Prince Edward Island: Lighthouses, Lobster, and Coastal Drives
“Dear old world', she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
6/25/20258 min read
Prince Edward Island (PEI) feels exactly like you expect it to feel. Quiet, coastal, and unhurried, with rolling farmland that meets red sand beaches and fishing villages that look like they belong on postcards. It is best known for its lighthouses, fresh lobster, and as the setting for Anne of Green Gables. PEI is not flashy or fast paced, but that is part of the charm. You come here to slow down, drive scenic roads, and enjoy simple pleasures.
Getting to the island is an experience in itself. The Confederation Bridge connects Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick and stretches just over eight miles across the Northumberland Strait, making it the longest bridge over ice covered waters in the world. There is no toll to enter the island, but you do pay when you leave. The toll is approximately fifty dollars for a standard passenger vehicle, which is something to plan for when budgeting your trip.
During our stay, we stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Charlottetown. It is a Hilton brand hotel and was new, very clean, and offered excellent service. We would absolutely stay there again. One thing to know about Prince Edward Island is that there are not many major hotel chains, and accommodations fill up quickly during peak season. Booking early is important, especially if you want a newer property with reliable amenities.
Charlottetown makes a great base for exploring the island. For food, we highly recommend eating at Lobster on the Wharf. It is exactly what you want in PEI. You can order a full lobster at reasonable market prices, and while it clearly caters to tourists, so does almost everything in this area. That is not a bad thing. The food is good, the portions are generous, and it delivers the classic island experience. We also enjoyed wandering through Founders Hall Market, where you will find food stalls offering casual bites and a relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for an easy meal.
One thing we learned quickly on Prince Edward Island is not to underestimate driving distances. The island looks small on a map, but the roads are slow, scenic, and winding. When planning a lighthouse route, give yourself more time than you think you need. We focused on the west side of the island, and even taking our time, the drive took four to five hours.
We started at Seacow Head Lighthouse and then continued northwest to the West Point Lighthouse Inn and Museum. For ten dollars, you can climb to the top of the lighthouse and visit the small museum. There is not a lot to see inside, but the views are nice and, honestly, the clean bathrooms make it a worthwhile stop. From there, we continued north, and this is where downloading offline maps becomes important. Cell service becomes unreliable in this part of the island. The coastal drive toward North Point Lightstation is beautiful and feels remote, with wide open views and very little traffic. This is the northernmost lighthouse on the island and feels appropriately isolated.
After that, we headed back east, stopping at Cape Tryon Lighthouse and North Rustico Lighthouse. By this point, if you think you cannot possibly look at one more lighthouse, Prince Edward Island has a way of proving you wrong. Or maybe proving you right. Either way, it becomes part of the experience.
If you truly want to test your patience and increase your boredom level, you can visit the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place. The website is https://www.annemuseum.com/ . To be honest, we are not fans of the book, even though we listened to it on audiobook during the drive to get into the spirit of things. Still, it was interesting to see the site and understand why it is so important to the island’s identity.
The real highlight of this area for us was The Handpie Company (https://www.handpie.ca/) They serve homemade savory meat pies as well as sweet pies, and there are two locations on the island. It is a perfect stop during a long driving day. They have picnic tables out front, and it is an easy place to sit, relax, and refuel without rushing.
We really enjoyed our time on Prince Edward Island. We stayed two nights, and for us, that was the perfect amount of time. We saw what we wanted to see, ate well, and enjoyed the drives without feeling like we needed to rush or add more. We would absolutely come back, perhaps to celebrate when Canada finally becomes the fifty first state.
Prince Edward Island may not be a destination for everyone, but if you enjoy scenic drives, coastal views, fresh seafood, and a slower pace of travel, it is worth the stop. If you have questions about where to stay, how long to visit, or how to fit Prince Edward Island into a larger Eastern Canada itinerary, contact Tacks Travels. We are happy to help you plan a trip that fits your travel style and makes the most of your time on the island.
Prince Edward Island (PEI) feels exactly like you expect it to feel. Quiet, coastal, and unhurried, with rolling farmland that meets red sand beaches and fishing villages that look like they belong on postcards. It is best known for its lighthouses, fresh lobster, and as the setting for Anne of Green Gables. PEI is not flashy or fast paced, but that is part of the charm. You come here to slow down, drive scenic roads, and enjoy simple pleasures.
Getting to the island is an experience in itself. The Confederation Bridge connects Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick and stretches just over eight miles across the Northumberland Strait, making it the longest bridge over ice covered waters in the world. There is no toll to enter the island, but you do pay when you leave. The toll is approximately fifty dollars for a standard passenger vehicle, which is something to plan for when budgeting your trip.
During our stay, we stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Charlottetown. It is a Hilton brand hotel and was new, very clean, and offered excellent service. We would absolutely stay there again. One thing to know about Prince Edward Island is that there are not many major hotel chains, and accommodations fill up quickly during peak season. Booking early is important, especially if you want a newer property with reliable amenities.
Charlottetown makes a great base for exploring the island. For food, we highly recommend eating at Lobster on the Wharf. It is exactly what you want in PEI. You can order a full lobster at reasonable market prices, and while it clearly caters to tourists, so does almost everything in this area. That is not a bad thing. The food is good, the portions are generous, and it delivers the classic island experience. We also enjoyed wandering through Founders Hall Market, where you will find food stalls offering casual bites and a relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for an easy meal.
One thing we learned quickly on Prince Edward Island is not to underestimate driving distances. The island looks small on a map, but the roads are slow, scenic, and winding. When planning a lighthouse route, give yourself more time than you think you need. We focused on the west side of the island, and even taking our time, the drive took four to five hours.
We started at Seacow Head Lighthouse and then continued northwest to the West Point Lighthouse Inn and Museum. For ten dollars, you can climb to the top of the lighthouse and visit the small museum. There is not a lot to see inside, but the views are nice and, honestly, the clean bathrooms make it a worthwhile stop. From there, we continued north, and this is where downloading offline maps becomes important. Cell service becomes unreliable in this part of the island. The coastal drive toward North Point Lightstation is beautiful and feels remote, with wide open views and very little traffic. This is the northernmost lighthouse on the island and feels appropriately isolated.
After that, we headed back east, stopping at Cape Tryon Lighthouse and North Rustico Lighthouse. By this point, if you think you cannot possibly look at one more lighthouse, Prince Edward Island has a way of proving you wrong. Or maybe proving you right. Either way, it becomes part of the experience.
If you truly want to test your patience and increase your boredom level, you can visit the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place. The website is https://www.annemuseum.com/ . To be honest, we are not fans of the book, even though we listened to it on audiobook during the drive to get into the spirit of things. Still, it was interesting to see the site and understand why it is so important to the island’s identity.
The real highlight of this area for us was The Handpie Company (https://www.handpie.ca/) They serve homemade savory meat pies as well as sweet pies, and there are two locations on the island. It is a perfect stop during a long driving day. They have picnic tables out front, and it is an easy place to sit, relax, and refuel without rushing.
We really enjoyed our time on Prince Edward Island. We stayed two nights, and for us, that was the perfect amount of time. We saw what we wanted to see, ate well, and enjoyed the drives without feeling like we needed to rush or add more. We would absolutely come back, perhaps to celebrate when Canada finally becomes the fifty first state.
Prince Edward Island may not be a destination for everyone, but if you enjoy scenic drives, coastal views, fresh seafood, and a slower pace of travel, it is worth the stop. If you have questions about where to stay, how long to visit, or how to fit Prince Edward Island into a larger Eastern Canada itinerary, contact Tacks Travels. We are happy to help you plan a trip that fits your travel style and makes the most of your time on the island.
