“You never know what peace is until you walk on the shores or in the fields or along the winding red roads of Prince Edward Island… You find your soul then. You realize that youth is not a vanished thing but something that dwells forever in the heart.” — Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables.
Let’s Get Started
In my opinion, there is no better quote to help us dive into the smooth center of part two of this peanut butter sandwich vacation. Do you have your favorite blog reading beverage ready? Let’s move into the rich, nutty flavor filled with natural sweetness that this vacation offers. Our trip to Prince Edward Island, affectionately known as PEI, felt just like the world-famous spread—comforting, satisfying, and indulgent.
Trip Background
Before our vacation, I spent a few weeks scouring home rental apps, continually narrowing down my search until I finally landed on a beautiful single-family home with ocean views right on a tributary river. To top it off, it had five stars and was a Guest Favorite! I immediately reserved it. I absolutely love a good home rental that allows me to experience the authentic local way of life. Sidebar: For those who have been exploring home rentals across the United States this past year, I found the home rentals in PEI to be very reasonably priced. In some cases, even a bargain!
To set the geographic scene for this next stage of our vacation, we drove roughly four hours northeast through Maine to the New Canadian border. After another five hours driving through New Brunswick, we arrived at Canada’s longest bridge, the Confederation Bridge—our gateway to PEI.
Word of advice: If you decide to follow my Maine itinerary, I highly recommend filling up your car and taking your last restroom break around Bangor, Maine or Holden, Maine. Why, you ask? Once you exit the Maine Turnpike onto Route 9 or another less-traveled route, it’s highly likely you won’t find many populated areas or convenience stores until just before you reach the Canadian border. For this 49-year-old midlife mom, advance notice of the lack of restroom stops, snack stops, and gas fill-ups is essential in travel planning, especially for this city girl who has become used to having all the finer things just a fingertip away.
Our Time in PEI
Back to our arrival in PEI. We decided to rent a home near Kensington. The home location was almost smack dab in the middle of the north side of the island. Key sights such as Charlottetown and Summerside were just a short, scenic drive away. Our specific location put us right on the river, with views of the ocean and an old lighthouse. If we were motivated enough to rise early, we could watch the sun awaken the Northeast and see fishermen heading off to their day of work on the sea.
Stepping onto PEI feels like stepping back in history. There are plenty of fun and touristy things to do, but it’s not an overly gentrified or costly tourist trap. PEI still has an untouched, refreshing, and tranquil atmosphere. As I mentioned, this Maine girl and her Tennessee boy were desperate for a quiet vacation. We wanted to breathe fresh air away from the chaos of the National Capital Region. PEI answered all our prayers!
What did we do? We rested, read books, painted, talked to each other, walked the beaches, and explored the island’s beauty. Ultimately, we spent each moment enjoying the peaceful memories we were building.
Places to Eat
Oh, and I may have forgotten to mention the food… We splurged and indulged! Yes, for those seafood lovers out there, this is the same PEI known for its world-famous mussels. I can also attest that they have a strong reputation for seafood chowder. I enjoyed mussels, lobster, or seafood chowder at least once each day. My favorite major meal (aka a large lunch or dinner) restaurants included Sou’West (https://www.souwest.ca), located just a few miles from our rental home on the French River. We enjoyed this location more than once and I highly recommend their lobster roll and mussels. Casa Mia By the Sea (https://victoria.casamiapei.ca), located in Victoria, had my favorite PEI mussels dish and fish tacos almost ever. Finally, while visiting Charlottetown one day, we dined at the Merchantman Fresh Seafood and Oyster Bar (https://merchantman.ca), which served the best seafood chowder I’ve ever tasted.
For a non-major meal (aka breakfast, light lunch, or just coffee), I must recommend Samuel’s Coffee House. As a Starbucks fan, I found Samuel’s to be a delightful alternative. For my sweets-loving husband, their cookies, cheesecake, and other amazing treats hit the mark every time. They impressed us so much that we made a final out of the way stop, at Samuel’s to stock up before heading home.
What to Do
Where did we go, and what would I recommend? We spent a lot of time resting and relaxing in our rental home. We ventured to Summerside, Charlottetown, Victoria, and nearby areas like Cavendish. Caveat: We were there at the end of the tourist season, so many places had closed or soon to close. I recommend exploring any beach or lighthouse that catches your eye. There are no red sand beaches quite like those on PEI, and the lighthouses will guide their way right to your heart. Visiting the towns offers a delightful opportunity for exploration. Truly just take the time to savor the scenery as you drive almost anywhere on the island. To be honest, we spent a lot of time simply driving to see all that PEI had to offer.
One thing we didn’t get to do was rent bikes and ride the Confederation Trail. There are entire bike and stay tours you can book. You can also rent a bike for a day and explore as far as your legs will take you.
A trip to PEI, Canada’s smallest province, is truly about savoring all the island has to offer. PEI allows a smooth slip back into time. Ultimately, PEI allows you to savor a place filled with simplicity, unique geography, and rich culture. It’s about the charm of the rolling hills and the striking red sandstone cliffs. PEI provides the sweetness of its seafood harvests and the richness of its bright red soil. The indigenous Mi’kmaq called PEI “Abegweit”, meaning “cradle of waves,” and I wholeheartedly vouch for the island’s ability to lull you into a love affair with all it has to offer.
Until Next Time
OK, you have officially been treated to a full dose of peanut butter from my vacation named after America’s favorite sandwich. It’s time to refill your cup one last time as you prepare for the final aspect of our journey. I can’t wait to connect and share this very special iconic Maine location with you! Subscribe to our blog to make sure you don’t miss the next and last edition of the Peanut Butter Vacation – A Journey Through Maine and Prince Edward Island.
