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Prince Edward Island: Come Hear the Sea's Whisper!

Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, is the smallest province in the country. It sits calmly nestled eleven miles off the coast of Nova Scotia. PEI is a province proud of its heritage, while simultaneously embracing its future. The three main exports are lobsters, potatoes, and the literary gifts of Lucy Maud Montgomery. Vacationers to this sedate setting are enamored by the natural beauty of the lush green valleys, the rolling hillsides, and the dramatic cliffs that dip abruptly into the deep blue Gulf of St. Lawrence. A visit to PEI can include hiking, biking, bird watching, swimming, deep-sea fishing, or just basking in the northern sun on one of the many beaches.

The oldest town on Prince Edward Island is Charlottetown, which serves as the provincial capital. It is often called the "Cradle of Confederation", a reference to the 1864 conference that led the union of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec in 1867. The conference eventually led to the union of Canada itself. While in town, visit the Beaconsfield Historic House, a gracious Victorian home built in 1877 for wealthy shipbuilder James Peake, Jr. Tours and lectures on local history are given regularly.

On the eastern end of the city is the Charlottetown Driving Park. Since 1890 this track has been home to the island's favorite sport: harness racing. Standardbred horses are raised throughout the island, and harness racing on the ice and on country tracks has been a popular event for generations. In August, the park hosts Old Home Week, when Canada's best converge for 15 races in 8 days.

Cavendish, on the north coast of the island, is a great place for people with children and for literary lovers of all ages. The town is the home of Lucy Maud Montgomery who, in 1908 published her famous novel, Anne of Green Gables. Mark Twain described her title character as "the dearest and most lovable child in fiction since the immortal Alice [in wonderland]." The Lucy Maud Montgomery Home is where the writer lived as a young girl with her grand parents. Visitors can walk the grounds and visit the bookstore and museum associated with the property.

Cavendish is also loaded with amusement parks that will send the little ones into a frenzy. The oldest of these is the Rainbow Valley Family Fun Park. This family-owned operation ranges over 40 acres, and has three boating lakes, rides aimed at each age group, six waterslides, and a flume ride that will bring chills to even the most experienced of ride lover.

Nature lovers, bird watchers, and sun bathers will love Prince Edward Island National Park. Stretching over 25 miles between Cavendish and Tracadie Bay along the north shore of the island, the park is a mixture of dunes, sandstone cliffs, and long stretches of unvisited sand. The beaches have a blend of red and pink sand, and beckon those wishing for a walk along the shore, or visitors seeking the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic. Over 200 species of birds frequent the area, making it one of the most popular bird watching destinations in all of Canada. Notable avian visitors include the northern phalarope, Swainson's thrush, and the endangered piping plover. Hikers will love the trails that lead through the woodlands, following along side trickling streams and ponds.

If you visit Prince Edward Island, don't forget your sticks! There are over twenty 9 and 18-hole courses offering tests of golf for all skill levels. In Summerside visit the Summerside Golf and Country Club. This 5700-6500 yard course meanders through hills and valleys and uses the native pine trees as hazards. The Links at Crowbrush Cove, near Lakeside, is consistently rated by Golf Digest as one of the top courses in Canada. The course overlooks the water from the north shore and offers spectacular views as well as a stringent test of skill.

Prince Edward Island has a long history with the sea. Seafarers have brought in the day's catch and fed residents throughout the island's history. The crashing waves have been a source of enjoyment and relaxation to work weary citizens. A thickly veiled melancholy whispers an ocean song as you wonder the streets of the quaint towns and villages. The ocean is always there, in the background, like an old friend or a faithful puppy. It is unavoidable that a visit to Prince Edward Island includes the sea. It is also unavoidable that after a visit to Prince Edward Island, you too, in a smaller dose perhaps, will have memories of those faithful waves.