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Tips for Planning a Vacation in Prince Edward Island

Check out some useful tips before you plan your visit to PEI.
Deepa Kartha
Located on the east coast of Canada, Prince Edward Island (PEI) is the smallest province of the country. Measuring 40 miles in width and 139 miles in length, PEI is the perfect place for a short holiday.
Best Time to Visit
Summer season, i.e. between July and August, is the best time to visit PEI, when the climate is pleasant and warm. Note that several attractions on the island remain closed during the other times of the year. So, plan your trip carefully.
There are three ways of reaching Prince Edward Island by a ferry, car or a flight.
How to Reach?
Ferry: There are ferry services from Nova Scotia, Caribou and Woods Island during the peak season. Catch the early morning ferry to beat the crowd.
Road: There is a Confederation Bridge that connects PEI to New Brunswick and can be used all around the year.
Air: You can fly down to Charlottetown airport from almost anywhere in Canada and the USA.
Things to Do
Although small, Prince Edward Island is a powerhouse of attractions, from unique and gorgeous landscapes to lip-smacking delicacies and interesting history. A week's holiday in PEI would give you a deep insight into the various facets of the place.
See the Beautiful Lighthouses
PEI is quite famous for its lighthouses, and it has around 63 of them. Tall, short, round and square, here you would get to see different types of lighthouses.
Point Prim, East Point, Cape Bear, are some of the most important lighthouses on the island. Moreover, there is the West Point lighthouse, where you can stay overnight.
Tour the Green Gables Heritage Place
If you have grown up reading Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, the Green Gables Heritage Place is the place to visit. While you would find remnants of the book all over PEI, it is the heritage place that is straight out of the book.
The highlight here is the white clapboard house that is exactly how Montgomery has described. The interiors have also been redesigned to match the descriptions in the book. You would also get to live the book by exploring the Balsam Hollow and Haunted Woods trails.
Home to gorgeous white sandy beaches, marvelous red sandstone cliffs and beautiful nature trails, the PEI National Park is a treasure chest of stunning attractions.
Visit the PEI National Park
The PEI National Park is popular for camping, hiking, cycling, paddling, fishing, picnicking, golfing and numerous beach activities as well.
Relax at the Beaches
With 680 miles of shoreline and 23 beaches, PEI is a haven for beach lovers. Apart from chilling on the white sand and swimming in the cold waters, the beaches of PEI offer a variety of beach activities as well.
While you would find a pretty beach at every corner of the island, some of the best beaches of PEI are the Cavendish Beach, Singing Sands, Greenwich Beach, Brackley Beach and Cedar Dunes.
If you love seafood, you are in a great treat at PEI. The island is known as shellfish heaven, as you would get to gorge on delicious mussels, scallops, oysters, clams and lobsters.
Try the Mouthwatering Seafood
Enjoy an Ice Cream at COWS Creamery
The ice cream at COWS Creamery is a PEI delicacy that is famous all over Canada. Made using the freshest natural ingredients, old-fashioned techniques and a secret recipe, the ice cream at COWS Creamery is something you should not miss when in PEI.
While the creamery offers 32 unique flavors, do not miss the strawberry ice cream made from the home grown berries of PEI. Another highlight is the handmade cone that is prepared right on the counter, just before serving.
Enjoy a Drink at Victoria Row
A shopping district in Charlottetown, Victoria Row is made of cobbled streets and Victorian-style red brick buildings. Apart from antique and gift shops, Victoria Row is full of restaurants, coffee shops and bars.
During summers, the place is off to vehicles, giving you the chance to enjoy a drink right on the road, while people-watching or listening to the cool music of the street musicians.
Enjoy Outdoor Adventures
PEI is a picturesque place and offers plenty of outdoor activities that are loved by adventure enthusiasts. Be it sailing, kayaking, horse riding, parasailing, camping or bird watching, you can enjoy all these and more here.
PEI is also popular for cycling and has several cycling trails, although the best and most popular is the Confederation Trail, 270-mile long, which runs on an old railway line. This trail will take you to some of the most breathtaking landscapes of the Prince Edward Island.