Suggested Itineraries

Reaching the Beach: Prince Edward Island for Families

This tour takes in the trifecta of the island's essential sights, giving each its due: Charlottetown, Anne's Land, and the lovely beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park. Kids will love all three places, and adults will feel a sense of tranquillity they may not have known in years.

Days 1-2: Victoria and Charlottetown

Compact Victoria makes a surprise little stop en route to the "big" city. It's all too cute. An hour or two and a cup of tea ought to do it.

Take the Trans-Canada 32km (20 miles) east to Charlottetown. The island's capital city is just lovely, with excellent restaurants, inns, a lot of history, and a plain friendly feel. Stay the night for sure. Family activities here include the Confederation Centre of the Arts, with a constantly changing program of plays and performances (including an annual run of an Anne of Green Gables play).

There's also excellent on-street browsing and shopping, and a surfeit of parks in which to push baby strollers -- or exercise a pet.

From Charlottetown, follow signs west along Route 2 to Route 13, then turn north and follow Route 13 to

Day 3: Anne's Land

The village of New Glasgow makes a good stop while heading back to the center of the island. There's a great golf course, nice views from the country roads looping over hillsides, and the Prince Edward Island Preserve factory, with its factory store and cafe. Kids might enjoy sampling the jams. Give this stop an hour or two.

Continue north along Route 13 to Cavendish, the island's most tourist-friendly and developed (some say overdeveloped) section. The fictional, red-haired Anne of Green Gables is everywhere in the Cavendish area, and some of the attractions related to her and the book's author really are worth seeing -- especially for young and teenaged girls and their mothers. If you're just not into children's stories, there are still plenty of other touristy attractions for kids, from the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum and the Wax World of the Stars (check out Lady Di) to amusement parks like the Sandspit.

Where to stay? There are numerous "bungalow courts" (small cottage compounds) dotting the area, some with cooking facilities good for frying up a local fish for the little ones, though my first choice might be to pitch a tent in the park. This area is definitely worth a day or two with children.

From Cavendish, turn east on Route 6 and travel, through a series of tricky turns, to Prince Edward Island.

Days 4-6: Prince Edward Island National Seashore & Souris

Some of the best beaches in eastern Canada line the northern shores of Prince Edward Island. You'll surely want to spend a few days here with the family walking the beach, snapping photos of glorious sunsets and purple lupines against the red sand, camping among the dunes, hunting down obscure fish and chips shops, and just generally kicking back.

You'll find a wide range of accommodations in these parts, from Victorian resorts to B&Bs to lovely campgrounds -- the latter my recommended choice. Any family in the Maritimes should camp together at least 1 night; the quiet and fresh air will do you a world of good. These placid surroundings and warm waters just invite tranquillity, so go ahead: stay a couple nights.

While staying at the park, take some scenic drives. From the park, continue east on Route 6 to Route 2, turning east and continuing about 60 scenic kilometers (38 miles) through Mount Stewart, St. Peters, and Morell to Souris.

Some outstanding inns, scenery, and beaches lie near the postage-stamp town of Souris. If you're an outdoors sort of family, rent yourselves a bike or three and just go exploring. Locals are unfailingly nice. You can even stay over in the area if you really like, whether in a campground or in your pick of two of the island's most luxurious inns.

Return 80km (50 miles) along Routes 2, 4, and 5 to

Day 7: Charlottetown, Once More

I like Charlottetown a lot and believe it's worth a repeat visit while making a circuit of P.E.I. You probably didn't see everything on your first time through, anyway. Why not spend another night? Hit the Confederation Court Mall, wander the street snapping photos of the kids and look for souvenirs for friends.