Way, way back in the summer of 2018, we traveled as a family to Prince Edward Island. Over the last year and a half, I shared a few pictures here and there of our time together. Each time I did, people reached out and asked for my ideas on how to visit Prince Edward Island with kids. At the time, we had four kids under the age of ten. We drove out, clocking about 9 hours each day over two days with a stop for the night of day one in Rivière-du-Loup. Nearly every time we’ve travelled to the East Coast as a family, we’ve spent our Rivière-du-Loup night at the Auberge de la Pointe in their suite.
When traveling in Quebec, we often eat at McDonalds or buy food at the grocery store. Not very exciting but it’s fast and helps to avoid ordering in French. If only all those years of French education in Ontario schools would have helped here but that’s another issue for another day ;)
After two longs day of driving, PEI is a real treat and well worth the trek. While it was quite some time ago, I’ve done my best here to a small guide on how to visit Prince Edward Island with kids.
Tip 1: Book a Great Airbnb
Honestly, airbnb has changed the game for family travel. There are six of us. It’s nearly impossible to find hotels that will fit six people and definitely not for more than a night or two. We always book airbnbs and there are so many incredible properties to pick from. If you can, be near the water. We stayed in a very quiet area of PEI (Murray River) which was not near the main tourist spots. While it meant more driving to get to and from places, we were happy with the quiet and more authentic Island feel. Cost – you set the budget and there’s something for every price range on PEI.
A few tips for booking your first airbnb:
Read the description really carefully. If you’re looking for ac, be sure it’s listed.
Be sure to read as many of the reviews on the property as you can.
Look for properties that are clearly rentals and not full of lots of personal belongings. Staying in someone else’s house seems uncomfortable to me so I prefer to book rental only properties.
Look for properties that have amazing, bright, detailed photos. If the hosts are serious about their property, they will have good pictures.
Check out my favourite PEI airbnb properties.
Tip 2: Visit LOTS of Beaches
This won’t be too hard and you could never run out of amazing beaches to explore on PEI. Below are a few of our favourites. Cost: $0 – just the cost of gas + snacks.
Tip 3: Spend a Day in Charlottetown and Stop at the Point Prim Lighthouse
Spend a day wandering the architecturally interesting and colourful streets of Charlottetown. Admire St. Dunstan’s Basilica Cathedral and be sure to visit the Peake’s Wharf Historic Waterfront Merchants for some Cows Ice Cream. Grab dinner in Charlottetown (we ate at The Brickhouse Kitchen – five stars) and then head to the Point Prim Lighthouse before sunset. The girls especially loved captaining the boat at Point Prim. Cost – $0 – just the cost of gas + food (if you want it)
Tip 4: Visit Green Gables + Avonlea Village
I don’t think a trip to PEI would be complete without a visit to Anne’s Green Gables. While yes, this is a pretty touristy thing to do, it was well worth it. The site is laid out well with lots to see, woods to explore and a booklet for the kids to fill out. If you’re lucky, you might even see Anne and Diana walking around. Our favourite moment -> Anne asked Julianna (who was four at the time) where she was from and Jules replied, “Canada!” She was pretty sure Anne was real ;)
After spending the morning at Green Gables (tip: get there early!), head over to Avonlea Village and grab lunch at Piatto. If you missed Cows in Charlottetown, you can grab it here. You can also treat yourself to an iced coffee (or hot coffee if that’s your jam) at Samuel’s and pick up some treats at Doughnuts By Design.
Tip 5: Get Ice Cream + Play Lawn Games at Potter’s Parlour
This place was a breath of fresh air after a long day of exploring the Island. Grab some homemade ice cream, dress up like Anne in their dining room play area or take a swing on their porch swing. There is lots of shade and even a few lawn games to enjoy. This place is a real gem and one not to miss if you’re visiting PEI with kids.
Tip 6: Watch the Sunset at Cape Tryon Lighthouse
This is a tricky place to get to but well worth it! It almost feels as though you’re taking a private driveway but stick with it. See more from the Cape Tryon Lighthouse here.
Tip 7: Go Starfish Hunting
Take the family starfish hunting. Get up early, enjoy the peace and quiet and take home some dried starfish.
Tip 8: Visit Greenwich Beach
Walk the boardwalks at Greenwich Beach, over the dunes and onto the beach. Pass through meadows of flowers and enjoy the absolute peace and quiet. There’s also a great scavenger hunt booklet for the kids. Just a note: if you walk the boardwalk out, there’s only one way back and that is to walk ;) It’s a bit of a hike but well worth it.
Tip 9: Enjoy Tunes on Tap at Copper Bottom Brewing
This is a family friendly Sunday afternoon event at Copper Bottom Brewing. Live music by local musicians and good beer (if you like beer). There were also drinks and snacks for the kids and games at each table. This was definitely a highlight of our time in PEI and not to be missed if it fits your schedule.
How to Visit Prince Edward Island with Kids, PEI Travel, PEI Photos, Travel Photos, Travel Photography, Travel Advice, Wee Three Sparrows Photography
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