I explored this Canadian island with endless beaches that ranked among the country's best
There's something about an island trip, like crossing the ocean on a little ferry or driving over a bridge somehow separates you from your daily life more than other vacation spots. It also helps when the island you're going to is ranked among Canada's best – known for its scenic shorelines peppered with soft sand and gentle waves.
This island is defined not only by its breathtaking coastline, but also by its little towns with a unique friendliness that seems to be trademarked by the East Coast of Canada.
Within them you'll find a slew of local shops brimming with the creations of local artisans and the offerings from the many local farms. Driving between the small communities you'll get peaceful farmland views — tall grass blowing with the salty breeze, hay bales scattered around open fields, and too many cows to count.
You're never driving long, though, before you get an ocean view that stretches far out onto the horizon.
If you couldn't tell already — this is Prince Edward Island, and I love it.
It's not hard to love, and you could argue I'm a bit biased (being from the Maritimes), but recently the island took home the title of the third best in Canada, in a Travel + Leisure ranking. This was just the latest of the public praise it has gotten, and it coincided perfectly with my recent trip there.
Now home with a car full of sand and a camera roll full of sunset pics that don't do it justice, I'd argue that it deserves a spot on the world's best list. Here's why.
@harloxmargo a perfect place 💞✨ #princeedwardisland #eastcoast #explorepei #fyp #tourismpei #discovercharlottetown #summer
Let's start with the obvious (beaches)
I, like most people, am a sucker for a good beach. I grew up in Nova Scotia — which is another spot famous for its summer getaways – but nothing beats a P.E.I. beach.
It's the softest sand with a signature red hue that makes it especially pretty, and sand bars let you walk out into the ocean — which reaches out uninterrupted, as far as the eye can see. From there, you can look back at the ref cliffs enclosing the beaches and the rolling sand dunes alongside them.
I could stare at those dunes all day long, with the beach grass dancing in the wind and the smell of the ocean wafting around.
When you're on the island you can take your pick of beaches, because it's hard to go wrong.
Cavendish Beach is a bit busy but a go-to for a reason (stay for sunset, you'll thank me later), and Brackley Beach is another popular one, with a lobster roll spot beside it that has a long line worth waiting in (Richard's Seafood).
The cute-factor
Another key part of a summer vacation? Bopping around.
There are plenty of spots to do just that on the island. On the cloudier day of our trip we headed to Charlottetown and roamed the streets. It is a city, but feels like a little town on the water with a quaint vibe, lots of shops, and a picturesque waterfront. A must for any P.E.I. trip is grabbing an ice cream and eating it down at the waterfront. I don't make the rules — I just happily follow them.
There's other cute small towns all around though, each with their own cozy spots, charming streets and quaint stores.
For cute cafes go to C&B Corner Cafe in Kensington (where you'll find incredible homemade bagels), and Samuel's Coffee House in Cavendish.
The food
P.E.I. is a tourist hot spot in the summer, there's no arguing that, but it still manages to have an authenticity that other popular travel spots sometimes lack. Often you'll go to tourist towns and face expensive meals that fall flat – but it's easy to avoid that here.
It's an amazing food destination, with an emphasis on local flavours (hello, potatoes and lobster). The island is relatively small, making it easy to visit good food spots that are scattered around, even if you are staying in one of the more touristy spots.
If you want to go all out on a foodie adventure you can stay at the Inn at Bay Fortune, where the famous Chef Michael Smith puts on the FireWorks Feast culinary experience.
Easy cheap options are all around, too, though, like a quick lobster roll or a farmers' market visit.
It's made for a summer vacation
Summer is when the island comes alive. Seasonal stores and shops open there doors when the snow finally melts, cottages fill up, and vacationers start trickling in.
It's a pretty quiet spot in the winter, so summer is when people flock to the island, creating a lively and fun atmosphere in those warmer months. People are soaking up the time they have there, enjoying the beaches and ocean swims while they can.
It gets busy, but not too crowded
I went to Cavendish during the Cavendish Beach Music Festival — so basically it was one of the busiest weekends of the season to be there. Even then though, I found it's not wildly crowded. It's bustling, and we waited a bit longer for coffee than normal, but I never felt like I was overwhelmed by crowds.
Cavendish Beach was busy, but you can always find space and it doesn't feel hectic. Compared to the beaches in Europe where you have to squeeze in between speedos, this felt spacious.
I went out of my way to make reservations ahead of our trip, expecting it to be a bit busier, but we got away with walking into a few spots too.
@harloxmargo a perfect place 💞✨ #princeedwardisland #eastcoast #explorepei #fyp #tourismpei #discovercharlottetown #summer
It's one of the most popular summer destinations on the East Coast, so you get the perks of that, but rarely have to deal with wild traffic or big crowds.
My advice? Take a week and drive around P.E.I, stopping at the roadside sands, exploring the little towns, and running around the beaches. It's Canada's smallest province, but there's a whole lot more to it than you might think.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
