# Prince Edward Island: Anne of Green Gables and So Much More > Discover Prince Edward Island, Canada's gem with a rich history, scenic beaches and a food scene all its own. Find out what makes it so irresistible. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/ostriv-pryntsa-edvarda-anna-iz-zelenykh-dakhiv-i-bahato-inshoho/ - Language: en - Published: 2024-08-23 - Categories: Culture, Historic Sites, Beaches, Tours, Canada, Food & Drinks --- At first glance, you might think deciding what to do on Prince Edward Island (or PEI, as it's more commonly known) would be a breeze. After all, it's Canada's smallest province, and driving from one end to the other takes only about three hours. But don't be fooled. This is a destination that will have you begging for more long after you've said goodbye to its rugged red shores. With its laid-back maritime vibe paired with a long list of natural and historic attractions, PEI has been drawing visitors for decades. Much of the credit for its international tourism success belongs to a single fictional character: Anne of Green Gables. Whether or not you've read Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic, set on Prince Edward Island and translated into roughly 20 languages since its publication in 1908, it's impossible to escape the influence this spirited red-haired girl has had on the island. Her name or image is stamped on everything, from bottles of "raspberry cordial" soda to golf courses. Interest in Anne is expected to surge now that the story has been reimagined in the Netflix series "Anne with an E." But like Anne herself, the island has evolved over the years, offering up a fresh wave of cultural and culinary experiences. One thing to keep in mind before you grab a close friend and book a plane ticket: PEI is a seasonal destination, meaning most of its attractions are open from June through September. ## All About Anne ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-64-1-2024.jpg) Whether you're a longtime or brand-new fan of Anne, the Green Gables house in Cavendish will tug at the heartstrings of any kindred spirit. A former farm now part of the larger Prince Edward Island National Park, it once belonged to Montgomery's cousins and is said to have inspired her Anne stories. Its restored farmhouse brings the home to life just as fans of the book might have imagined it, while a museum on the grounds explains how islanders lived in the late 1800s. Visitors can sign up for walking tours and activities, including a weekly Sunday picnic. But lest you forget that Anne is a fictional character, we suggest visiting the birthplace of her creator. The white heritage house where author Montgomery was born in 1874 sits just outside Cavendish in the town of New London, and it's open for tours. Need more Anne? The capital, Charlottetown, is home to two top musicals dedicated to the red-haired girl. At the Confederation Centre of the Arts, you'll find Canada's longest-running production, "Anne of Green Gables: The Musical." Staged every year for more than 50 years, the show recently underwent a redesign that includes new sets, costumes and sound design. Meanwhile, "Anne & Gilbert," which premiered in 2013, is performed annually at The Guild theatre in Charlottetown. ## The North Shore: Cavendish Beach and Beyond ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-64-2-2024.jpg) PEI's main tourist magnet, Cavendish was once a quiet rural community settled by a handful of Scottish immigrants. Besides that famous green-and-white house mentioned earlier, this stretch of PEI's north shore is packed with dune-backed beaches, campgrounds, cottages and surprisingly tasteful tourist traps. Even if you're just passing through, we recommend stopping by the Cavendish boardwalk for a scoop of ice cream from Cows Creamery. While Cows is now available across the country, and even in Beijing, this is the original shop, which opened in 1984. For a slightly quieter seaside experience, head east to Brackley, another ribbon of golden, dune-lined sand that's also part of the larger Prince Edward Island National Park. It's just one stop along the scenic Gulf Shore highway, which also whisks you past Covehead Harbour with its lovely red-and-white lighthouse and fishing wharf. Looking for something more peaceful? About an hour's drive northeast of the capital, Charlottetown, you'll find the stunning beaches and dunes of Greenwich, also national park territory. For a closer look at the island's wild coastal rock formations, make your way to the incredible Thunder Cove in Darnley, roughly an hour's drive northwest of Charlottetown. ## Red Sands Shore, Home of Canada's Longest Bridge ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-64-3-2024.jpg) Crossing over to the other coast, the south is home to the Red Sands Shore, site of the photogenic Confederation Bridge on Prince Edward Island. Canada's longest bridge, this 13-kilometre icon opened in 1997 to connect Prince Edward Island with the New Brunswick mainland. Located nearby is Gateway Village, an open-air complex of shops and restaurants designed to look like an 1860s farming community. Afterward, we recommend heading east on the Trans-Canada Highway to the charming village of Victoria-by-the-Sea. This seaside community of about 100 people, founded in 1819, is home to the Victoria Playhouse, which regularly hosts cultural events. The village is filled with beautiful historic homes, a chocolatier, a few excellent seafood restaurants and a harbour, complete with a historic lighthouse. ## Exploring Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island's Capital ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-64-4-2024.jpg) The best way to explore Prince Edward Island's tiny capital is on foot, since many of the attractions are located in the historic downtown core. These include the stunning, century-old St. Dunstan's Basilica and Province House, the government building where the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, which sparked the creation of Canada, took place. Unfortunately, the latter is currently under renovation and won't reopen until 2020, but visitors can still admire its neoclassical exterior. Beyond live performances, the Confederation Centre of the Arts hosts permanent and rotating exhibitions dedicated to the island. The surrounding tree-lined streets are packed with pubs, restaurants, galleries and shops. That includes Victoria Row, which closes its cobblestone street to traffic in the summer. For a traditional pub atmosphere, there's the Olde Dublin Pub on Sydney Street, with live performances every evening, while the Churchill Arms serves up British curries and pints. For craft beer lovers, try Upstreet Craft Brewery in Charlottetown, one of several microbreweries on the island. ## Prince Edward Island's Best Dishes ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-64-5-2024.jpg) Over the past 10 years, Prince Edward Island has seen a surge of fine-dining restaurants, especially in Charlottetown. The capital's top highlights include The Pilot House, Terre Rouge and Claddagh Oyster House, all serving a variety of inventive dishes that showcase the best of local ingredients. Water Prince Corner Shop & Lobster Pound is the place to satisfy your craving for lobster. For the best plate of fried haddock just about anywhere, on the island or off, head to Water Street Fish & Chips in Charlottetown. Far from the capital, there are dozens of wonderful culinary experiences as well. In the east, about a 45-minute drive from Charlottetown in Souris, sits the luxurious Inn at Bay Fortune and its FireWorks kitchen, led by Michael Smith. This upscale restaurant was named one of Canada's best new restaurants of 2016 by Air Canada's enRoute magazine. Oyster lovers will want to head to the Malpeque Oyster Barn at the fishing harbour in Malpeque Bay. Bonus: a thriving kitesurfing scene flourishes at the nearby Cabot Beach Provincial Park. And finally, there's nothing quite like an old-fashioned lobster supper. Traditionally held in a spacious community hall, these beautifully messy feasts, when done right, end with a table full of empty shells and butter-coated fingers. An island favourite, New Glasgow Lobster Suppers has been around since 1958. Fisherman's Wharf in North Rustico, also a 30-minute drive from Charlottetown, is another winner, boasting an 18-metre salad bar. Both offer unlimited seafood chowder and mussels with any lobster order. If you'd rather hunt or forage your own dinner, there are plenty of companies offering excursions, such as lobster fishing, oyster picking, clam digging and deep-sea fishing. Among the most respected are Tranquility Cove Adventures and Top Notch. ## Where to Stay ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-64-6-2024.jpg) Given the size of Prince Edward Island, you can easily base yourself in Charlottetown and take day trips to the island's various attractions. For a historic boutique experience, there's the Great George in Charlottetown. It consists of 54 luxurious rooms spread across 17 restored historic buildings dating back to the mid-1840s. Want to stay near the Brackley beaches? The historic Dalvay by the Sea offers 25 guest rooms filled with antiques and eight cottages. It appeared in the original 1985 film "Anne of Green Gables," standing in as the "White Sands Hotel." Both award-winning luxury properties, the Inn at Bay Fortune and the Inn at St. Peters offer visitors easy access to Prince Edward Island's northeastern shores.