Side Trips in Kings County
The Magdalen Islands (Les Îsles de la Madeleine), a 5-hour ferry ride north of PEI, are half a dozen low-lying islands linked to each other by sand spits. Around 13,000 people live here—95% are Francophone—in peaceful fishing villages and farming communities; the red-sand cliffs look like PEI, but the farmhouses, wharves, cows, boats, and accents are reminiscent of the Atlantic coast of France. (The Magdalens are actually part of Québec, even though they’re closer to PEI.) The islands boast nearly 320km (200 miles) of uncrowded beaches, and urban Montréalers in search of leisure time love the place. The islands are also famous for their persistent winds, which seemingly never cease blowing; great for windsurfing and kite flying over the long, protected lagoons between beaches.
When the weather isn’t fit for beaches, there are lots of cafes, bars, cultural events, and culinary experiences like cooking classes and visits to a smokehouse or a cheesemaker.
Advance planning is necessary for a trip to the islands because the summertime demand for accommodations far outstrips supply. Given it’s a 5-hour ferry ride and the uniqueness of the place, plan to spend at least a few nights here. Head to www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/en for a list of lodgings.
Ferry service from Souris to Cap-aux-Meules is provided by the Coopérative de Transport Maritime (tel. 888/986-3278 or 418/986-3278), also known as the CTMA. The seven-deck ferry holds 95 cars and 400 passengers. The boats sail as many as 11 times weekly in summer; the schedule is reduced to as few as three times weekly in the off season, so check the schedule online before arriving on PEI.
One-way rates during high season (mid-June to mid-Sept) are C$59.10 adult, C$47.75 senior and C$29.75 children age 5 to 12, plus C$110.15 for a normal-size automobile (more for vans and campers), $55.10 for motorcycles and C$20.80 for bicycles. Tip: Those rates plunge by about 40% outside of the 3 peak months.
When the weather isn’t fit for beaches, there are lots of cafes, bars, cultural events, and culinary experiences like cooking classes and visits to a smokehouse or a cheesemaker.
Advance planning is necessary for a trip to the islands because the summertime demand for accommodations far outstrips supply. Given it’s a 5-hour ferry ride and the uniqueness of the place, plan to spend at least a few nights here. Head to www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/en for a list of lodgings.
Ferry service from Souris to Cap-aux-Meules is provided by the Coopérative de Transport Maritime (tel. 888/986-3278 or 418/986-3278), also known as the CTMA. The seven-deck ferry holds 95 cars and 400 passengers. The boats sail as many as 11 times weekly in summer; the schedule is reduced to as few as three times weekly in the off season, so check the schedule online before arriving on PEI.
One-way rates during high season (mid-June to mid-Sept) are C$59.10 adult, C$47.75 senior and C$29.75 children age 5 to 12, plus C$110.15 for a normal-size automobile (more for vans and campers), $55.10 for motorcycles and C$20.80 for bicycles. Tip: Those rates plunge by about 40% outside of the 3 peak months.
