Top three beaches to get the best PEI experience!

Hi Candace,

Thank you for reaching out to Ask an Islander. I was asked to answer both of your questions about the top three beaches and best place for lobster. You certainly have your travel priorities in good order!

Picking the top three beaches on the Island is a bit of a challenge, not because there are too few, but because there are so many great options. So, this is definitely a subjective answer. My top three, in no particular order, are Brackley, Thunder Cove, and Basin Head.

Brackley Beach is the closest beach with dunes to Charlottetown. There are a couple of beaches on the south shore that are technically closer, but when I think of beaches, I think of sand dunes. Brackley is about a 20-minute drive to the PEI National Park and the first beach you come to. There are hiking trails nearby if you're interested. Because it's part of the National Park (free entry this year), you'll find changing facilities, concessions and wheelchair accessibility. Note, there are no dogs are allowed during the summer season, except for service animals. I go to this beach weekly, sometimes daily, in the summer.

At one time, Thunder Cove was a local secret, but the secret is out. It’s about 66 km from Charlottetown via PE-2W. At Kensington, take PE-20 toward Darnley, then turn left onto Lower Darnley Road and right onto Thunder Cove Road. This beach is always changing and is an awesome example of the power of the sea. There are no facilities or toilets and access to the beach is adjacent to private land. 

Basin Head, out past Souris (about an hour from Charlottetown), is known for its "singing sands" and is world-renowned for nine miles of magnificent white sand. For solitude, walk the long stretch to Bothwell Beach. The nearby provincial fisheries museum tells the story of PEI's inshore fishery through artifacts and exhibits.

As for lobster, you have lots of great options. I like to visit a fish pound and buy live lobsters to cook at home. Alternatively, you could buy cooked lobster. 

For dining out, New Glasgow Lobster Suppers is a traditional summertime experience. It’s not fancy, but the food is good, the setting is beautiful and it’s a lot of fun. Another place that I love is the Water-Prince Corner Shop in Charlottetown. I'd suggest that you call to make a reservation in advance, as it's a popular spot. 

That said, there are plenty of other places offering lobster rolls (a PEI tradition) along with the other seafood the Island is known for: oysters, mussels, crab, and tuna. You may also want to check out the Canada's Food Island itinerary.

I hope these suggestions help. Have a wonderful visit to our Island!

Cheers,

Rod