Travel

What To See On Prince Edward Island Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

I have wanted to see Prince Edward Island since I was thirteen and first read Lucy Maude Montgomery’s series of books about the precocious orphan, Anne Of Green Gables. The desire to visit the Canadian province was further cemented in my mind years later, in 1985, when PBS aired the award-winning mini-series based on the book. The series was shot primarily on P.E.I. And the gorgeous film locations even eclipsed my vision of the island. The bar for this vision was pretty high because it had been set by Anne’s own fanciful and dramatic names for landscape features, such as “The White Way Of Delight” and “The Lake Of Shining Waters.” However, this year, I was finally able to travel to Canada and see P.E.I. first-hand.  Now, having seen the island for myself, I can tell you that Anne was spot on with her names. Like me, you may travel to Prince Edward Island to visit “Green Gables,” but you will quickly discover there is so much more to see on this whole green island.

What To See On Prince Edward Island -Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

After spending several wonderful days exploring New Brunswick, we headed down the Trans-Canada Highway toward P.E.I. Once we crossed over the Confederation Bridge (which is the only roadway onto the island) and made our way through the town of Borden-Carleton, we immediately saw that P.E.I. remains largely as it was in the early 1900s when “Anne Of Green Gables” was set. That is to say, that most of the island is an idyllic pastoral oasis set apart from a world of shopping malls and fast-food restaurants– undeveloped and mostly still made up of family farms.

Driving through the bucolic countryside, we were gobsmacked by the startling view of fields blanketed in such dazzlingly bright yellow that we had to stop by the side of the road to gawk. I had no idea what this crop could be, but I immediately googled it and discovered that this almost neon yellow crop was canola. Apparently, P.E.I. farmers started planting canola as a cash crop in the early 2000s for its potential as biodiesel and cooking oil. I would plant it just for its gorgeous color!

Bright yellow canola field -- What To See What To See On Prince Edward Island -Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Bright yellow canola field

Yellow canola field --: GreWhat To See What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

The Inn At Bay Fortune

Once we had taken way too many photos of the captivating canola fields, we made our way to the picturesque Inn At Bay Fortune in the town of Souris. Souris is a charming seaside town located on the southeast end of the island.

The Inn At Bay Fortune -- GWhat To See What To See On Prince Edward Island -Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
The Inn At Bay Fortune
Inn At Bay Fortune -- What To See What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
We stayed in the room with the balcony overlooking the beautiful flower gardens.

The five-star inn, owned by celebrity chef Michael Smith and his wife, Chastity, is famous for its nightly farm-to-table live-fire Feast. The extraordinary multi-course gourmet Feast was definitely one of the highlights of our Canadian trip.

Rustic open fire kitchen they call "Fireworks" -- What To See What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Rustic open fire kitchen they call “Fireworks” and one of several dining spaces at the Inn At Bay Fortune

If you have the opportunity to visit P.E.I., I cannot recommend both the Inn and its Feast more strongly!

We spent the next day driving around the southern coastal roads of the island, taking in the beautiful vistas of verdant farmland bordered by sparkling blue water.

Pink lupines in the foreground of a sparkling inlet surrounded by green fields -- What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Pink lupines in the foreground of a sparkling inlet surrounded by green fields is a view you see everywhere on P. E. I.
Picture perfect fishing village -- What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Picture perfect fishing village

What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Lighthouses And Greenwich Beach

We toured several lighthouses and spent an hour or two soaking up the sun on the pristine white sugar sand of the uncrowded Greenwich Beach.East Point Lighthouse --What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

We climbed to the top of the East Point Lighthouse, which was built in 1867 and is 64 feet tall.

Point Prim Lighthouse --What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
The Point Prim Lighthouse, constructed in 1845, is the oldest on the island. The stunning views of the Northumberland Strait and Hillsborough Bay make the climb to the top worth the effort.
The dunes at Greenwich Beach --What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
The dunes at Greenwich Beach

What To See What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Charlottetown

The next day we drove down to Charlottetown, which is the capital of P.E.I. There we checked into the charming Fairholm Inn. The inn, which was built as a private home in 1838, has been restored to its former glory and is now a registered National Historic Site.

Historic Fairholm Inn, Charlottetown-- What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Historic Fairholm Inn, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

After stowing our luggage, we grabbed some lunch and then took a carriage tour of the city. The highlight of the tour was St. Dunstan’s Basilica.

St. Dunstan's Basilica, Charlottetown -- What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
St. Dunstan’s Basilica

Inspired by St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, the current stone Roman Catholic cathedral was completed in 1919 and is built in the French Gothic style. The focal point of the interior is the gleaming 14-foot Rose Window which presides over a 37-foot high altar.

24-foot stained glass rose window in St. Dunstan's Basilica, Charlottetown -- What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
24-foot stained glass rose window in St. Dunstan’s Basilica

St. Dunstan's Basilica-- What To See On Prince Edward Island -Green Gables And A Whole Green Island

The arched ceiling is also impressive as it is decorated with intricately carved emblems depicting important symbols of the church’s mission.

That evening we attended a fun production of “Anne and Gilbert,” which is a musical about the romance between Anne of Green Gables and her grade-school rival, Gilbert Blythe. The musical put us in the right frame of mind when we made the pilgrimage to Green Gables the next day.

Green Gables

 What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Green Gables

L. M. Montgomery never lived at this farm. But the house and surrounding land, which was actually owned by L. M. Montgomery’s cousin twice removed and his wife, served as the inspiration for the fictional “Green Gables.”

 What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Today the interior of the home is styled the way Montgomery described it in her book and is in keeping with the late Victorian period in which the novel was set.

"Anne's Room" - What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Items from her wardrobe are displayed in Anne’s Room, including the much-desired puffed sleeves dress  that Matthew purchased for her.
The fireplace in the parlor of Green Gables -- What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
The fireplace in the parlor is adorned with typical fussy Victoriana decor.
 What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Gorgeous gardens surround the farmhouse. The red barn contains several interactive exhibits, including an opportunity to dress up like the characters in the book.

Gardens -- What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Lovers' Lane --What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Lovers’ Lane
Balsam Hollow Trail --What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Balsam Hollow Trail
 What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
A view of the famed green gable can be seen through the trees.

Dunes Studio Gallery Cafe And Garden

Once we experienced all that Green Gables had to offer, we went in search of lunch. We found lunch and so much more at the Dunes Studio Gallery and Cafe. The large gallery features a collection of over fifty different Canadian artists’ work in a variety of different media. We were able to browse the gallery while we waited for our table at the fine dining restaurant. After our excellent meal, we took a stroll through their extraordinary and expansive garden which is planted with a dazzling array of flowers, plants, and sculpture which is for sale. The Dunes is another must-do when you visit P.E.I.

Dunes Gallery Garden -- What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
The outdoor sculpture, furniture, and fountains for sale are displayed throughout the beautiful and expansive gardens behind the Dunes Gallery.

Dunes Gallery Garden --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Dunes Gallery Garden Sculpture --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Dunes Gallery Garden sculpture --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Dunes Gallery Garden view of the the water --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
As is the case everywhere on the island, the Dunes Gallery Garden has a view of the water.

Bottle Village

After gorging our senses at the Dunes, we continued to drive around and explore the island. One of the last things we saw before we headed back to Charlottetown was this kooky little bottle village, located in someone’s backyard. My husband didn’t really get it, but I was thoroughly charmed.

Bottle village --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Entrance to the quirky little glass bottle village someone created in their backyard.

bottle house --What To See On Prince Edward Island -- Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Glass bottle house interior - What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
The Interior of the Bottle Tea House glows with the light shining through hundreds of glass bottles.

Glass bottle house --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Glass bottle church --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

Glass bottle lighthouse --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
The glass bottle lighthouse stands sentry over a cement pond complete with its own Canadian Goose.
Bottle evergreen --What To See On Prince Edward Island --Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island
Canada is celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Confederation this year, and everywhere we went, we saw Canadian flags proudly flying. The bottle village was no exception, displaying the maple leaf atop of their bottle evergreen. You can sing “O Tannenbaum” and “O Canada” at the same time!

We ended our trip with a romantic dinner in Charlottetown at the Dundee Arms Inn Restaurant. They have a large outdoor dining space, but we elected to eat inside. The food was not particularly memorable, but we enjoyed having the cozy dining room nearly to ourselves. It gave us an opportunity to look through our photos and reminisce about our favorite places on the island.

The third book in the Anne Of Green Gables series is called “Anne Of The Island.” And like Anne, I fell completely in love with P.E.I. Since we didn’t have an opportunity to explore the Northern end of the island, I will definitely make a point of returning. In fact, we were so enchanted with Canada’s smallest province that we are considering actually buying property there –you can just call me Lisa Of The Island.

If you liked this post, you might be interested in my other Canadian Travel posts:

FDR Slept Here: A Tour Of Campobello Island
New Brunswick’s Natural Beauty And Noggin Befuddling Road Signs
St. Andrews By The Sea: A Haunted Hotel And Glorious Garden

and also:

Ireland: Rocky Beaches And Atmospheric Graveyards

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20 thoughts on “What To See On Prince Edward Island Green Gables Plus A Whole Green Island

  1. Wow, how idyllic. I’ve never thought about rural Canada as a destination, but now it’s definitely on the list

  2. I watched this series as a kid too! It totally captivated me. It sounds like you had the most wonderful trip. It’s always a bit of a risk to visit somewhere you already feel you know as you could so easily be disappointed. However, it looks like P.E.I totally delivered! Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes

    1. It was a wonderful trip and PEI is a beautiful storybook place! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. Thanks also, for hosting Monday Escapes. It’s so fun to live vicariously through everyone’s fabulous trips and to be an armchair traveler!

  3. Lisa, what an amazing trip. I have never been to Prince Edward Island, but now I definitely need to plan a trip! Beautiful photos and so charming! I enjoyed traveling with you!

  4. I watched this series too! and I’ve always wanted to visit. I’m glad it lived up to your expectations. You have captured some beautiful photos. I especially love the red and white houses in the distance. Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes

  5. Wow, what a post, what a trip… so incredible. I too have always wanted to visit Prince Edward Island and now I want to even more. Thank you for taking us along.

    1. Thank you so much for your very kind comment about my PEI post. I really loved the island and can’t wait to go back.

  6. Just beautiful! I had a girlfriend that went there years ago and after listening to her I wanted to visit myself as well!

    1. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I loved PEI so much that I think I could get a job with the provincial bureau of tourism!

  7. What a wonderfully diverse trip and a beautiful part of Canada to explore! Stunning scenery. You did everything from Cathedrals to gardens and the very quirky bottle village! Thanks for linking #citytripping

  8. My best friend and I went to PEI close to 20 years ago. I thought the island was gorgeous. We primarily went to see Green Gables (we camped) which was fun, but touristy. I especially enjoyed the beach and the red dirt. One of the store owners told me that no one has a light colored floor on PEI because you would constantly be fighting the red soil. 🙂

    1. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. I think it would be fun to camp there and I bet it hasn’t changed much in 20 years. We felt right at home in PEI because we have that same red clay soil here in North Carolina!

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