selection of wine, beer and liquor.

[edit] Get out

• The ferries to the Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Nova Scotia are fairly infrequent. However, Confederation Bridge remains open year round and is the fastest, cheapest and most convenient way back to the mainland.
• There are daily flights between Charlottetown and Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax.