Page 133 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019

PE
153,244
Charlottetown
www.tourismpei.com
Charlottetown Airport,
8 km (5 mi.) from downtown
of course, Green Gables Heritage Place,
th
which features the bucolic 19 century
farm that inspired her setting (www.
tourismpei.com/anne-of-green-gables).
A FANTASYLAND
FOR FAMILIES
Anne sites aside, the Island has a lot to off er
families. Beach babies, for example, could
spend their entire trip on Island strands,
although there are also lighthouses to
climb, bike and boat trips to take, plus
enough enjoyable festivals to fi ll any
calendar. P.E.I.’s national park and 21
provincial parks often off er free, family-
oriented activities. Classic vacation venues,
many of them concentrated around
Cavendish, have their own appeal: Shining
Waters Family Fun Park, Sandspit
Amusement Park, and Ripley’s Believe It or
Not! are all perennial favourites. As if that
isn’t enough, Experience PEI runs cool
hands-on programs that combine enter-
tainment and education (www.tourism
pei.com/pei-family-fun).
MORE IN STORE
And that’s just the beginning . . . Pretty,
comparatively fl at terrain, coupled with
top-notch facilities, make P.E.I. popular
with both cyclists and golfers. Wedding
parties come as well, attracted by the
postcard-perfect vistas and pastoral
atmosphere, while anglers are lured in by
the prospect of catching species that range
from brook trout and mackerel to big
bluefi n tuna. If dancing the night away or
shopping till you drop are on your wish list,
no problem. Love theater and musical
productions? There’s no shortage of
options. Want to immerse yourself in the
local culture? You can tick that box here,
too, thanks to a broad menu of innovative
experiential activities. So whatever your
passion, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
WHAT’S NEW? The 2017 sesquicentennial celebrations
After completing a major renovation, the
Culinary Institute of Canada opened a
larger kitchen for its boot camps and
demonstration classes (www.culinary
bootcamps.com).
Summerside’s Evermoore Brewery and
Bonshaw’s Riverdale Orchard & Cidery
give visitors new reasons to say “cheers”
(www.facebook.com/evermoorebrewing;
www.riverdaleorchard.com).
Another stroke of good fortune! Power
couple Michael and Chastity Smith open
129
DOUCET HOUSE, RUSTICO • TOURISM PEI/JOHN SYLVESTER
The Inn at Fortune Bridge—a six-room
sister to The Inn at Bay Fortune—this
summer (www.innatbayfortune.com/
rooms/the-inn-at-fortune-bridge).
Opening mid-year, the new Green Gables
visitor centre—with a gift shop and
interpretative area—will be fi ve times
larger than the old one (www.parkscanada.
gc.ca/greengables).
Set to launch this spring, Ride Solar will be
off ering the world’s fi rst ever solar-powered
ecotours and dinner cruises aboard the
sun-propelled Isola Solaretto (www.
ridesolar.com).
A global contingent of Acadians will fl ock
to P.E.I and southeastern New Brunswick
for the World Acadian Congress (Congrès
Mondial Acadien), August 10-24 (www.
cma2019.ca).
CITY LIGHTS
only underscored the role Charlottetown
played in Confederation. Top attractions
like Province House and Ardgowan, both
national historic sites, were central to the
events, while Confederation Landing and
the Confederation Centre of the Arts—a
waterfront recreation area and world-class
cultural centre, respectively—refl ect its
legacy. But this place appeals as much to
foodies as history buff s, thanks to its
vibrant restaurant scene. Throughout
Charlottetown, you’ll also fi nd walking
trails, waterside boardwalks and specialty
shops (www.discovercharlottetown.com).