Prince Edward Island's Palette of Colours

We had a day to explore the capital of Canada’s smallest and most charming province, Prince Edward Island (PEI). Famous for its red earth, white beaches, lighthouses, and fertile farmland, I was still surprised by the palette of autumn colours that welcomed us as we docked at Charlottetown. The thick foliage bursting with colours, from the fieriest reds to the brightest yellows, contrasted with the bright blue skies and rust-toned soil. It was like walking into a living painting.

Charlottetown oozes with an island vibe reminiscent of Victorian times, with its century-old government buildings, quaint seaside cottages, and postcard-perfect streetscapes.

We commenced our visit with an island drive passing by the Province House, the Confederation Centre, the National Art and Cultural Centre, and the beautiful Victoria Park overlooking the harbour. We stopped at the picturesque areas of Ebenezer and Wheatley River where we, of course, took photos, and we sampled some homemade island jams at the Prince Edward Island Preserves Company.

A PEI tour will not be complete without a stopover in Cavendish to visit the famous Anne of Green Gables homestead. I did not grow up in Canada, but I read Lucy Maud Montgomery’s famous novel and as a little girl, I had watched a few television versions of Anne’s story.

The author was raised in Cavendish by her grandparents when her mother died, and she frequently visited her cousins at Green Gables farm. Her early life there created such an impression on her that it became the basis for her classic novel and Anne’s character.

The Campbell home that L.M. Montgomery called the "wonder castle of my childhood," was built in 1872 by her Uncle John and Aunt Annie Campbell. The first Campbells settled here in 1776 and it is still in the Campbell family after over two hundred and thirty years. It is now a museum that pays tribute to the author’s literary life and work.

We toured the museum, admired the well-tended gardens, and took a short carriage ride around the property, with a view of The Lake with the Shining Waters, also featured in one of L.M. Montgomery’s books.

Our relaxing ride passed through the flower gardens around the property and continued down a private country lane where we enjoyed the tranquil atmosphere of pastoral fields, rolling hills, and red farm land. It was just as I imagined it to look like when I read her books when I was a child. I couldn’t believe I was actually there.

Upon our return, I found little Anne, garbed in her plaid green pinafore, her red hair in braids topped by a wide-brimmed hat. Of course, I had to take a picture with her. She gave me a complimentary iced tea. What a doll!

We headed to the National Park beach afterwards and took a short walk along the boardwalk. We also stopped by Rustico Harbour, a local fishing village where we learned a bit about the fishing industry at PEI. Then we continued on through the popular beach towns of Brackley, Stanhope, and Dalvay.

It looked so quiet everywhere. It seemed like an idyllic place for a quiet retirement, I thought to myself. And as if reading my mind, our tour guide mentioned that most of PEI’s permanent residents are either retirees or elderly people who have lived on the island for most of their lives. The young ones have mostly gone somewhere else to take further education or pursue career opportunities.

At that point, I thought of Canadian celebrity chef, Chef Michael Smith, who lives in PEI. He must have found something special on this island. I recalled watching episodes of his television show, “Chef at Home” aired on Food Network Canada, where he cooked homestyle meals in his own kitchen or sometimes, at his backyard beach overlooking the ocean. And with that, I started to get hungry.

Upon our return to Charlottetown, my husband and I treated ourselves to a nice late lunch/pre-dinner before returning to the ship. I had some of the renowned PEI mussels, while my husband ordered a fish sandwich with locally-brewed beer.