Wild and wonderful Prince Edward Island (PEI), just a short hop off the Canadian mainland, is a place of lobster suppers, red foxes, Anne of Green Gables, red sand beaches and a coastline as dramatic as it is beautiful. And yes, there is a royal link: the island was named after Prince Edward, Duke of Kent – father of Queen Victoria – who served in Halifax and Quebec during his British military career. Though it consists of over 230 islands and islets, only the main island is significantly inhabited.
History and colonial past aside, it is a haven for sea-lovers, kayakers, birdwatchers, and marine explorers, especially around the less developed eastern and northern shore. It also helps if you like potatoes as Prince Edward Island is the biggest grower per square acre – a quarter of all spuds in Canada come from there. You’ll find them fried, mashed, baked… and yes, even dipped in chocolate for the truly adventurous. For Europeans seeking something off the beaten track, the island feels like a hidden treasure – though most holidaymakers you’ll meet are Canadian. A gentle arc of land cradled by the sparkling Gulf of St Lawrence, it is a place where red cliffs meet golden beaches and life moves at its own unhurried pace.
