The Gentle Island

Promoting Prince Edward Island cuisine on a recent media blitz, chef Michael Smith — the province’s official food ambassador and host of the Food Network’s Chef at Home — described P.E.I. as “one great big farm surrounded by beaches.” While accurate, that description doesn’t quite cover the array of events and activities available on The Gentle Island. Lifestyle spoke to Robert Ferguson, acting manager of Tourism P.E.I., and asked him to lay out the full breadth of the island’s offerings this fall.

Cuisine Machine
Food may be just one aspect of the island’s allure, but it’s a big one. The province hosts “Atlantic Canada’s biggest kitchen party” this month, the P.E.I. International Shellfish Festival, which features a chowder cook-off, oyster shucking and live entertainment. “A lot of people from out of P.E.I. come for that event,” Ferguson says of the festival, which takes place Sept. 18-20. Smith himself hosts another affair for foodies, Fall Flavours, which runs from Sept. 25 through Oct. 4, and features more than 130 culinary and cultural events, including tastings and cooking workshops. “P.E.I. is blessed with an abundance of natural product,” Ferguson says of the island’s foodie focus this fall. “We have such abundance that it was a natural fit.”

In addition to festivals, Ferguson recommends Charlottetown’s Victoria Row, a strip of restaurants near the Confederation Centre of the Arts in downtown Charlottetown, a hotbed of gastronomic delight.

Inn the Know
Visitors coming to experience this fall’s fares, or cultural events like the P.E.I. Jazz & Blues Festival in September, can take in a bit of Canadiana without ever leaving the comfort of their accommodations. A number of historical five-star inns dot the island, offering what Ferguson calls “a great way to learn some history” while staying in the lap of luxury.

Dalvay by the Sea, which doubled as the White Sands Hotel in TV’s Road to Avonlea, offers stunning views of the ocean to complement its rich history. Meanwhile, the Inn at Bay Fortune formerly played host to Broadway playwright Elmer Harris, and today offers 17 guest rooms and some of the best dining on the island.

Aww Shucks
To really immerse yourself in island life, sign up for one of Tourism P.E.I.’s “Genuine Island Experiences.” Go oyster shuckin’ with a pro or get a personalized tour of historic Rustico and take in a slice of Acadia.

Go Clubbin’
Renowned for its plethora of golf courses, and frequently cited as one of North America’s top golfing locales, P.E.I. provides the perfect conditions to get in a round or two. “It’s particularly nice in the fall because you do get a little cooler temperatures” says Ferguson. “Most – if not all – maintain their courses through October.”

The toughest part about golfing on P.E.I. (other than the bunkers) is choosing a locale. If you’ve only got time for one round on the island, we suggest you play it on the broad fairways and manicured greens of the links at Brudenell River. Find out for yourself why it frequently ranks among the country’s top golfing destinations.

Off the Beaten Trail
For the free spirit, P.E.I. offers a site to see at every turn. “A really fun thing to do is just to take your map and drive around. You’re never, ever going to get lost,” Ferguson says. “The things that you see really jump out at you.”

For instance, catch a glimpse of Irish-moss harvesters as they skim the ocean for seaweed samples, or take in the sand dunes — parabolic sandbanks that reach up to 20 metres in height, located at Greenwich Beach, in Prince Edward Island National Park. “To see those sand dunes along the coast is really phenomenal,” says Ferguson.

Those looking for a two-wheeled adventure have plenty of options as well. The 270-kilometre Confederation Trail spans the length of the island and offers more than 350 kilometres of cycling when its various offshoots are taken into account. •

For the full list of island events, experiences and accommodations, visit tourismpei.com.