My grandfather "Poppa John" was in kidney failure almost two decades ago, when his closest brother Paul gave him one of his kidneys and saved his life. It has been about fifteen years, since we made the trip down to visit Paul and the other Saulniers in Prince Edward Island. So when we heard there was a family reunion, we knew we had to get Poppa down there. We packed a few of our family members from Ottawa and all of our belongings in a SUV and made the two-day trip down. It was fantastic.

 

For family, friends and those interested in heading to the laidback, super friendly side of Canada, good news; the island is small and you can probably fit in a good itinerary in 3 days.

 

Pick your days depending on the weather (ex: if it's rainy, head to the shops and if there's sun, get your butt to the beach!). Keep your eyes open for PEI's many lighthouses and beaches and other than the basics, don't forget to pack a beach umbrella, a cooler for picnics on the beach, a pair of good walking shoes, water shoes and a Canada 150 park pass which is free this year.

 

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CAVENDISH, NEW GLASGOW & BRACKLEY BEACH:

Spend the day in Cavendish shopping at The Boardwalk, relaxing on the beach, and enjoying the famous New Glasgow Lobster Suppers only ten minutes away. Reservations are recommended as the line is always out the door. Pick your lobster size, and the soups, buns, salads, mussels, and desserts are ALL YOU CAN EAT. Seriously! Finish the night off at Brackley Drive In Theatre which always offers two movies for the price of one.

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CHARLOTTETOWN:

When in P.E.I.'s capital city, there is no shortage of things to do. Make sure to visit Famous Peppers Pizza for lunch - a tripadvisor favourite - with soft doughy crust, and any topping combination you can think of, including some weird ones; nacho chips, sliced dill pickles, toasted coconut and donair sauce swirls to name a few. Walk it off with some more shopping on the Historic Charlottetown Waterfront, which was bustling with people and buses and live music on the weekends by the marina (watch out for grabby lobsters!). The pedestrian-only Victoria row is the perfect spot to grab a drink or a coffee and listen to live music by the locals. The Dunes Garden Cafe and Gallery is another place to relax, enjoy food and browse delicately crafted artisan items.

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BASIN HEAD BEACH (Also known as Singing Sands):

Time for a beach day yet? Grab your tanning lotion, a new book and a cooler packed of goodies and head to what is often called "the best beach in Canada": Basin Head Beach. Kids and adults alike love to spend the day jumping from the wharf and taking a ride along the riptide down to the sandy bank. Plenty of white sandy beach to plant your butt in and enjoy the view, and this beach is one of the few that had little to no pesky jellyfish. Although there is so much to enjoy on this beautiful island, I have to admit this beach was the highlight of my trip in PEI.

 

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