Prince Edward Island - Canada's Island Jewel

There is so much I could say about Prince Edward Island. I could give you facts and figures and statistics. You could, however, get that kind of thing on the PEI Government website. I'll provide you a link for that later. Or you could read about it on Wikipedia.(see below)

What you won't find there is how the island makes you feel. The passion I have for this place is what I would like to share with you.

This beautiful place has amazing history, quaint villages, fishing docks, clean, quiet beaches, ocean vistas, incredible sunsets, rolling hills, farms, and no more than a two lane highway!

Why would anyone come here? Well, let me explain the feeling I had when I first came.

We had been travelling for some time. From Ontario to PEI takes a good 24 hours. (well, I know some people who can drive it in 18 hours, but I won't make any snide comments about lead feet etc,) A good deal of time you travel through the vast, empty province of New Brunswick. The greatest proportion of the population lives near the provinces TransCanada highway. Huge areas lie uninhabited. It has a wild, desolate beauty. If you ever get the chance to travel New Brunswick, may I suggest the last week of September through the first couple of weeks of October?
If you want a spectacular fall vista, you'll get kilometres on kilometres of it (or miles upon miles of it, for our American neighbours) If you are a sportsman, New Brunswick is a wonderful find.

Now, as I said, there are many beauties to be seen as you approach the island. However, it didn't "call" to me. Too big. Too desolate. When we drove onto PEI, the whole feeling changed. Even though there are only about 130,000 people living here, it isn't nearly as large an area. Yes, you do sense wide open fields. No claustrohobia here. It has, though a homey, inhabited, friendly feel. I felt as though I was coming home, even though I had never been. I keenly realized that for 20 odd years, I had been living in the wrong place, hadn't fit in. It was the "personality" of the Island that spoke to me.

It is hard to choose a favorite season on PEI, but for me, the spring has a charm here that is captivating. I love the time in the late spring, just after the farmers have prepared and ploughed the potato fields. On a bright sunny day, there is the rich, red soil, tilled into thick, corduroy rows. It looks almost like velvet. Swaths of brilliant green, trees and grass, edge the fields, like a live picture frame. Your eyes sweep upwards into a blue sky, dotted with puffy white clouds. The contrasts of color are magnificent. Everything is in readiness for the new planting and the earth looks, "happy".

About a month later, crowds of lupines, line the roadsides, like parade watchers. You will see deep purple, fushia pink, paler pink, white and yellow. When you see them mixed together, that is a treat to the eye.

One year, I had to travel to Toronto, Ontario, in May. I was not pleased to have to be away from my beloved island just as it was setting up for my favorite time of year. I discovered, however, to my delight, that because the Toronto tends to be ahead of the Island spring schedule by about 2 to 4 weeks, I was able to enjoy spring's arrival twice. Twice the blooming magnolias, twice the forsythias and sand cherry bushes!

When spring comes this year, I will photograph and post the pictures.

Many folks come to the Island for the summer, and it truly is THE place to be when the sun is hot. I do hope though, that YOU will consider not only the summer, but also the spring.

Part of PEI history, is the train system that ran from one end of the Island the other. Sadly, with times changing, the train was no longer cost effective. The rails were removed.

However, the trails are still in use. Now they are maintained as bicycle and walking trails. Now you can imagine, former train routes. They go past every rural community and into all the main towns and are fairly flat, with fine gravel surfaces which make them excellent for cyclists.

Safety is another major factor, not having to negotiate highways. Stops along the way are set up for travellers. The trail has been used in international cycling events.

Read about the trail and its history in the link below.

Prince Edward Island is not a destination like Disney World or the Buckingham Palace. It's appeal is in its simplicity, its rural serenity, pastoral beauty . It is unrushed, unworried.

You can't really get lost here, for evidence of habitation is easy to find. But it isn't bustling and frenetic. If you come from a large city, or suburban area, you will find the driving here positively relaxing. If you drive along the secondary highways, several people will probably wave at you. Watch for it, because it is a charming tradition. It took me a while to get used to it, but it is a tradition I would hate to see lost.

Yes, we have a few "cities" on the Island, but I doubt they would qualify as such elsewhere. I think they have "high rises" in the captial of Charlottetown. 5 whole stories, I believe! We have an airport. Looks more like a bus terminal, but no matter.

Yes, we have road signs, but they are designed to fit into the country surroundings, not "screech" at you, gaudily from the side of the road.

Are you into amazing structures? Check out the Confederation Bridge. It spans 12.9 kilometres (8 mile) over the Northumberland Strait! It is wonderful accomplishment and is quite thrilling to drive over. There is a toll, but you only pay coming OFF the Island. If you prefer to do things the "old fashioned way", come by ferry. Check out these sites for more detailed information.