3girls4me Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Hello everyone! So we are trying to plan a fun, relaxing vacation. We typically go to the beach in Florida, but I just really want something different this time. We can travel anytime in September - November. We started toying around with driving to Stowe, VT and stopping in different places along the way. But then I started thinking.........what about Prince Edward Island. I've never been there but I keep hearing nice things about it. If you've been, can you tell me about it. When is the best time to go? What to do there? Etc.... I have 3 girls, ages 12, 8 and 6. Thanks!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 We love PEI! Let's see...from Florida, your best bet would be to fly to Boston and rent a car. The drive up is beautiful through Maine and New Brunswick. There is SO much to see and do, with some real highlights you wouldn't want to miss like Acadia National Park (Maine) and walking on the bottom of the ocean at Hopeswell Rocks (New Brunswick). The Confederation Bridge to the island is incredible (IIRC its like 7 miles long?). Alternatively you can fly into Halifax and drive to the island from there (taking the car ferry from the other side of NS). Halifax is a super fun city in its own right. You can of course look into flights into Charlottetown but they will are likely to be expensive and long, plus you miss out on the "getting on the island" adventure. Given your timeline, I would definitely suggest going in September. The weather will be gorgeous and the beaches might still be warm enough for swimming. Any later and you will be surprised how short the days get. Also, as I pointed out on another recent thread about PEI, the Island is very rural. Check the availability of services very closely if you are going after prime season. What to do? Charlottetown is a fun little city--good food, shopping, very walkable etc. (check out Moonsnail if you go for handmade, all natural body stuff--they are amazing!). But really you're going for the beaches, right? Our favorite area is south/east of Charlottetown. It's a bit more wild and the red cliffs and beaches are stunning and always quiet. But truly the whole island is amazing. There is a bike path that runs across the island if you like to bike, and of course Cavendish has the Anne of Green Gables stuff. That's the only touristy part of the island, the rest you'll have mostly to yourselves. You'll find farm stands everywhere selling potatoes (of course) and other veggies on the honor system. It is famous for Island mussels, and you really need to be brave and try seaweed pie. Seriously yum. Carrageenan (a type of seaweed used in all kinds of things from foods to toothpaste) is harvested on the beaches. We've seen harvesters doing it the traditional way with horses and carts. Have fun planning! If you want ideas of what to see in Maine and NB on the way up, let me know.:) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 PEI is a nice place to visit, and September is really almost ideal. You'll miss the height of the tourist season, but most things will still be open. And Fall is a good season in this part of the world, overall much better than Spring/Early summer, and the water is about as warm as it will get. You might even be able to take advantage of some shoulder season discounts, and there have been some efforts in recent years to add some events to the shoulder season as well. When we go, it is in driving distance, and we usually try and do the bridge one way, and the ferry the other, as the kids enjoy both. As far as things to do - the beaches are what many people like. There are a plethora of little theme parks and such. Anne of Green Gables related things - it's worthwhile to go to the house if your kids enjoyed the book, and there is a neat Anne village that is a bit like a living history museum. There are quite a few concert series that time of year, and theatre series - the big ones at the moment are Anne and Gilbert and Mamma Mia but there are plenty of small festivals as well. You can do ocean related things like deep sea fishing or tours. I took windsurfing lessons on vacation there as a kid and that may still be around, or you can rent kayaks for ocean tours. There is a tradition of some churches and community groups putting on huge lobster boils every night in halls and things which can be quite fun - typically they also have at least one other choice for non-lobster eaters. Also - the Fall Flavours festival is on that time of year - it has tons of different, neat, events. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Awww, now *I* want to go to PEI; we've never made it quite that far. Have fun planning and please report back after you go. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3girls4me Posted August 22, 2016 Author Share Posted August 22, 2016 Thanks everyone! This sounds great! I need to clarify - we live outside Nashville, TN, not Florida. We just typically drive down to Florida to vacation. We would likely road trip the whole way up. :) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Thanks everyone! This sounds great! I need to clarify - we live outside Nashville, TN, not Florida. We just typically drive down to Florida to vacation. We would likely road trip the whole way up. :) We have friends who road trip there from IL, they go up through Maine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Thanks everyone! This sounds great! I need to clarify - we live outside Nashville, TN, not Florida. We just typically drive down to Florida to vacation. We would likely road trip the whole way up. :) Ha! That's what I get for posting before finishing my first cup of coffee. Since you are driving, I'd recommend taking Confederation Bridge one way and the car ferry the other. You'll see a lot of the Island that way, too. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Another bonus in late Sept/early Oct is you'll experience the lovely fall colours in the forests as you drive up and back. You may want to build in some time for stops along the way instead of keeping to the major highways. You could potentially drive through Vermont and New Hampshire. These are very popular destinations at this time of year. Very charming places to stop and shop for local goods and crafts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Another bonus in late Sept/early Oct is you'll experience the lovely fall colours in the forests as you drive up and back. You may want to build in some time for stops along the way instead of keeping to the major highways. You could potentially drive through Vermont and New Hampshire. These are very popular destinations at this time of year. Very charming places to stop and shop for local goods and crafts. Oh yeah, fall is New England's glory season. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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