Marg’s Local Guide to PEI
Things to do
Children favorites
17 minute drive. Take your bikes and join the Confederation Trail in Kensington. The trail covers all of PEI from tip to tip and I’ve done the full trail.
Locals say the most beautiful scenery is from Morell to St Peter’s and I agree it is beautiful however I enjoyed Summerside to Wellington and biking through the small village. I also enjoyed going off the trail from time to time and exploring the small villages by bike. In O’Leary we enjoyed lunch at Maple House.
Confederation Trail
Confederation Trail17 minute drive. Take your bikes and join the Confederation Trail in Kensington. The trail covers all of PEI from tip to tip and I’ve done the full trail.
Locals say the most beautiful scenery is from Morell to St Peter’s and I agree it is beautiful however I enjoyed Summerside to Wellington and biking through the small village. I also enjoyed going off the trail from time to time and exploring the small villages by bike. In O’Leary we enjoyed lunch at Maple House.
90 minute drive. The most beautiful scenery you’ll see in the world! Hiking trails, beach. You need a full day for this activity. Pack a lunch or pick up a picnic from Mary’s Bakery in Kensington on the way (order first). The famous Greenwich beach is also nearby. There is an admission charge.
32 locals recommend
Greenwich National Park
Greenwich Road90 minute drive. The most beautiful scenery you’ll see in the world! Hiking trails, beach. You need a full day for this activity. Pack a lunch or pick up a picnic from Mary’s Bakery in Kensington on the way (order first). The famous Greenwich beach is also nearby. There is an admission charge.
15 minutes. Also called Under the Spire Music Festival. The venue has great sound and great concerts over the summer including Island favourites Lennies Gallant and Rose Cousins.
9 locals recommend
Indian River Festival
1374 Hamilton Rd15 minutes. Also called Under the Spire Music Festival. The venue has great sound and great concerts over the summer including Island favourites Lennies Gallant and Rose Cousins.
Restaurants & take out food (including seafood)
31 minutes. This is an absolute must eat. Overlooking the River Clyde enjoy some great food. The scenery in this area is stunning.
26 locals recommend
Prince Edward Island Preserve Restaurant
2841 New Glasgow Road31 minutes. This is an absolute must eat. Overlooking the River Clyde enjoy some great food. The scenery in this area is stunning.
5 minute drive. They have a general store and dairy bar where you can get
supplies. turn right at the end of the Thunder Cove Road.
6 locals recommend
Twin Shores Camping Area
705 Lower Darnley Rd5 minute drive. They have a general store and dairy bar where you can get
supplies. turn right at the end of the Thunder Cove Road.
5 minutes. great fresh local seafood. Cook all seafood outside on the side burner, the barbecue or on the fire pit. Pot provided for outside by the firewood.
9 locals recommend
Basin View Seafood
72 Reubens Ln5 minutes. great fresh local seafood. Cook all seafood outside on the side burner, the barbecue or on the fire pit. Pot provided for outside by the firewood.
15 minutes to Kensington, a must visit. They have delicious coffee and dessert. Great service in a nice atmosphere, on instagram at thewillowbakerypei
10 locals recommend
The Willow Bakery & cafe
13 Commercial Street15 minutes to Kensington, a must visit. They have delicious coffee and dessert. Great service in a nice atmosphere, on instagram at thewillowbakerypei
53 minutes. This is our favourite Charlottetown restaurant. Good food and good service, nice atmosphere.
29 locals recommend
Pilot House
70 Grafton St53 minutes. This is our favourite Charlottetown restaurant. Good food and good service, nice atmosphere.
15 minutes. In Kensington, Island Stone Pub has the best food of the two restaurants. It is quite busy. Sitting out of the patio is an option.
32 locals recommend
Island Stone Pub
62 Broadway St N15 minutes. In Kensington, Island Stone Pub has the best food of the two restaurants. It is quite busy. Sitting out of the patio is an option.
Sightseeing and eating
Beautiful Victoria, PEI has lovely shops and a must see half day trip. The restaurants on the wharf are great too.
43 minutes. It’s a great place for a walkabout and to take photos. There’s artisan shops and pictures can’t describe how beautiful it really is. The restaurants on the wharf are terrific too (I'd recomment the lobster barn - reservations may be required)! Visit Island Chocolate's too!
80 locals recommend
Victoria
43 minutes. It’s a great place for a walkabout and to take photos. There’s artisan shops and pictures can’t describe how beautiful it really is. The restaurants on the wharf are terrific too (I'd recomment the lobster barn - reservations may be required)! Visit Island Chocolate's too!
55 minute drive. Walk along the water. There are great restaurants and a 2022 photo. It’s a great vibrant place to be in the summer. Most of the big box stores are along University Ave. The tourist shops are along the waterfront. Our favourite restaurants in Charlottetown are Pilot House and Sims (expensive). A rainy day activity for children is the play area at Owl’s Hollow.
82 locals recommend
Charlottetown
55 minute drive. Walk along the water. There are great restaurants and a 2022 photo. It’s a great vibrant place to be in the summer. Most of the big box stores are along University Ave. The tourist shops are along the waterfront. Our favourite restaurants in Charlottetown are Pilot House and Sims (expensive). A rainy day activity for children is the play area at Owl’s Hollow.
30 minutes to Summerside, Pick up groceries at Loblaws, Walmart or walk or bike the extensive Summerside Boardwalk. Good selection of restaurants with Brothers 2, 511 West (and there’s a pub in back that’s great value), Gentleman Jim's and others. My favorite is Brothers 2. That’s Spinnaker’s Landing (tourist gift shops) in downtown Summerside in the picture with our grandchildren. Note grocery stores in Summerside open at noon on Sunday. Bring your own bags (BYOB) as we charge for all bags since we are plastic free.
31 locals recommend
Summerside
30 minutes to Summerside, Pick up groceries at Loblaws, Walmart or walk or bike the extensive Summerside Boardwalk. Good selection of restaurants with Brothers 2, 511 West (and there’s a pub in back that’s great value), Gentleman Jim's and others. My favorite is Brothers 2. That’s Spinnaker’s Landing (tourist gift shops) in downtown Summerside in the picture with our grandchildren. Note grocery stores in Summerside open at noon on Sunday. Bring your own bags (BYOB) as we charge for all bags since we are plastic free.
Sightseeing
13 minute drive from the cottage and great photo op spot. Many wedding pictures taken here. It’s featured on a Canada Post stamp.
13 locals recommend
French River
13 minute drive from the cottage and great photo op spot. Many wedding pictures taken here. It’s featured on a Canada Post stamp.
5 minute walk. Follow the sign outside the door. The beach and red cliffs are a perfect background picture. On a low tide, walk the 10 minutes to the teacup. Keep walking another 5 minutes and there’s great pictures at the lighthouse too from the steps. Stay away from the sandstone cliffs though because they are fragile and rocks could tumble.
55 locals recommend
Thunder Cove Beach
5 minute walk. Follow the sign outside the door. The beach and red cliffs are a perfect background picture. On a low tide, walk the 10 minutes to the teacup. Keep walking another 5 minutes and there’s great pictures at the lighthouse too from the steps. Stay away from the sandstone cliffs though because they are fragile and rocks could tumble.
27 minutes. Cavendish beach is world famous and on the same beach (north shore) that Thunder Cove is on. There’s a boardwalk with restaurants and shops and many tourist venues along the main highway going into Cavendish. There’s Ripleys Believe it or Not and a few mini golf too. The Anne of Green Gables house is in Cavendish (walk through the haunted woods).
82 locals recommend
Cavendish
27 minutes. Cavendish beach is world famous and on the same beach (north shore) that Thunder Cove is on. There’s a boardwalk with restaurants and shops and many tourist venues along the main highway going into Cavendish. There’s Ripleys Believe it or Not and a few mini golf too. The Anne of Green Gables house is in Cavendish (walk through the haunted woods).
Craft and tourist shops
15 minutes from the cottage in Kensington, this is where locals go for their yarns.
Trailside Yarn Shoppe
25001 Prince Edward Island 215 minutes from the cottage in Kensington, this is where locals go for their yarns.
Summerside
Traveler advice
Ways to save
Water
Bring a refillable water bottles. Almost anywhere will fill it for free. Cottage water is tested and safe to drink and both Summerside and Charlottetown have tested safe water.
Ways to save
Parking in Summeride / Charlottetown
All parking is free in Summerside. Charlottetown free during the evening and weekends.
Customs and culture
Grocery Shopping
Many stores open at Sunday at noon and close at 5 pm. Bring your own bags as PEI has a surcharge on bags. Twin Shores Campground General Store is a 5 minute drive, Kensington (15 minute drive) has the Food Basket and Your Independent Grocer (recommended). Summerside (26 minutes) has Loblaws (Superstore) and Walmart for a larger grocery order.
Don't miss
Beach surf conditions - safe swimming
beach surf conditions are posted at https://www.tourismpei.com/beachreports . Sometimes (but not all) riptides are associated with high winds. You should always check surf conditions before swimming.
Customs and culture
PEI Sand Dunes are fragile
Use only established pathways to the beach. The dunes and seagrass are fragile, protect the coastline and prevent erosion and once walked on can break down. Do not climb beach cliffs.
Customs and culture
Waste disposal on PEI
Sort garbage using the PEI Waste Watch chart. Interactive sorting at www.iwmc.pe.ca.
Getting around
Travelling to PEI
You pay when leaving PEI on the Confederation Bridge and each way by Northumberland Ferry.