A Family Travel Guide to Prince Edward Island

From historic lighthouses to “singing” red sand beaches, lively culture and fish-to-fork culinary delights, crescent-shaped Prince Edward Island packs plenty of family-friendly fun into its 5,683 square kilometers – including paying homage to Canada’s favourite literary character, Anne of Green Gables. 

History, nature and beachside fun in Summerside 

Clients who are history buffs can start by walking the leafy residential streets to admire the lovely 19th and early 20th century architecture and massive murals honouring the town’s past before taking in the exhibits at the Lefurgey Cultural Centre, Eptek Art & Culture Centre and the PEI Fox Museum, where kids can learn about the rare Silver Black Fox. Pick up a copy of the self-guided walking tour brochure at any museum site or a scavenger hunt that identifies the different architectural features around town. Be sure to recommend families check out the seaside swing located downtown behind Samuel’s on the waterfront – it makes a fabulous photo to capture the memory.

Kayaking and paddleboarding is a great way to see the shores of Summerside (Photo Credit: ©Tourism PEI / Glen Strickey)

Spots to grab lunch include the newly opened Still Smokin’ Seafood Restaurant, the Deckhouse Pub & Eatery, House of Spice and South Central Kitchen and Provisions. For a fun afternoon at the beach, families can rent kayaks and SUPs at Knot Beach Bar & Rentals. Visitors can also rent bikes and scooters to ride along Summerside’s lovely waterfront boardwalk and multiple municipal trails.  

Watch Canada’s ‘Kentucky Derby’ 

PEI has the most horses per capita in North America, and travellers from all over the world come here to watch live harness racing at the Red Shores Racetrack & Casino. Don’t let the ‘casino’ part deter your clients – children are most welcome to enjoy this authentic Island tradition. PEI harness racing dates to 1886 – this track opened on Canada Day, and is believed to be the oldest, continuously racing track in the country. Red Shores also hosts special events during Lobster Carnival Week in July and throughout the season. Bonus: It’s free to catch the excitement of the horses racing to the finish line. 

Immerse yourself in Acadian Culture  

Descendants of the first French settlers who came to PEI in 1720, PEI’s Acadians continue to delight locals and guests with mouth-watering food and traditional, toe-tapping musical treats.  

Encourage clients to pop into the Acadian Museum in Miscouche, which opened 60 years ago, to learn about Acadian history. Then, visit the Village Musical Acadien to catch live performances and taste authentic cuisine items like râpure – a mix of grated potatoes, fried pork and onions – chicken fricot, a savoury soup, and traditional meat pie at the adjacent Resto-Bar La Trappe.

Wander through the Bottle Houses and Gardens 

Children will be delighted by the impressive collection of Bottle Houses built with more than 25,000 multi-coloured recycled bottles. The six fantasy-like structures on the North Cape Coastal Drive in Cap-Egmont – including a house, a tavern and a chapel – were a labour of love that began in 1980 by retired lighthouse keeper Édouard Arsenault and later, his family.  

Visit or stay at the West Point Lighthouse Inn and Museum (Photo Credit: ©Tourism PEI / Sander Meurs)

Spend the night in a historic lighthouse 

Visitors can book the Tower room or Keeper’s Quarters at the waterfront West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum, which celebrated its 150th anniversary this year. In the museum, guests can climb 77 steps up to the top to see memorabilia plus jaw-dropping panoramic views and sunsets.  

Get up close and personal with feisty alpacas 

In Tyne Valley (known as “The Landing” when it was founded in 1765) visitors can enjoy an educational tour plus face time with adorable alpacas at Green Gables Alpacas. Owner Janet Ogilvie conducts educational, family-friendly tours that includes meet-and-greets with dozens of playful alpacas. But this is not a petting zoo – alpacas are wary of strangers, so Ogilvie shows guests how to feed them carrots while introducing her newest baby alpacas. Ogilvie also runs felting and wool-dying workshops onsite. Don’t forget to pick up a pair of the coziest hand-knit socks you’ll ever own, courtesy of local knitters and the alpacas that live here. 

Peruse the Canadian Potato Museum  

Travellers can learn the proud history of the potato and check out the large collection of antique farming equipment. at this fascinating interpretive centre. And the snacks! Potato-based treats include nacho potatoes, poutine, and potato skins. The showstopper is a dessert clients won’t find anywhere else in the world: Seaweed pie — an angel food cake with a layer of Irish moss filling covered in fruit sauce and whipped cream. Tell clients to pick up a chocolate potato fudge recipe card on their way out, and make sure they snap a photo with the huge potato sculpture outside. 

Visit Anne of Green Gables sites (Photo Credit: ©Tourism PEI / Stephen Harris)

Everything Anne of Green Gables 

No visit to PEI is complete without exploring historical sites like Green Gables Heritage Place, the inspiration behind Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved novels. The north shore – known as Green Gables Shore – includes Cavendish and the surrounding areas that sparked the author’s famous imagination. Other spots to discover include Montgomery’s birthplace in New London;  Cavendish Beach; and the  Anne of Green Gables Museum in Park Corner, housed in Montgomery’s aunt and uncle’s 1872 house she called the ‘wonder castle of my childhood’ – it’s also the setting for Anne’s Lake of shining waters.

Speaking of Anne, she famously said, “there’s nothing more delectable than ice cream”, and there’s a bounty of frozen treats across PEI including Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour’s small-batch flavours, Cows, Truckin’ Roll Ice Cream, What’s the Scoop?, and Cricker’s Creamery. 

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