Prince Edward Island Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

When Jacques Cartier first saw the area we now know as Prince Edward Island, he described it as the "fairest land 'tis possible to see." Almost five centuries later, the sentiment still rings true. Prince Edward Island is a symphony of jewel tones—garnet soil, emerald fields and sapphire seas. In spring, the island blooms into a beautifully designed patchwork quilt, and in autumn the rolling hills are ablaze with color.

Access to Prince Edward Island (or PEI, as many people call it) is as easy as a 9-mi/15-km drive over the Northumberland Strait via the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick or a 75-minute ferry ride from Nova Scotia. The bridge and the ferry trip are elements of the island experience, linking the province to the rest of Canada via the Trans Canada Highway. Once on the island, visitors have easy access to such traditional attractions as the Green Gables House in Cavendish or historic Olde Charlottetown.

There are still plenty of quiet side roads leading to secluded beaches, open countryside, and charming fishing villages and communities. Even at the height of tourism season, the eastern and western ends of the island remain blissfully peaceful. Stir in active theater, shopping and a number of soft-adventure opportunities, and Prince Edward Island provides the appeal of quieter relaxed living, with all the modern amenities.

Geography

History

Long before cars and bridges, Prince Edward Island was home to the Mi'kmaq first nation. The tribe moved seasonally in pursuit of resources. In winter, the Mi'kmaq hunted moose, caribou, deer and other large game. The rest of the year, they fished and collected shellfish, berries, roots and nuts. You can still come across shell middens at their former seaside camps.

The Mi'kmaq people lived on the island undisturbed until 1534, when French explorer Jacques Cartier arrived, although the French didn't actually establish a settlement there until 1720. The role of the area—known as Ile Saint-Jean or St. John's Island—was as the farm for the nearby French fortress at Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island. The colony didn't last long—the settlers were expelled by the British in 1758. A few families escaped expulsion, and their descendants make up the Acadian population that lives in the western part of the island.

The island was surveyed in 1764 by Capt. Samuel Holland and divided into 67 lots, or townships, which were then distributed lottery-style to friends of the English government. Some of the landowners elected to stay in England and hired tenants to farm their plots. St. John's Island underwent another major change in the 1790s, when it received its modern-day moniker. It was named after Edward, Duke of Kent, the military commander in Nova Scotia and the father of Queen Victoria. The period of absentee landlords continued until 1853, when the local government bought back most of the land and sold it to the tenants.

In time, Prince Edward Island joined the Canadian Confederation as a separate province. The Charlottetown Conference was held on Prince Edward Island in 1864, where the idea of uniting Upper Canada (then Ontario and Quebec) with what would become the Maritime Provinces was first discussed. Islanders make much of their home being the birthplace of the Confederation, but at the time of the conference there was little interest among the residents in uniting with other colonies. Prince Edward Island joined the new country six years later, lured by the promise of a railroad and year-round connection to the mainland.

Today, the province is one of Canada's more important producers of potatoes (almost half of the province is farmland). Fishing has always made a significant contribution to the economy, and in recent years aerospace has grown in importance. Tourism is also helping to drive the provincial economy as more travelers become acquainted with Prince Edward Island's charms.

Snapshot

Among Prince Edward Island's main attractions are pretty towns, warm-water beaches, sand dunes, the Prince Edward Island National Park, historic attractions, deep-sea fishing, cycling, sea kayaking, hiking trails, Charlottetown, beautiful gardens, Anne of Green Gables sights, scenic drives and a variety of cultures (Scottish, Irish, English and French).

Those travelers interested in a relaxing, unhurried vacation in a pretty coastal setting will have a wonderful time on Prince Edward Island. Travelers who are looking for exciting nightlife and urban bustle may find the province less to their liking.

Potpourri

The fresh seafood served in Charlottetown restaurants may come from one of the many aquaculture operations in the surrounding bays and rivers. You can spot the mussel farms by looking for the rows of buoys that mark shellfish lines.

Apparently, the island has a strong romantic aura: Dozens of visitors get married or renew their vows there each year. Participating in a wedding ceremony in the same room where Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables, was wed is popular among visitors from Japan.

The abundance of wildflowers mid-May to early autumn, as well as fishing villages and the coastal landscape, makes Prince Edward Island popular with photographers.

Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables was published in 1908 and received international attention when it was published in Swedish in 1909 and Dutch in 1910. During World War II, Polish soldiers carried copies of Montgomery's books with them into battle. In the 1950s, her writing was introduced to Japan. Thousands of Japanese visitors go to the island every year, and it's not unusual to see signs in stores and menus written in Japanese.

Islanders love visitors so much they don't charge ferry or bridge users arriving from Nova Scotia or New Brunwick. Fares or tolls are charged only when you leave.

As the first province to complete its section of the Trans Canada Trail, Prince Edward Island has assured hikers, cyclists and walkers a nice experience in the great outdoors.

Charlottetown is home to the Culinary Institute of Canada and produces world-champion-level students. The school dining room and special events reflect the high level of skills taught, and many students work in local restaurants during the summers.

There are a number of fine pubs in historic buildings in Olde Charlottetown. The first orders of business of government were conducted in a pub in the area.

Location

Cruise ships sail into Northumberland Strait—passing through Hillsborough Bay and by Blockhouse Point—into Charlottetown Harbour on the southern side of Prince Edward Island. Ships tie up at the Cruise Ship Terminal, adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre and Confederation Landing Park, just a few blocks from the heart of downtown Charlottetown. The docking facilities are near Peake's Quay on the city's waterfront, which has a marina, shops, parks, restaurants and nightspots. The waterfront is a focal point for visitors and residents alike. From there, it's a five- to 10-minute walk to downtown shopping, historic sites, galleries and eateries.

The Visitor Information Centre is in Founders Hall at 6 Prince St.—just a few steps from the docks. You can obtain city maps and other information there. It's open daily year-round. Phone 902-368-4444. Toll-free 800-463-4734.

Shore Excursions