I am staying in Darnley very soon. Are there any must see spots in PEI or close to where I am staying. Is there whale watching, if so how far in advance do I need to book?

Hello Lorna, 

Thank you for reaching out to Ask an Islander. I am happy to hear that you're coming to visit us. Darnley is located in the Green Gables Shore region of PEI. There aren't any specific whale watching tours near Darnley but there are many deep-sea fishing excursions where you might see a whale while you're out.

PEI has Minke whales, Pilot whales, and Atlantic white-sided dolphins. Humpback whales are also known to visit the area. Occasionally, endangered North Atlantic right whales are seen, though they are rare. The whales are very elusive and the only chance to catch a glimpse would be from a boat while deep-sea fishing. 

There are many charters that go out from North Rustico and Stanley Bridge which are close to Darnley. To see a list of operators, visit TourismPEI.com. 

While in the area, you're not too far from the Prince Edward Island National Park with free admission this summer. You're also close to our second largest city, Summerside - a stunning little city by the sea. Summerside is full of history, museums, theatre, music and Holman's Ice Cream Parlour! 

If you're a fan of L.M. Montgomery, you could visit the Anne of Green Gables Museum in Park Corner at the beautiful Campbell homestead. It's is a museum dedicated to the life and works of the author of Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery. View the many artifacts and places that she wrote about such as the Lake of Shining Waters, Anne's Enchanted Bookcase and a unique collection of the author's belongings. It is such a beautiful site. 

I hope these ideas help you to plan your stay! 

Valerie