It is the first time my family and I will go to PEI. What is the best beaches with calm warm waters to hit?

Hi there,

Thank you for your inquiry to Ask an Islander. You will love the beaches on PEI.

We are lucky to have what's called a "low-energy coast" which means lots of beaches and low-powered waves. The shallow nature of our coastline and the fact we are protected on three sides by the mainland mean most of the shore is usually calm. The north shore sees a little more action but not enough to worry about. Swimming is possible almost anywhere around the Island (for extra caution, see supervised beaches - PEI Parks and PEI National Park).

For best results you need to do two things: time your visit right and decide what kind of beach you want.

The best time of year for the warmest waters are generally around the first two weeks of August. That's not to say you won't find warm water outside of that but your chances are better. We often have lovely warm water into September.

Also, as a general rule the water on the south shore tends to be warmer due to the shallow waters of the Northumberland Strait and the protection afforded the shore from prevailing breezes. However, the beaches on the south shore tend to be less sandy with more rock and clay. There are some exceptions, my favorite being Basin Head near Souris, with the beach at Victoria-by-the-Sea and Canoe Cove, in the Red Sands Shore region, running a close second and third.

On the north shore, you will find most of the beaches have the same water temperature and it takes longer for them to warm up. Almost all of the beaches are sandy so these are the ones I like for sunbathing, reading, picnicking or taking the kids (I usually go to Brackley as it's the closest beach to Charlottetown).

We boast about having the warmest waters north of the Carolinas. While it's not tropical, it is relatively warmer. We've had some consistently hot weather for the last week or so and the same shallow, protected shoreline means the water is getting up to a comfortable temperature. The last reading available (July 17)  for Brackley showed an average water temp of 17.6°C/63.6°F.

I always have a short wet suit on hand in case the water is cool, but most often go without. I do like to wear swimming shoes in case the beach is rocky but again don't have to all the time.

The beaches here are really some of the nicest in North America. We have over 150 of them to choose from. Here are a couple of my other favourites:

• St. Peter's Harbour Lighthouse beach (pictured below) with a decommissioned lighthouse is truly a breathtaking sight set amid the high white sand dunes.
• PEI National Park - Greenwich: The spectacular parabolic dune system rises above white-sand beaches and acts as a stunning backdrop to an extensive trail system that includes a floating boardwalk.

I hope you enjoy your visit!

Rod