What spots do you recommend we visit along our coastal drive of your beautiful island?

Hi Lynda,

Thank you for reaching out to Ask an Islander. I'm happy to provide you with some guidance so that you may enjoy the Island as much as possible.

PEI is divided into three distinct touring regions: North Cape Coastal Drive (the western end), Central Coastal Drive (the middle, including north and south shores as well as Charlottetown), and Points East Coastal Drive (the eastern end). It’s tough to narrow it all down, but I’ll give it a try!

Dining in Charlottetown

If you’re in town, I’d recommend Sims Corner, a steak and oyster house serving local PEI beef and seafood or the Brickhouse, with more of a gastropub menu. I’ve eaten there four times in the past month and love the atmosphere and new dishes. It also has some of the best service in the city. Between the two, Brickhouse just edges out Sims as my top pick. Also worth a visit is the Water Prince Corner Shop, probably the best seafood restaurant in town. It gets busy, so reservations are a good idea.

Dining outside Charlottetown

For a truly special experience, book a table at The Table in New London. It’s a fine dining spot in a converted church with limited seating. Another great option, especially for lunch, is the Blue Mussel Café in North Rustico. They don’t take reservations, but the chowder alone is worth the wait, possibly the best on the Island.

Beaches and Lighthouses

PEI is all about beaches in summer, we’ve got over 150, and dozens of lighthouses. You can’t see them all, but here are a few standouts:

• Greenwich National Park has incredible parabolic dunes, white-sand beaches, and a floating boardwalk through its trail system. The area is also rich in 10,000 years of human history.
• St. Peter’s Harbour Lighthouse is a decommissioned light set among tall white dunes—absolutely stunning and a must-see in this region.
• Basin Head is famous for its “singing sands” and wide, white beaches. If you want more solitude, walk east to Bothwell Beach.

While you’re at Basin Head, you can visit the shipwreck of the Debbie and Bryan, which ran aground in the early ’70s and was buried over time. Since Hurricane Fiona, it’s become much more visible at low tide. For the best view, time your walk for low tide and plan for about an hour round-trip. Head south from the bridge and wharf toward Bothwell. After about 15 minutes, you’ll see her sticking out of the sand. Coordinates: 46.387470, -62.089804.

• Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station is another great stop. It’s believed to be the first Canadian station to receive the Titanic’s distress signal in 1912.
• Point Prim Lighthouse is the oldest on the Island and worth a visit. After checking out the museum, grab a bowl of chowder at the Point Prim Chowder House.

Central Coastal Drive - North Shore

This route is perfect for fans of Anne of Green Gables. Visit the Anne Museum in Park Corner, just west of Cavendish. Take a carriage ride around the Lake of Shining Waters. Also nearby are the Green Gables National Heritage Place and Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Birthplace in New London.

Along the way, stop in North Rustico and walk the scenic boardwalk around the harbour. In Anglo-Rustico, you’ll find the Farmer’s Bank Museum and St. Augustine’s Church, the oldest in PEI—set against a beautiful Acadian backdrop on Rustico Bay.

Central Coastal Drive - South Shore

For beautiful scenic drives, head along the South Shore. Check out Skmaqn–Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst National Historic Site, which offers views of Charlottetown, Stratford and the harbour, along with historic Acadian displays. Another favourite is Victoria-by-the-Sea, a fishing village that is now home to artists, a beach, potters, and great restaurants. You could easily spend a day there!

North Cape Coastal Drive

• In Cap Egmont, don’t miss the Bottle Houses—three buildings made from over 25,000 glass bottles by retired fisherman Edouard Arsenault.
• Abrams Village and nearby La Région Évangéline are hubs of Acadian culture.
• At North Cape, you’ll see the longest natural rock reef in North America—watch for seals! Onshore, the Atlantic Wind Test Site shows how wind power is being harnessed here.

That’s a lot, and I haven’t even scratched the surface. The best thing you can do is leave room for detours. Sometimes the red dirt roads take you to the best places.

I hope you have an amazing time on the Island!

Cheers,

Rod