Known for picturesque seascapes and loads of local charm, Prince Edward Island has everything you need for a romantic holiday for two. Imagine, you and your partner walking arm-in-arm along the shoreline hair misted by sea salt, as the sun sets over the clear blue water. Swoon.
You'll fall in love with PEI’s white-sand beaches, tide-to-table local cuisine and the warmth of the Islanders themselves. Explore the island’s three main regions with these inspiring itineraries.
Points East Coastal Drive
Eat
©Tourism PEI / Alex Bruce
Fine food
Feast on chef Michael Smith’s multi-course dinner at FireWorks, located in The Inn at Bay Fortune. There’s no menu for this languid, hours-long kitchen party—everyone dines on the same locally-sourced meal, prepared onsite by the chefs in the 7.6 metre, brick-lined oven.
© Emily Louise, Point Prim Chowder House
Casual dining
The Point Prim Chowder House in Belfast offers amazing views of the ocean and mouth-watering homemade chowder, seafood bakes and steamer pots. Relax on the beach bar with a moonshine mojito, made with Island-distilled ‘shine.
Bites that won't break the bank
The New-Zealand-born chef at the #5 Café in Murray Harbour is obsessed with “clean food.” Stop in for coffee and a slice of the old-fashioned carrot cake, or enjoy a leisurely brunch here on weekends.
Sleep
Luxe lodging
What's more romantic than a veranda-wrapped boutique hotel in a waterfront setting? The Inn at St. Peters is a 4.5-star property laying upon 13 acres of award-winning gardens. Rooms have private decks and overlook St. Peters Bay. After a long day spent on nearby beaches or playing a round of golf, admire the sunset and then tuck into a four poster king size bed plump with plush duvets.
Mid-range retreat
The Inn at Spry Point’s pastoral setting makes for an ideal getaway, with its gorgeous views of rolling fields, red cliffs and deep-blue water. The hotel’s new wine bar serves artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, and more than 200 wines from around the world, making it one of the Island’s largest cellars.
Budget-friendly picks
Bunkin’ at the Beach is an off-the-grid bunk house steps away from the red-sand beach at Campbell’s Cove. The cozy loft has a double bed and the Campbell’s Cove campground includes all the facilities you’d need for a comfortable, private retreat.
Play
For the arts lovers
The Kings Playhouse in Georgetown is one of Canada’s longest-running theatres, and one of the most charming venues on the Island. Visit the big green playhouse on a Monday night to hear stories of the Island’s past, or on Friday evenings for the brand new dinner theatre. The couple that two-steps together, stays together, so dance the night away at the weekly ceilidh.
For the active types
Grab a double kayak from Kingfisher Outdoors and head out on a two-hour paddle down the peaceful Morell River. You can even go for a swim in one of the pools at the top of the river—the water is as clear as glass. A paddle board or bike ride are other leisurely ways to enjoy the area.
Those playing in Brudenell Provincial Park can rent bikes, kayaks, canoes and SUPs from Outside Expeditions. For a real eco-adventure, join them on a guided paddle, seal spottings guaranteed.
Tourism PEI, Basin Head Provincial Park
For the beach bums
No trip to the Island is complete without a visit to one of the more than 90 beaches that dot the shoreline, half of which are located along the Points East Coastal Drive. Cuddle under an umbrella on the pristine beaches at Greenwich, or drive to Basin Head Provincial Park, home of the “singing sands” beach, a magical stretch of shoreline where the sand squeaks and pops underneath you.
Central Coastal Drive
Eat
Fine food
The seasonal menu at The Table restaurant in New London is served family-style on a 12-foot long harvest table built by a local artisan. Want to get hands-on? Cook up some romance in The Table’s culinary studio during their fresh-food-focused classes.
Casual dining
Lobster suppers are a Maritime tradition, so grab two bibs and chow down at the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers. There, you and partner can share a salt-water-boiled Island lobster, complete with steaming hot rolls and the famous “mile-high” lemon meringue pie.
Bites that won't break the bank
Enjoy the bistro-style lunch menu at Local 343 in Charlottetown, or grab some of their take-away items for a picnic in one of the city’s 158 parks.
Sleep
©Tourism PEI / Emily O'Brien
Luxe lodging
Fifteen carefully-restored heritage buildings make up the lovely Great George Hotel in downtown Charlottetown. Splurge on a room with a four-poster bed and claw foot tub—très romantique!
Mid-range retreat
It's fitting that the Cranford Inn should be painted yellow, reflecting its sunny hospitality. Elegant lines meet contemporary design and the interiors are handsomely appointed. Sink into inviting armchairs and sleep atop four post beds in the Inn's seven suites, all named for semi-precious stones. Cranford Inn boasts top voted Charlottetown bed and breakfast on TripAdvisor.com - without the pretension.
Budget-friendly picks
For unique and affordable lodging, stay at an oTENTik in Prince Edward Island National Park. A cross between a tent and a cabin, an oTENTik unit includes beds, a picnic table, and a deck overlooking Cavendish beach.
Play
For the arts lovers
From June to October, the Charlottetown Festival showcases some of the country’s best live music, theatre and comedy. Held at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, this year’s dramatic lineup includes Mamma Mia, Spoon River and Anne of Green Gables: The Musical.
©Tourism PEI / Yvonne Duivenvoorden
For the active types
Stand-up paddleboard enthusiasts can get outfitted for boards at Paddles rental shop at the Charlottetown Yacht Club. Gliding along the gorgeous Victoria Park coast is the perfect activity for a sun-filled summer afternoon.
For the beach bums
Hit the recently-completed Robinson’s Island Trail, located on a small island in PEI National Park. Yes, there’s hiking involved, but you’ll be rewarded for your physical exertion: the trail converges on a beautiful, secluded beach. Those cruising the south shore should lay a beach blanket out on the rust-tinted sands of Argyle Shore Provincial Park.
North Cape Coastal Drive
Eat
Fine food
Housed in a boat-building shop that dates back to 1790, The Boat Shop Steak & Seafood Restaurant in Northport serves up fresh Island beef and Atlantic lobster, as well as other seasonal dishes. Make sure to reserve a table by the large windows so you can both gaze out across the harbour and Cascumpec Bay.
Casual dining
Nestled in the Tyne Valley, The Landing Oyster House and Pub specializes in fresh seafood, gourmet PEI-beef burgers and local craft beer. And don’t miss the oysters—the North Cape Coastal Drive is, after all, dubbed the “Canadian Oyster Coast.” Go on a Saturday night for a pint and a performance by the talented local musicians in this charming pub.
Bites that won't break the bank
The Galley isn’t your typical food truck: Chef Norman Zeledon serves up local seafood, including mussels, quahogs and lobster, from this Summerside-based gourmet food truck. The mouth-watering Po’boy sandwich, topped with panko-crusted oysters and moonshine black garlic cream sauce, is so good, you’ll each want your own.
Sleep
©Tourism PEI / John Sylvester
Luxe lodging
Dial up the romance by booking a room at the West Point Lighthouse Inn. Each of the 13 rooms has a view of the Northumberland Strait, so you can fall asleep to the sound of waves hitting the shore.
Mid-range retreat
Located in a fishing village and active working harbour, the Northpoint Pier Inn overlooks Cascumpec Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The 14-room waterfront property is decorated in a nautical theme and within easy access of beaches and the picturesque Confederation Trail.
© 2007 Clive Barber
Budget-friendly picks
Located in Mill River Provincial Park, the Rodd Mill River Resort has 90 guestrooms that overlook either the 18-hole golf course or the provincial park. Facilities include an indoor salt-water pool, whirlpool and sauna.
Play
Stephen DesRoches
For the arts lovers
Music buffs will want to visit Summerside College of Piping, an institution with a world-class reputation for Highland bagpiping, drumming and dancing. Concerts and tours are held daily, and the Highland Storm Celtic music and dance performances take place in the summer.
For the active types
The North Coast offers tons of options for cycling, from peaceful rides along country roads to more challenging trails that will get your hearts pumping. Start your ride at Green Park, a few kilometres from the village of Tyne Valley, and head towards the Green Park Provincial Park for a route that takes you past an oyster museum and Lennox Island.
©Tourism PEI / Stclair Macaulay
For the beach bums
The beaches of Cedar Dunes Provincial Park stretch out for miles on end and boast some of the warmest waters on the Island. Situated south of West Point, facing the Northumberland Strait, the location is perfect for romantic walks at sun set.
Prince Edward Island's romantic side?
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