10 Must-Do’s When Visiting PEI in the Summertime

3. New Glasgow Lobster Suppers

You can’t visit PEI without having some seafood (unless you’re allergic of course!). There are many delicious options for seafood scattered throughout the island, but the most well-known is New Glasgow Lobster Suppers. Eating here is more of an experience than a meal! This restaurant chooses local first for all its ingredients when possible. When you arrive, you will select your main dish before sitting down. Each dish is accompanied with appetizers, a drink, and dessert. You DO NOT want to miss out on the pie! If you order a lobster, you will be brought a lovely plastic bib to wear to avoid a messy shirt. This is all part of the experience and memory making! You will not leave hungry or disappointed!

4. Brackley Drive-In Theatre

The Brackley Drive-In Theatre is a favourite summer tradition of locals and visitors alike. This is one of only a few drive-in theatres left in Canada. There is a large grassy space in front of the big screen if you want to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit outside and watch, or you can tune in to the posted radio station and watch from your car. Pickup trucks are a favourite as you can back in and make a bed with pillows and blankets in the back. You can bring your own snacks with you or get something from the canteen! Who doesn’t love some freshly popped popcorn while they watch movies? There are always 2 movies showing, one at dusk and one immediately after. The first movie is the more family friendly one. Don’t miss this low cost chance to create memories.

5. Rent a Kayak or Paddleboard

Spend some of your time enjoying the water on the hot summer days. You can rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore! Inn at the Pier in New London is one of the beautiful places where you can do that during your vacation. 

6. Visit the Green Gables House

The majority of tourists coming to PEI are coming for one of two things: the beaches or Anne! In Cavendish, you can visit the Green Gables House where you can tour the house and the property. Take a walk through the haunted woods and wander through the house, seeing many recognizable items from the books. 

This is a National Park and participates in the Xplorers program so children can do a scavenger hunt through Anne’s house and some other activities to receive a dog tag. Be sure to check in at the desk when you arrive. There is also a gift shop on site with lots of Anne souvenirs. 

Typically, a visit to the Confederation Centre to see the Anne of Green Gables musical would be on this list, but just this year the committee has decided to only do this musical every second summer! So if you are visiting in any even number year, you MUST see this production. It is the longest running production on PEI for good reason. 

7. PEI Beaches

One thing is for certain; you are never far from a beach on PEI! Many people think of the red sand when they think of PEI, especially after Anne Shirley draws so much attention to it! Did you know that the colour of the sand depends on which shore you are on? The south shore beaches have red sand, and the north shore beaches have white sand. All islanders will have their own preference on north shore or south shore and even which beach they think is the best. 

As a visitor, you can’t go wrong with any of the beaches listed or even the beach closest to your accommodations. Only some provincial parks have a lifeguarded area, and provincial parks are the only beaches with some form of washroom. The two most popular are Cavendish Beach and Brackley Beach. These are both large beaches and will be busy on any nice day.

If you are taking your children to the beach, make sure they understand water safety specific to an ocean. If the tide is coming in, a child can go from being able to touch to being out over their head very quickly. If the tide is going out, a child floating on a tube would be slowly moving away from shore. It is also wise to know what a riptide looks like for precaution. Supervise your children at all times!

8. Deep Sea Fishing

Enjoy the open waters for an afternoon while also attempting to catch your supper! These deep sea fishing tours allow you to experience an authentic fishing experience. Ride the fishing boat out into deep waters and test your sea legs as you cast your line. Once you reel in your catch, the crews will prepare it for you to cook up later. That warm PEI sun feels cooler out on the water. This is an afternoon well spent!

9. Victoria by the Sea

You do not want to miss this gem. You will not just happen upon or notice it while driving, but it is well worth your time to check it out. Victoria by the Sea is a quaint little village on a wharf with shops, galleries, a playhouse, and the best lobster roll you’ve ever tasted. A bold but deserved statement! There are a couple restaurants with water views, and you can stroll around the shops while you let your dinner settle. If you really want to act like a local, you can jump off the wharf into the refreshing water! 

10. Cows Ice Cream

After all of your fun in the sun, what better way to treat yourself than with a delicious waffle cone of Cows Ice Cream? There are a multitude of flavours to choose from, all with a creative cow-related name. This ice cream is made right at the Cows Creamery in North River, PEI. You can have a tour of the factory and possibly even see it being made. Be sure not to leave without a souvenir “punny” t-shirt from the gift shop!