We are a family of 5 - parents, grandparents and a 1.5 year old. Parents are vegetarian. We would like to spend 5 days on the Island. What is a good itinerary keeping in mind the toddler and older folks?

Hi Ramya,

Greetings from Prince Edward Island!  You can easily fill five days on the Island and I’m sure you’ll be able to create truly memorable experiences for your whole family.
 
If you’ll be spending time in downtown Charlottetown, be sure check out Discover Charlottetown to learn all about what our capital city has to offer. Here are some of my must-do recommendations:
 

• On a Sunday, visit the Downtown Charlottetown Farmers’ Market at lower Queen Street from 10am to 3pm. You’ll find more than 70 local vendors selling craft (pottery, woodwork, artwork, hooked rugs, knitted goods), homemade soap and body products, clothing and jewelry, fresh produce and baked goods along with Canadian and ethnic food service. There’s usually live music too!
• Be sure to check out Peake’s Wharf on the Charlottetown Waterfront to find amazing indoor and outdoor dining, live music and gift shops.
• Stroll along Victoria Row, a pedestrian street in historic downtown Charlottetown that has restaurants, gift shops and live music (the block of Richmond Street located between Queen Street and Great George Street).
• Drop by the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre on a rainy day. It opened last year, and features a 40,000-square-foot library with a makerspace, a children’s area and a café.

There is so much to explore beyond Charlottetown – below are a few excursions that are always on my summer bucket list:

• PEI has three coastal drives that follow the spectacular coastlines of western, central and eastern PEI. You'll also go inland through some of the Island’s most charming rural communities, villages and towns. While it is technically possible to do all three scenic drives in three days, I don’t recommend it, as you’ll spend all your time in your car. Pick one scenic drive and do it really well, or pick sections of each drive and do those smaller sections really well. While doing these tours, if you’re feeling adventurous, turn onto one of the Island’s many scenic heritage roads along the way… they bring scenic to a whole new level.
• You might enjoy spending some time in Victoria-by-the-Sea, a sweet village on the Island’s south shore that has a lot to offer. On the north shore, North Rustico is one of the Island’s most picturesque fishing villages.
• Visit one of the many provincial park beaches across the Island. Admission is free of charge; they’re very clean and they offer washroom facilities.
• A few years ago, Island Hill Farm was voted one of Canada’s most loved small businesses – this was well-deserved, as it’s truly a magical place. Your child will love playing with the goats, and all the other critters who live there. Your parents can relax at the coffee onsite that serves yummy goods that are baked on-premise, and browse through the artisan shop that sells locally-made products.  

Prince Edward Island is known as Canada’s Food Island. Here is the top 5 for restaurants that offer great vegetarian options:

1. Farmacy & Fermentary - Great George Street, Charlottetown
2. Nimrods' veggie burger - Peake's Quay
3. Taste of India - best Indian food in Charlottetown
4. The Dunes - Brackley Beach
5. Gaia's Urban Eatery on lower Queen Street, Charlottetown

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us again. Enjoy your PEI holiday!
 
Nicole