Highlights From The Road to 150 Prince Edward Island Episode
Prince Edward Island is one of the most beautiful islands in Canada, if not the world. We had only five nights to explore and I truly wish we had the whole summer. Gorgeous sandy beaches, lovely people, and incredibly delicious food make this province a wonderful place to visit. Actually, I learned something new about Prince Edward Island. The province is home to an incredible food culture and is the perfect place for any passionate foodie. We had no idea about the love of food on the island but it didn’t take long for us to figure it out. From cooking lessons at the Table to one-of-a-kind experiences by the famous Canadian Chef, Michael Smith, our days were filled with tasty local delights.
Things To Do in Prince Edward Island
We started our trip by staying in Cavendish, which is home to Green Gables Historical Place and the starting point of Prince Edward Island National Park. Next, we went to Bay Fortune before completing our adventure in the city of Charlottetown. There was no way for us to experience everything the island has to offer but we did experience enough to make some recommendations.
The Table Culinary Studio
This was our first activity on the island and one that we’ll never forget. From baked beans to Fiddleheads, we learned how to cook local meals from 150 years ago to celebrate Canada’s 150th. We baked our own biscuits, stuffed our own mock duck, and prepared an incredibly delicious sticky date pudding. We did all of this with our own hands, as machines wouldn’t have been used back in the day. However, this is just one of the many styles of cooking classes you can take. The property is beautiful, the owners are great, and this is one tasty activity I highly recommend.
Learn more at www.thetablepei.ca.
Cavendish Maple Cottages
I really can’t imagine a better place to stay in Cavendish. Whether you’re traveling with your partner, friends, or your whole family, these cottages are perfect. Nestled amongst trees, open fields, and farms, this is a good place to relax and enjoy the PEI vibe. The cottages also have full kitchens, which is helpful for those wanting to save money on food. They also come with a fireplace, flatscreen TV, and a jacuzzi. There’s also a heated pool and hot tub on-site, as well as soccer nets and a playground for the kids. I really can’t stress enough how lovely these cottages are. They’re also a 2-minute drive from Green Gables Historical place!
Learn more at www.cavendishmaples.com.
Green Gables Historical Place
One of the reasons Prince Edward Island is famous is because of the novel Anne of Green Gables. Written by Lucy Maud Montgomery back in 1908, the area that is now Green Gables Historical Place was the actual place that inspired the story. You’ll get to walk inside the “fictional” house as described in the book, learn about the history of the author, and see other areas featured in the book. For lovers of the story, this is a historical site you cannot miss.
Learn more at www.pc.gc.ca/en/
Prince Edward Island National Park
Parks Canada does a great job of selecting and managing some of the best natural areas around the country and Prince Edward Island National Park is no exception. From white sand to red sand, we loved the array of beaches found all over the island. We ran up and down long stretches of smooth sandy beaches and went for a swim when we needed a refreshment. There’s tons of sand dunes and even a floating bridge that brings you up close with ducks, geese, and other wildlife. If you want to see some of Canada’s best beaches, this is the place to go.
Learn more at www.pc.gc.ca/en/
Blue Mussel Café
This café is located right next to the harbour of North Rustico. As you can imagine, you’ll find fresh delicious beer and lime mussels as well as many other varieties of fresh seafood. We had a delicious pan-fried haddock dinner followed by their in-house Chocolate potato cake, which as you might guess, is made with potato. It sounds strange but it turns out that the potato makes the cake fluffier and boy was it good. We even met some new friends on the balcony before and watched birds capture fish in the nearby harbour. Whether you’re looking for seafood chowder, lobster, fish, or mussels, this is the place to be!
Learn more at www.bluemusselcafe.com.
The Inn at Bay Fortune and FireWorks Restaurant
I am so happy that we found this place. Not only is it an incredible place to spend the night but it’s also home to the FireWorks Restaurant, which was created by Chef Michael Smith and his wife. For those who don’t know Chef Michael, he is the host of Chef Michael’s Kitchen, Chef at Home and Chef Abroad, which are seen on Food Network Canada and in more than 100 countries worldwide. We knew the food was going to be exquisite but we never imagined how cool the actual experience was going to be. “The Feast” is a 5-hour event, which starts with a variety of food stations spread out around the property. We tried fresh oysters with bloody mary crushed ice, as well as tacos with a maple spread. Once this finished, we did a toast with some Nova Scotian sparkling wine and then began the incredible 5-course dinner. Every single ingredient is grown on the property and everything is cooked by fire! Everything! No stove, no dials…just fire! Then you eat communal style, which allows you to meet people from all over the world. An incredible experience all around and as a bonus, we got to meet Chef Michael. Unforgettable. Highly recommended.
Bonus: Stay the night and enjoy the equally unbelievable breakfast in the morning. It was the best breakfast we’ve ever had. Trust me. Soooooo good!
Learn more at www.innatbayfortune.com.
The Great George Hotel
If you’re looking for a luxurious stay that actually adds to your experience of the island, the Great George Hotel is a perfect place to rest your head. Not only is it Atlantic Canada’s Premiere Experiential Hotel, but it’s also the hotel where some of the delegates stayed during the birth of Canada’s confederation. Each day at 4:00 PM, the staff give aHistorical Walking Tour and on weekday evenings, there’s a free beer and wine tasting event. Our hotel “room” was basically an entire loft-style apartment and one of the nicest places we’ve ever stayed. We had a jacuzzi tub, a stand-up rain shower, in-suite laundry, and a full kitchen. Oh, and there are endless amounts of fresh chocolate chip cookies. Need I say more?
Learn more at www.thegreatgeorge.com.
Confederation Players Walking Tours & Historical Reenactment
Walking tours are a great thing to do when visiting a new place but the Confederation Players Walking Tours take it to a whole new level. They dress up in period clothing and act as characters from the past. This allows for some great photo opportunities but also makes the history much more real and interesting. Take this tour on your first day and make Charlottetown come to life!
Learn more at www.confederationcentre.com.
Terra Rouge Craft Kitchen
If you’re looking for deliciously inventive food, make sure you visit Terra Rouge Craft Kitchen. Where else can you find bone marrow on the menu? This was one of the most interesting dishes I’ve ever eaten and is quickly becoming popular around the world. Then we had oysters, seafood chowder, and lobster followed by a special and exquisite dessert consisting of everything from ice cream to “bottlecap” candies. Not only was the food great but it was so entertaining.
Learn more at www.terrerougepei.ca.
As you can imagine, five days in PEI is not nearly enough time to experience everything the province has to offer but it was more than enough time to convince us to come back. I’ve never considered Canada to be a “beach” country but I was so impressed by the long stretches of white and red sand beaches nestled next to rolling sand dunes. Combined with an incredible food scene as well as a rich history and it’s easy to see why Prince Edward Island is such a great place to visit.
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