Points East Coastal Drive

YOU’LL HAVE PLENTY of reasons to get up early when you stay “down east,” starting with a delicious country breakfast on your cottage deck while the glowing sun rises over the ocean.
Greenwich, PEI National
Park / VIDEOThat will surely get your day off to a good start and it will only get better from there. The beaches in the east are among the best on the Island; the spectacular dune system at Greenwich, PEI National Park is a must-do for this region.  At Basin Head the sand will even sing to you. Really. Some say it’s the special shape of the grains or the high silica count that give the sand its voice. So take a barefoot stroll along the beach and enjoy the music of “Singing Sands.”

EnlargeNot long ago, Islanders depended on the train to travel long distances and to deliver all sorts of goods from tip to tip. After train service ended, the rail bed was
Bluefin Tuna, North Laketurned into the Confederation Trail, a scenic route that lets you bike, hike or snowmobile from one community to another, or if you’re really ambitious, across the entire Island. One of the most scenic stretches of the Confederation Trail runs right through the village of St. Peters–also a good stopping point for shopping, dining, theatre and music. Although the trains are long gone, the railway hasn’t been forgotten. The Elmira Railway Museum, at the far eastern tip of the Trail, tells the story of the railway. While there, you can jump on board a mini-train for a fun tour through the woods nearby.

When hunger hits, an eatery is likely just a hop, skip and a jump away. People quickly run out of words when trying to describe just how good the food is at Inn at Bay Fortune. But fine dining in cozy country inns is just one choice in the Points East collection of culinary experiences. For something more casual, there are fish and chip joints, cafés and dairy bars. Brehaut’s Restaurant in Murray Harbour is always a popular spot for a bowl of homemade chowder and one of their famous milkshakes, while the newly opened Cape Light Restaurant in Cardigan and Clam Diggers Restaurant in Georgetown are
Chepstow getting rave reviews for the food as well as superb waterside locations.

As your day progresses, you might choose to go for a sail, take a seal-watching cruise or play a round or two at one of the world-class golf courses located in this region. Evening is the perfect time to find a ceilidh, a spirited celebration of Celtic music that’s sure to get your toes tapping. Orwell Corner and Monticello both host these events on a weekly basis in the summer. The atmosphere is informal and you’ll feel like one of the family in no time.

[ Points East Coastal Drive Website ]