PEI (Canada) has always been on my bucket list and I'm wondering if anyone has been to the area with a family. I am thinking next summer, possibly. What is there to do in the area with children? Is it family-friendly? Any input would be appreciated.
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This is my part of the world! So much to do and very family friendly. We try and go once each summer for 4-5 days. PEI landscape is so different that you really feel like you are on another continent. I will reply more tonight after my kids are in bed, but I highly recommend!
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@Charm54:
YAY Thank you!!!
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Ahh on my bucket list as well! Anxiously awaiting more comments
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Okay, kids are asleep
We like to stay in the Cavendish area. It's pretty centrally located and lots to do there. The National Park is exquisite - there are trails, red sand beaches, and historical sites. The beaches in PEI are an attraction in itself, the tides make some really cool tidal pools and sandbars that my kids adore playing on.
In Cavendish there is also a boardwalk with shops and restaurants, Ripleys Believe it or Not, Sandspit (amusement park), Shining Waters (water park and amusement), Avonlea Village and Green Gables (if you're an Anne fan). There is really great golf in the area. There are some farms in the area that have tours, my girls loved getting to play with some goats last year and learn all about them.
Cows ice cream is a must try and there are locations all over the island.
Charlottetown is the capital city and is really pretty. It has some interesting landmarks (birthplace of Canada's confederation), amazing restaurants and cute local shops.
The Anne of Green Gables Musical that plays every summer is really awesome️
We also really like Basin Head provincial park. They have sands that "sing" (something about the silica in the sand). If you're brave enough the bridge is fun to jump off of.
The nice part about PEI is that it's small so it's easy to drive around the whole thing and see lots. There are so many random lighthouses, beaches and shops off the beaten path that it's fun to just take a drive and see what you come across.
If you want to see a bit of the Maritimes beyond PEI, you might want to fly into Halifax. From there, you could drive to New Brunswick, stop at the Hopewell Cape Rocks, they are really neat to see and have the highest tides in the world. You could then go to PEI via the Confederation Bridge (one of the longest bridges in the world and really cool to experience).
After touring around PEI for a bit, you could take the ferry to Pictou, Nova Scotia and make your way back to Halifax to fly home.
Hope that helps! I love living in Atlantic Canada for all of its different landscapes.
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@Charm54: Thank you for this, amazing! I've lived in Ontario most of my life and my east coast experiencence is limited to 24 hours in Halifax for work. This post made me really want to go and take the kids - it's definitely on my summer vacation list now!
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@Charm54: This is awesome, thank you. If we flew into Halifax, how long of a drive is it to PEI? I grew up in upstate NY and have done lots of Eastern Canada but never made it as far as the shore. I have ALWAYS wanted to go, especially since I read every Anne of GG book and obsessively watched the PBS series.
If we did try to go next year, we would have a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old.
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+1 on staying in Cavendish! We stayed in Stanley Bridge and it was awesome! Like two mins from Cavendish, day trip into Charlottetown!
We took the ferry from Pictou onto the Island, then took the bridge off!
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@Charm54: oh this is great info. We are considering going but have no idea where to stay! Would an air bnb in cavendish be good!?
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@travellingbee: it's about 2-2.5 hours from the Halifax airport to the bridge in New Brunswick. It's shorter from Halifax to the ferry on the Nova Scotia side (maybe 1-1.5 hrs). You should check out the new CBC series of Anne they did this year, the 12 year old girl in me loved every episode
http://www.cbc.ca/anne/One thing to note is you only have to pay to take the bridge OFF of the island (toll is around $40) so you could drive from Halifax-PEI via the bridge "for free" then get a one way fare from PEI to NS via the ferry. Or pay to take the bridge back to Halifax again if you prefer the convenience of the bridge.
@erinbaderin: we are heading to Ontario for our summer vacation this year, actually. I remember last year when I first put my toes in a Great Lake, I couldn't believe how much it reminded me of the ocean!
@Mrs. Champagne: yes definitely! I would imagine there are lots of cottages available on airbnb. Honestly anywhere on the Eastern Shore would be great, as it's never too far to get anywhere haha.
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@Mrs. Champagne: we had wayyyyy better luck on air bnb for our two rentals (one week each!) out east this summer. We will be in NS, not PEI, but I have shopped basically every option in NS and PEI before we decided, lol.
The other more common options were okay, but we needed pet friendly too, booked last Fall and Early January for this summer as it seems like all the good places are taken by repeats or snapped up quick!
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I have roots in PNW and love Cows ice cream. PEI is a good kid friendly place to visit! My relatives take their elem school grandkids in the summer.
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