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2007Atlantic Canada:
Prince Edward Island
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Panmure Island at the east end of PEI
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Prince Edward Island
Don't
let the map fool you. The whole province is only about 100 miles end to end. An
easy day ride will take
you from Charlottetown, up the west end, around West Point to Seacow Pond,
and back to Charlottetown. |
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The easiest way to get to Prince Edward Island (PEI) is
over the 12.9 kilometer long Confederation
Bridge.
It's free to cross over to PEI but the toll is $16.25
(2006) to get off. I'd bet these guys would make a fortune giving away
the beer for free and renting the key to the john. The alternative to
get back to the mainland is the Wood
Islands ferry.
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Routing Consideration: When arriving on PEI by way of the
Confederation Bridge, don't head straight to Charlottetown. Head north on
Hwy 10 at Borden-Carlton, connect to Hwy 1A, then Hwy 2 and then head
left, out to the coast and eventually make your way up to Seacow Pond for
lunch at the visitors center. Hwy 14 is quite pretty. Some of the country
roads can be pretty rough in places but the views of the farms and
seashore are well worth the effort. If you only plan to spend one day on
PEI, this is the loop to ride.
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Charlottetown
(Pop 35,000)
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Visitor info center - foot of Hillsborough Street at the harbour; 8am-8pm.
Free map of walking tours
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Three main areas to explore - the waterfront, downtown near Province
House, residential areas near Victoria Park
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Province House, home of Confederation; 2 Palmers Lane, houses the
provincial legislature.
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Peake's wharf; walk up Great George Street, "one of the most
handsome streets in all of Canada; perfectly scaled Georgian houses.
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Walk south along Kent St. At 2 Kent is Beaconsfield House designed in
1877. Along the way watch for the 1834 Gov't house known as Fanningbank;
white shingled with Ionic columns; home to the Lieutenant Governor
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From Beaconsfield, look for the boardwalk that follows the harbour for 1.5
km to Victoria Park.
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Victoria Row - pedestrian only Richmond Street behind the Confederation
Centre. Several restaurants & pubs.
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Best to stay in the older part of town, between Fitzroy St. and the
waterfront - reasonably priced inns and B&B's
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In 2001& 2004, we stayed at the Islander
Motor Lodge, 146-148 Pownal St, 800-268-6261 Nice, clean,
reasonable, easy walk to downtown and the waterfront.
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- Province House, home of Canada's Confederation;
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This is the East end of the island, near Elmira. |
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The ride to the West end of the island was far nicer. Great chowder and
buckets of mussels. This is just down the road from Seacow Pond. |
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Northumberland Ferries:
- (SCHEDULE - TO BE UPDATED) Leaves Wood Islands daily at 0530, 0830, 1000, 1130, 1330,1500, 1830 -
no 0530 run on Sunday, motorcycle & rider $32, 1 1/4 hours
Prince County (West)
Routing consideration - skip Summerside and take back roads through
Emerald to Cavendish; saves only about 25 km's but may be a more relaxed and
scenic ride.
Summerside
(Pop 14,000)
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PEI's major shipping port
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Best area for visitors is around Water St. & first few
blocks back from the harbour
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Most shops have pamphlet of self guided walking tour
Queens County (Center) - North Shore
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A long swatch of PEI's loveliest seacoast
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Home to the island's largest fleet of deep sea fishing boats
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Outside Cavendish, the rest of the North shore is low key and quiet
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Coastline (other than Cavendish) is untouched by commercialism
Cavendish
North Rustico
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North Rustico is around a scenic harbour and Rustico Bay.
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The village curves around Rustico Bay to end at the North Rustico Harbour;
a sand spit with fishing wharfs & informal restaurants.
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Blue Mussel Cafe; at N.Rustico harbour. "not much to look
at but the food is worth tracking this place down." No deep fried
food; salmon, scallops, mussels, chowder, lobster
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