Things to do in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

The capital city of Prince Edward Island (PEI), Charlottetown, is a quaint city with a noticeable skyline in the region. This because of the many buildings like the convention center and basilica that rise above the city. The rich history of Charlottetown goes back to over 2000 years ago. Here are the things to do in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Things to do in Charlottetown

Victoria Row

Victoria Row is one of the prettiest areas in Charlottetown. There cobblestone streets of Victoria Row have trees and Victorian-style red-brick buildings lined up on both sides. This area, also called “The Row”, consists of many cafes, restaurants, boutique shops, and arts & crafts galleries. You can browse the shops for Anne of Green Gables-themed items, antiques, jewelry, knitwear, and local artworks.

Green Gables Heritage Place

Lucy Maud Montegomery’s Anne of Green Gables is what comes into mind when speaking of PEI. According to the book, the red-headed heroine, Anne, lived here and had some great adventures. You can step into the house that inspired the author to write this novel, and also walk around the garden and woods surrounding it.

Confederation Centre of the Arts

Confederation Centre of the Arts, in Charlottetown, is the city’s cultural heart. It stretches over a full block of Charlottetown. It is the primary venue that hosts of many of the cultural and arts events in the city. One of the popular shows hosted here is the “Anne of Green Gables The Musical”, which is the longest-running annual musical in the world.

Charlottetown Farmers’ Market

PEI is famed as Canada’s food island. The best place to experience this is at the weekly farmers’ market in Charlottetown. Over 50 local vendors sell everything from fruits and vegetables to meat, freshly-baked bread and many more. You can also try a variety of food or buy jewelry, pottery, paintings, woodcraft, and more items for local artisans.

Victorian Park Boardwalk

Victorian Park Boardwalk is the place where locals go to walk, cycle, jog, or swim in the pool. The park is located in the southern part of Charlottetown and covers an area of 37 acres. The flat walkway has a long wooden boardwalk and provides an excellent view out into the harbor.

St. Dunstan’s Basilica

St. Dunstan’s Basilica is a French Gothic-style cathedral that towers over the rooftops of Charlottetown. Back in the day, there were four cathedrals at this location over the last 2 centuries. The cathedral that stand today was built in 1913 based on St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. This cathedral, with ornate stained-glass windows and carved woodwork, is a National Historic Site of Canada.

Peake’s Wharf

Peake’s Wharf is where Canada’s founding fathers came ashore more than a century ago. Today, the harbor consists of about 20 shops and restaurants looking colorful in the pastel-shaded waterfront area. You can take a boat around the bay or sit back and relax at the waterfront while having a scoop of creamy Cows ice cream.

The Confederation Trail

The Confederation Trail is a railway track that is now converted into a cycling and walking path. At winter, it converts into a snowmobile track. This unspoiled landscape stretches for 435 km from one end of PEI to the other end. You can hire a bicycle or e-bike in Charlottetown and cycle as far as you can.

Thunder Cove Beach

Thunder Cove Beach is in Darnley, a one-hour drive from Charlottetown. The red cliffs at the beach gives it a unique and beautiful look. The area also has caves and rock formations that you can explore in a day trip to Thunder Cove Beach.

Island Winds

At Island Winds, you can make your own wind chime as a memorable experience of your time in PEI. There are many sizes and sounds to choose from, including “Anne” Chime. The “Anne” Chime is the harmony that is based on Anne of Green Gable’s musical production. You can do everything from drilling holes in the pipes to stringing them together and hanging the glass.

Island Hill Farm

Island Hill Farm is a farm where you can cuddle baby animals of all sorts. It is best place to go with kids. They can carry a chicken, bottle-feed a baby goat, or walk a donkey, all in this farm. You can buy gifts like goat milk candles and soaps from the gift store at this location.

Cavendish Beach

Cavendish Beach is the perfect location to spend time with family. Its waves are perfect for kids and boardwalks leading over the dunes provide you with stunning views of the red stone cliffs. The location has all amenities for families, including changing rooms, bathrooms, a canteen, and shaded picnic areas.

Glass bottle houses

This place consists of the results of a man who collected and cemented more than 25,000 bottles of different sizes and shapes to create six buildings. Building this small fairytale type of village started in 1980. Today it consists of a house, a chapel, and a tavern. The way the light shines through these glass bottles is what makes this place so unique and magical.

Potato Museum

The Potato Museum is a unique place that you must visit in PEI. Its seaweed pie is delicious and is a must-try when you are there with kids. You can also capture a photo of the largest potato sculpture in the world while you are at this museum.

Covehead Harbor Lighthouse

Covehead Harbor Lighthouse is a 30-minute drive from Charlottetown. Perched on a grassy hilltop, this lighthouse is an iconic landmark of PEI. It is a popular photography location of the region. Standing at a height of only 8.2 m, it is the shortest lighthouse in PEI. The lighthouse gives you panoramic views of the surrounding region.

Beaconsfield Historic House

The Beaconsfield Historic House is a carefully-preserved 19^th century mansion that consists of Victorian décor. This 25-room mansion and magnificent garden gives you a peek into the splendor of Charlottetown’s Victorian-era past. The history of the house dates back to 1877. It is located a mere 10 minutes from Charlottetown’s city center.

Final Thoughts

Charlottetown, in PEI, is a quaint city with so many places to visit and things to do. These things to do in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, will make your vacation one-of-a-kind and worth every minute.