Prince Edward Island beaches provide the best vacation value in multiple categories.
- Amusement quotient: building sand castles, digging a hole to China, jumping waves,…
- Beach Relaxation value: Just close your eyes and listen. Open your eyes and watch. Read a book, …
- Romance factor: Sunset on the beach (nothing better to create a romantic mood), Picnics on the beach, Long walks hand in hand (enjoy it and never mind if it sounds a bit cliché).
GREENWICH BEACH
Part of PEI National Park, Greenwich Beach is a must see for all Island visitors.
Reasons to visit:
1. Greenwich features an extensive coastal dune system, wetlands, natural habitats, forest, and rare plants and animals. Guides are available to show you around and explain the ecology.
2. Archeological digs have shown that Greenwich was home to every major culture that lived on PEI, including the Mikmaq, French, Acadian, Scottish, Irish and English. Learn about culture and nature and ecology onsite at the Greenwich Interpretive Centre.
3. Hiking trails stretch throughout the park and are up to 4.5 Kms long in some areas, with the landscape varying from agricultural fields, ponds, parabolic dunes, and forests.
4. The beach facility is constructed using sustainable design concepts, including wind and solar power and compostable toilets. Impressive respect for nature is featured at every turn. The beaches are home (in places) to the endangered Piping Plovers nesting grounds.
5. The area includes supervised swimming in the summer, wooden boardwalks to the beach, and full shower/washroom facilities.
Directions: Follow Route #2 East through the village of St. Peters. Turn off to Route #16 towards Cable Head, and then turn onto Route #313.
GRAND TRACADIE BEACH
Reasons to Visit:
1. Tracadie Beach is excellent for those days when you need to get to a beach in a hurry. It is less than 20 minutes from Charlottetown, and the beach itself is less than a minute walk from the parking lots.
2. This is a free and public beach. No fees for entry, and dogs are allowed. The area is also not familiar to tourists, so there is a much more of a local vibe.
3. Tracadie is perfect for those who love long walks on the beach. You can follow the coast line onto beautiful Dalvay Beach in the PEI National Parks system and you will never run out of beach line to walk.
4. Stop off at the fishing port next door to take home some fresh seafood for dinner. The port is picturesque and you can watch the lobster boats enter into the harbour while you sunbathe.
5. Once in the water, you will soon notice the steep drop off making for excellent swimming. You dont have to deal with rocks or seaweed as you take two steps and are in water up to your waist or deeper. Perfect for taking a running jump into the ocean!
Directions: Drive North on Route 2 and turn off onto Route 6 where it says Stanhope/Tracadie. Follow route 6 until you hit the dirt road called Beach Road and you will soon be at the Tracadie Beach parking lot.
CEDAR DUNES PROVINCIAL PARK
Youve visited the east and central PEI, now try the west!
Reasons to visit:
1. Beaches that stretch on for miles, and swimming in the Northumberland Strait.
2. Supervised swimming, childrens activities, and staff naturalists who provide nature walks.
3. Get a view of the beach from the West Point Lighthouse tower. Be sure to check out the West Point Lighthouse museum and restaurant.
4. Sleep in a lighthouse! The West Point Lighthouse is also a newly renovated inn. You can fall asleep to ocean sounds, and you are seconds from the beach when you wake up in the morning.
5. Campground onsite with playground equipment, Laundromat, kitchen shelter and dumping station.
Directions: Located on the beautiful North Cape Coastal Drive. Follow Route 2 West until you reach Route 14 North. Take a left onto Cedar Dunes Park Road and youre there!
Information and photos provided by www.gentleisland.com
Want to check out more beaches? Have a look at this weeks Beach in the Spotlight.
Leave a Reply