How to enjoy Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province

From red cliffs and pristine beaches to world-class seafood, glorious Prince Edward Island is a hidden gem in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the eastern coast of Canada, north of Nova Scotia and east of New Brunswick. It is the country’s smallest province and part of the Maritimes. Only 140 miles across, it has a population of 150,000 but attracts one million visitors a year.

You’ll find history in its lighthouses, warmth in its communities and fishing villages, and charm in its landscapes of clapboard houses and lush meadows.

Anne of Green Gables

Tourism is fanned by the much-loved 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. It sold over 50 million copies, been adapted for film, stage and television several times, and the Musical has been performed annually at the Charlottetown Festival since 1965, though it is now biennial.

The story is set in the fictional town of Avonlea (Cavendish in Prince Edward Island), and fans from all over the world flock to explore locations that provided its inspiration. The story of the book’s international success is charted in the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place in rural Cavendish, about 40 minutes drive from Charlottetown.

Beyond the visitor centre is the charming farmhouse, which inspired the famous novel. Beautifully preserved with 19th-century interiors, you can also wander down Lover’s Lane, where Anne and her classmate Gilbert Blythe courted, and Balsam Hollow, the Haunted Woods, and experience scenes straight from the book.

The farmhouse that inspired Anne of Green Gables novel

There is an even Avonlea theme park nearby where drinking a bottle of Anne’s favourite raspberry cordial soda is a one-off that you can only experience here.

Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort

The perfect acclimatisation to this magical island was a stop at Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort – a beautiful wellness resort overlooking St. Peters Bay. It is situated in acres of lush natural landscape, and I slept soundly in my own cabin with beautiful interiors that felt like a five-star boutique hotel. Doors open up to dazzling views over the summer blue bay and banks of colourful flowers. The spa’s facilities, such as the saunas, eucalyptus steam bath, a cold plunge bucket, and a relaxation room, are powered by fully renewable resources. Watching the sunset around open fires was bliss and the restaurant food was not only healthy but delicious.

Greenwich Beach National Park

Greenwich National Park sunset, Prince Edward Island

Greenwich National Park sunset at Prince Edward Island

Just a stone’s throw away is Greenwich Beach, one of Parks Canada’s most unspoilt locations. Greenwich is home to the biggest parabolic dunes on Prince Edward Island, which play a crucial role in protecting the island from coastline erosion. It has a floating boardwalk over the glistening water and trails that roll across the marshes and grass like something out of a storybook.

The pristine sand seems to go on forever. Enjoying a scenic hike along the trails, we discovered more about Greenwich’s important connections to Mi’kmaq and Acadian culture, and I enquired about the abundance of the vivid violet wildflower known as Fireweed or Rosebay Willowherb and was told they grow after forest fires. Its bright purple flowers light up the landscape, together with goldenrod, which is dotted all over the island.

Once on the beach, a swim in the warm summer waters of the Atlantic, gazing at the blue expanse of sky, was a favourite moment for its sheer simplicity.

Japanese Forest Bathing

Taking a hike is an excellent way to destress, but forest bathing, based on Japanese philosophy, can offer even deeper relaxation and mental health benefits. At Nature Space Resort, guests are guided on a tour of one of the resort’s verdant nature trails, which helps reduce stress hormone levels by moving through the woods at a slow pace.

After an hour in the woods, my Fitbit showed my heart rate had actually gone down, with only darting red squirrels and squabbling cheeky chipmunks disturbing the peace.

Canada’s Food Island

Prince Edward Island is known as Canada’s food island. From succulent fresh oysters to creamy chowders and delicious lobsters and clams, the island’s culinary scene is built around the land and sea.

Lobster Party

The famed annual Fireworks Feast at Chef Michael Smith’s five-star Inn at Bay Fortune, which runs nightly from May to October. Prepared from vegetables grown on his organic farm and cooked on live fire from outdoor fire stations and the indoor Fire Kitchen, the TV personality and restaurateur is a tour de force, giving a pre-dinner talk about his passion for food. Possibly the ultimate true farm-to-fire-to-fork experience, the five-course meal is also convivial as you share it on long tables with 70 other guests so it feels like a fabulous dinner party. Flavours, textures and presentation are key and the inventive use of bold, coloured edible flowers in salads and food was dazzling.

Another famous Prince Edward Island culinary experience is a lobster roll; big chunks of fresh succulent lobster, soaked in garlic lemon butter, served on a steaming hot dog-style bun. The lobster roll is part of the East Coast Canadian food canon and, quite rightly, revered as a speciality.

The popular and always busy restaurant FiN Folk Food, does some of the island’s most famous lobster rolls. Dining at FiN Folk Food, I took a two-minute walk over to Harry’s Dairy Bar, where they stay open an extra five minutes to serve me some of the best and creamiest ice cream on the island.

Overlooking both Harry’s Dairy Bar and FiN Folk Food is The Hotel Acadia – Blackbush Beach Resort’s hospitality hub, the island’s newest coastal resort. An early morning yoga class at The Space Movement Studio set the tone for a day chilling in the sun and seeing a different part of the island.

Charlottetown

A visit to Charlottetown, the province’s capital, is a must. Featuring the island’s distinctive and colourful Victorian-era clapboard houses, the city offers plenty of entertainment for tourists, and Victoria Row is an ideal location to start. This historic street has everything from beautiful boutiques to chic eateries. You can have your breakfast at a cosy cafe here, or dine at a stylish restaurant.

On a Secrets of Charlottetown tour, I was surprised to learn that Prince Edward Island had the longest-lasting prohibition of alcohol in Canada, and that King George III’s fourth son, Prince Edward, after whom the island was named in 1799, never actually visited his own island, preferring to sail on by and see his mistress in Nova Scotia instead.

In modern times, our royals have a better track record, and Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited in June last year. (2025). The royal holds the title of colonel-in-chief of the Prince Edward Island Regiment and attended celebrations marking their 150th anniversary.

Lobster Fishing Excursion

Fisherman

But if you’re not a fan of shopping or walking, and fancy an adventure, take a lobster fishing excursion from Peake’s Wharfe, catching a boat from the picturesque small quay which is minutes from the main downtown area.

It is a perfect way to experience the island’s coastal life and discover the secrets behind their famous lobster roll. During my crash course in hands-on lobster fishing with Top Notch Charters, Captain Mark Jenkins explained his family have fished lobster for generations. At aged 16, his father bought his fishing licence for a few dollars, and now 75, it is worth $1.7 million.

Once considered poor man’s food in the early 1900s, when royalty and the rich and famous started eating lobster, the rest of the world considered it a delicacy.

Captain Mark pulled up a surprisingly docile, 28-year-old Larry the Lobster from the traps (who could feasibly live until he is over 100 years old), teaching me how to handle him properly to avoid a nasty nip from his claws. It was a unique experience.

Old Home Week

My visit coincided with the start of Old Home Week. For more than 130 years, Old Home Week has been a highlight of Prince Edward Island summers. What started as an autumn agricultural fair has grown into a week-long celebration involving rides, farm shows and demonstrations and Gold Cup and Saucer harness racing. You can feel the build-up of excitement. For some Islanders, it’s as much about tradition and memory as it is about fun.

Newcomers are also welcome. In 2017, two Amish communities, about 80 people, from southern Ontario arrived to farm the land. Shy and secretive, they don’t go to local schools or churches, wear centuries-old style clothes, speak a unique language and Islanders have embraced them. The government has posted signage along rural roads encouraging Islanders to slow down and share the roads with Amish buggies, the Amish’s traditional mode of transport.

It is hard to explain the enchantment. The pace here is unhurried, the people are welcoming, the sound of the waves, the fresh sea air, beautiful bays and outdoor activities like swimming, kayaking and hiking, as well as thermal spas and wellness centres, contribute to a sense of well-being and relaxation. This might account for the cheerful disposition of almost every Islander you meet.

Fact File

Where to stay:

Rates for a King Waterview room at Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort start from around £202. To book, please visit here.
Rates for a Deluxe King room at Blackbush Beach Resort start from around £265. To book, please visit here.
One of the city’s historic landmarks is The Great George, a beautifully restored boutique hotel where 5-star heritage buildings meet a contemporary update. Rooms are stylish and elegant, and their breakfast is five-star too. Rates for a 2-bedroom condo for mid-July 2026 start from around £315. To book, please visit here.

Tours

The Fireworks Feast at The Inn at Bay Fortune costs approximately £142 plus tax per person – book here.
Prices for a 90-minute forest bathing experience at Nature Space Resort start from approximately £16 per person – book here.
Prices for a yoga class at Blackbush Beach Resort’s The Space Movement Studio are approximately £10.70 per person – book here.

Get there:

Jane was a guest of https://atlanticcanadaholiday.co.uk/ and https://www.tourismpei.com/

How to enjoy Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province

Jane Oddy discovers enchangint Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province.