Prince Edward Island is off the coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada, in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Part of the Maritime provinces, Prince Edward Island is probably most commonly known for being the home to Anne of Green Gables; and producer of A LOT of potatoes. But PEI is so much more than that. A weekend in Charlottetown is a great way to familiarise yourself with the island, and to discover the delights of a Prince Edward Island vacation.
A Weekend in Charlottetown
Charlottetown is the capital of PEI and a great base from which to explore the island. Especially if your focus is food and fun. We are generally drawn to cities, because we enjoy museums and eating out – and Charlottetown delivers on both fronts.
But we also enjoyed a road trip around the island to see other areas – more on that later.
Where to stay in Charlottetown
The Arts Hotel – The Arts Hotel is a really funky downtown stay in Charlottetown. While the rooms are minimalist and bijou, they are also stylish and functional. The Arts Hotel were great value when we stayed.
Great George Hotel – Stay in a traditional style hotel in the historic heart of Charlottetown. The 4-star Great George Hotel is right near St Dunstan’s and Victoria Row.
Other central Charlottetown options include the Delta Marriott on the harbour, and the Quality Inn & Suites Downtown. If you want a boutique bed & breakfast, try the Inn on the Harbour.
Sights in Downtown Charlottetown
Charlottetown has a really funky vibe – with a good mix of culture, history and regeneration. There are touristy areas designed to capture the cruise ship visitors that descent upon the city. And there are breweries, artisanal coffee houses and great restaurants to satiate the locals. Here are some of the walkable sights downtown we discovered:
Confederation Art Centre – This brutalist structure is juxtaposed with the neo-classical Province House next door. Home to the premiere performing arts spaces on the island.
Province House National Historic Site – Site of the PEI legislature, and also where the first steps towards Confederation took place. It was under repair on our most recent, but I did have the pleasure of seeing this neo-classical building on a previous visit. Volunteers in period costume can be found sharing its history.
Street art & sculpture – A fine mix of painted street art and public sculpture is scattered around downtown. The ‘Fathers of the Confederation’ statues opposite St Dunstan’s Basilica is a real hoot.
Architecture – In the 18th century, Prince Edward Island had a small boom of brick-making. Unfortunately the clay deposits didn’t last long, however the delightful Victorian brick buildings around the island are its legacy. The Gainsford House of 1833 is the oldest surviving brick building in Charlottetown.
Harbour Shops – A lovely group of shops and restaurants have sprung up on the harbour. From gifts to ice cream, tourist souvenirs to seafood restaurants.
Beaconsfield Historic House – If you want to learn more about Victorian island life, Beaconsfield offers a glimpse of the past.
Where to eat in Charlottetown
We had some delicious meals in Charlottetown:
Brickhouse Kitchen & Bar – The Brickhouse has fantastic ambiance – low light and thoughtful design make this a great romantic night out.
Casa Mia – Want a hearty diner breakfast (or lunch or dinner)? Casa Mia breakfasts are huge and delicious. I had the breakfast tacos and maple home fries and couldn’t eat for the rest of the day!
John Brown Richmond Street Grille – This lively restaurant and bar is at its best when it is sunny and the tables spill out onto the street. We had some great meals and cocktails here, although found the cavernous inside a little loud on a busy evening.
Claddagh Oyster House – If you want to savour some excellent Maritime seafood, this Oyster house offers the very best of the area.
Cows ice cream – Cows was born in Cavendish, but there are stores all over Canada now. Their amusing ice cream names are always a crowd pleaser.
So, what’s so great about Prince Edward Island?
I’m a city kid, so Charlottetown was fantastic in my eyes. But on our many visits to PEI, one of my favourite things to do is to go for a drive through the rolling countryside and cute seaside villages. Here are some of the other areas of PEI that we enjoy visiting, either as an extended stay or day trip from Charlottetown.
Prince Edward Island National Park
Prince Edward Island National Park is a ruggedly beautiful spot on the north coast. There are summer campsites, trails and red sand beaches to explore. It would be a great vacation option for families.
North Rustico
North Rustico has an interesting history, with predominantly Acadian heritage. With fishing and oystering still part of the goings-on. If you’re looking for tranquil surroundings or a stop for lunch, North Rustico is a good option.
Anne of Green Gables
The Anne of Green Gables house and museum is near French River and Park Corner – on the coast north of Kensington.
If you’re interested in LM Montgomery books, this is a fun stop.
Kensington
Kensington is home to the Cavendish Farms research station, and as such, the whole area smells like oven fries – which isn’t actually a bad thing (but don’t visit hungry). This is where many of the potatoes grown on the island end up. The fertile farms blanket the countryside, and the islanders are very proud of all their produce.
There is also a haunted (faux) Tudor mansion in Kensington, great for a family day out.
Summerside
Summerside is a lovely town to stop in. On a sunny day, the marina and Breakwater Grill is perfect for a relaxed long lunch. Their fish & chips portions had us rolling out of there!
Wood Islands
Wood Islands is where the ferry to Caribou, Nova Scotia, leaves from. If you’re arriving by boat, stop here for visitor information, a visit to the candy store, and an ice cream.
Getting to and from Prince Edward Island
There are two ways on and off Prince Edward Island. By the incredible 12.9km long Confederation Bridge – which is the longest bridge over frozen water (in winter) in the world. It runs from Cape Jourimain in New Brunswick to PEI, and costs only when you leave the island.
The other method is by ferry from Wood Islands to Caribou, Nova Scotia. We like taking the bridge over and the ferry back for fun – although the bridge is considerably cheaper.
We have family in the Maritime Provinces and love to explore this area.
Have you been?
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.
The haunted mansion looks super cool! I hadn’t heard about it — definitely adding it to my list for a place to check out now!
As a city kid myself, I love to escape to seaside places and open spaces such as this, yet still have the luxury of civilisation with all my needs catered to. I believe the ‘ice cream shop’ has my name written on a cone!
The architecture looks amazing and I’d love to visit the art house! Didn’t know so thanks so much for sharing!
We were glad we finally made it to PEI. It was on our list for a long time. We saw many of the same things you did. But are sorry we missed Cavendish Farms and that smell of oven fries! The fresh seafood alone is a great reason to head back.
Hey! The red sand in Prince Edward Island National Park looks pretty, do you know if the campsites you mentioned are equipped with plumbing, showers, etc. – or is it just a clearing to park/pitch tents? Thanks!
There are two campsites and both with facilities + a variety of camping options (including tent and RV sites, oTENTiks, our new Bunkies and equipped campsites) – you can book here: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/pe/pei-ipe/activ/camping
Thank you for this great guide! I would love to see the Anne of Green Gables House and the North Rustico Lighthouse!