G2Rail

Looking north on University Avenue from Province House Charlottetown is the capital city of Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada.

Charlottetown is a great place to spend a few days. It's a quaint and pretty town, small enough to be able to walk around, and has lots of good restaurants and bars. It's also within easy reach of the PEI National Park.

St. Dunstan's Basilica, 45 Great George St, +1 902 894-3486. Tourists welcomed between services.
Province House, 165 Richmond Street, PE C1A 1J1. This National Historic Site and has functioned as the provincial legislature since 1847, but is closed for renovations until 2020.
Confederation Centre of the Arts, 145 Richmond Street. Art gallery hours Oct 10-May 21: W-Su 11AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM; May 22-Oct 9: daily 9AM-5PM. The Confederation Centre is open year-round and showcases the best in the Canadian visual and performing arts. It houses several theaters, an art gallery, Mavor's Bistro and a gift shop.
Beaconsfield Historic House, 2 Kent Street. Nov-Apr: M Tu Thu F noon-4PM; May Sep Oct: M-F noon-4PM; June: M-F noon-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM - hours may vary, call +1 902-368-6603 to confirm. Jul Aug: M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM, Su noon-4:30PM. The Beaconsfield Historic House Museum is open year-round for tours. One of the Island's finest residences, built in 1877, the site offers a program of house tours and lectures, and special events in the Carriage House. Adult $5.00, Student: $4.00, Senior: $4.50.
Ardgowan, Mt Edward Road (near bus station. 8:40AM-4:30PM. Only outside can be visited. The Ardgowan estate contains the country cottage of William Henry Pope, one of the Fathers of Confederation. Pope hosted delegates and observers of the Charlottetown Conference of 1864 at his house. The building and grounds are restored to an 1860s appearance. The grounds are open to the public, while the building houses Parks Canada staff.

St. Dunstan's Basilica, 45 Great George St, +1 902 894-3486. Tourists welcomed between services.

Province House, 165 Richmond Street, PE C1A 1J1. This National Historic Site and has functioned as the provincial legislature since 1847, but is closed for renovations until 2020.

Confederation Centre of the Arts, 145 Richmond Street. Art gallery hours Oct 10-May 21: W-Su 11AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM; May 22-Oct 9: daily 9AM-5PM. The Confederation Centre is open year-round and showcases the best in the Canadian visual and performing arts. It houses several theaters, an art gallery, Mavor's Bistro and a gift shop.

Beaconsfield Historic House, 2 Kent Street. Nov-Apr: M Tu Thu F noon-4PM; May Sep Oct: M-F noon-4PM; June: M-F noon-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM - hours may vary, call +1 902-368-6603 to confirm. Jul Aug: M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM, Su noon-4:30PM. The Beaconsfield Historic House Museum is open year-round for tours. One of the Island's finest residences, built in 1877, the site offers a program of house tours and lectures, and special events in the Carriage House. Adult $5.00, Student: $4.00, Senior: $4.50.

Ardgowan, Mt Edward Road (near bus station. 8:40AM-4:30PM. Only outside can be visited. The Ardgowan estate contains the country cottage of William Henry Pope, one of the Fathers of Confederation. Pope hosted delegates and observers of the Charlottetown Conference of 1864 at his house. The building and grounds are restored to an 1860s appearance. The grounds are open to the public, while the building houses Parks Canada staff.

At the harbourfront you can get on a seal-watching tour boat, while from the airport's Skyplex you can go on an air tour.

Victoria Park. Walk around Victoria Park, one of Charlottetown's most beautiful and popular parks. The park has walking trails, a harbor-front boardwalk, three play structures and an outdoor pool and splash park.
Peake's Wharf Harbour and Seal Watching Cruise. Book a Peake's Wharf Harbour and Seal Watching Cruise and relax while cruising Charlottetown's scenic and historic harbour.
Peake's Quay. Peake's Quay is a wonderful shopping and dining area located right on the marina and is a short walk from downtown. There are many souvenir shops, activities, and restaurants.
Victoria Row. Walk down picturesque Victoria Row for great shopping, drinks and dining. Victoria Row and Queen Street have excellent art galleries.
PEI Confederation Trail. Hiking and bicycling on rolled stone dust trail. From Ghiz Memorial Park at the corner of Grafton Street and Edward Street, the trail proceeds north out of the city and across the island for 470 km.
Anne of Green Gables the Musical. Anne of Green Gables the Musical runs from the end of June to the end of August. The musical is based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. There are matinee and evening showings. From $20.

Victoria Park. Walk around Victoria Park, one of Charlottetown's most beautiful and popular parks. The park has walking trails, a harbor-front boardwalk, three play structures and an outdoor pool and splash park.

Peake's Wharf Harbour and Seal Watching Cruise. Book a Peake's Wharf Harbour and Seal Watching Cruise and relax while cruising Charlottetown's scenic and historic harbour.

Peake's Quay. Peake's Quay is a wonderful shopping and dining area located right on the marina and is a short walk from downtown. There are many souvenir shops, activities, and restaurants.

Victoria Row. Walk down picturesque Victoria Row for great shopping, drinks and dining. Victoria Row and Queen Street have excellent art galleries.

PEI Confederation Trail. Hiking and bicycling on rolled stone dust trail. From Ghiz Memorial Park at the corner of Grafton Street and Edward Street, the trail proceeds north out of the city and across the island for 470 km.

Anne of Green Gables the Musical. Anne of Green Gables the Musical runs from the end of June to the end of August. The musical is based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. There are matinee and evening showings. From $20.

Charlottetown contains two major shopping centres: the Confederation Court Mall (downtown, across from Province House), and the Charlottetown Mall, which is outside of town in West Royalty, on University Avenue. They contain the usual anchor stores (Winners, SportsChek, etc.), and many smaller stores. West Royalty also has many stand-alone big-box stores, such as Wal-Mart, and Canadian Tire.

If you get off the beaten path, though, you'll find lots of great specialty shops just waiting for your business. Walks along Queen St. and University Ave. (among others) will yield wonderful surprises in terms of shopping selection.

Groceries are readily available from many major supermarkets within Charlottetown. Typical closing time is 10PM. Sunday store hours are generally noon to 5PM.

Cedar's Eatery, 81 University Ave, +1 902 892-7377. Great Lebanese food and reasonable prices. They have won many awards and have a great atmosphere. Shish Taouk, Falafel and other traditional dishes are prepared much more thoughtfully and are far tastier than the normal hole-in-the-wall Mediterranean joints in most cities.
Brickhouse, 125 Sydney St, +1 902 566-4620. Romantic meal, sophisticated atmosphere, and there is a well stocked bar upstairs called Marc's Studio.
Gahan House, 126 Sydney St, +1 902 626-2337. Home of Gahan Micro Brewery, with great fresh-brewed beer! A favourite is Iron Horse, but the others are all great. The nachos are a favourite with locals and the best value on the menu. Tourist dishes such as the fish and chips can be paltry and overpriced.
The Merchantman Pub, 23 Queen St, +1 902 892-9150.
The Pilot House, 70 Grafton St, +1 902 894-4800.
Splendid Essence, 186 Prince St, +1 902 566-4991. Provides shockingly inexpensive vegetarian meals. Serving a selection of fine Asian teas, dim sum treats like dumplings, and large bowls of noodles, vegetables and vegetarian "ham", you won't go hungry. The menu is small but every item on it is delicious and very reasonably priced.
The Water Prince Corner Shop and Lobster Pound, 141 Water St (corner of Water and Prince St, +1 902 368-3212. Offers simple but well prepared seafood meals at exceptional prices. Start with an order of fresh Malpeque oysters, and then have a lobster roll, some lightly battered fish and chips, or even a 2-lb steamed lobster.
The Noodle House, 188 Great George St, +1 902 628-6633. Serves authentic Chinese cuisine; well-known for their Kung Pao Gar Ding, Hot & Sour soup, and friendly service.
Churchill Arms, 75 Queen St (right near the Delta Hotel, +1 902 367-3450. A cozy British pub and restaurant. Well known for their curries, everything is tasty and affordable. Portions can be quite large.
Brits Fish and Chips, 41 University Ave, +1 902 892-3474. Famous for their fish and chips and their casual and friendly atmosphere.
Chez Cora, 123 Queen St, +1 902 569-5681. Casual restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. Extensive breakfast menu.
Cows Ice Cream, 150 Queen St, +1 902 892-6969. Canada's most popular spot for ice cream! A trip to Cows is unlike any other ice cream experience. The smell of fresh made waffle cones will lure you in through the door, but you will stay for the apparel! Cows not only offers a bounty of creatively named (and delicious) ice cream flavours like "Gooey Mooey" or "Wowie Cowie", but the store sells t-shirts for women, men, and children that are humorous parodies of pop culture, such as "Cowy Potter and the Udder of the Phoenix".
Peake's Quay Restaurant, 11 Great George St, +1 902 368-1330. Peake's Quay Restaurant is located a few feet from the Charlottetown Waterfront with a full lunch and dinner menu.
Lucy Maud Montgomery Dining Room, 4 Sydney St, +1 902 894-6868. At the Culinary Institute of Canada, a well respected school for chefs. The students prepare and serve meals under the tutelage of their instructors. The food is classically and competently prepared. The dining room has an excellent view over Charlottetown Harbour, though the institute's building is hopelessly municipal in appearance. Begins service at 6PM, reservations requested.
Thai Food & Dimsum Place, 198 Kent St, +1 902 367-9094. Pretty authentic Thai food. Hot! But they ask you how hot you want it. Very tasty, made fresh, affordable. The interior of the place is very simple (your date will not be impressed) but the food is perfect.
Maid Marians Place, 7 Ellis Rd, PE C1A 7X1 (East of university, +1 902-566-4641. Really the local place to eat. Cheap, old American cantina style but good food.

Cedar's Eatery, 81 University Ave, +1 902 892-7377. Great Lebanese food and reasonable prices. They have won many awards and have a great atmosphere. Shish Taouk, Falafel and other traditional dishes are prepared much more thoughtfully and are far tastier than the normal hole-in-the-wall Mediterranean joints in most cities.

Brickhouse, 125 Sydney St, +1 902 566-4620. Romantic meal, sophisticated atmosphere, and there is a well stocked bar upstairs called Marc's Studio.

Gahan House, 126 Sydney St, +1 902 626-2337. Home of Gahan Micro Brewery, with great fresh-brewed beer! A favourite is Iron Horse, but the others are all great. The nachos are a favourite with locals and the best value on the menu. Tourist dishes such as the fish and chips can be paltry and overpriced.

The Merchantman Pub, 23 Queen St, +1 902 892-9150.

The Pilot House, 70 Grafton St, +1 902 894-4800.

Splendid Essence, 186 Prince St, +1 902 566-4991. Provides shockingly inexpensive vegetarian meals. Serving a selection of fine Asian teas, dim sum treats like dumplings, and large bowls of noodles, vegetables and vegetarian "ham", you won't go hungry. The menu is small but every item on it is delicious and very reasonably priced.

The Water Prince Corner Shop and Lobster Pound, 141 Water St (corner of Water and Prince St, +1 902 368-3212. Offers simple but well prepared seafood meals at exceptional prices. Start with an order of fresh Malpeque oysters, and then have a lobster roll, some lightly battered fish and chips, or even a 2-lb steamed lobster.

The Noodle House, 188 Great George St, +1 902 628-6633. Serves authentic Chinese cuisine; well-known for their Kung Pao Gar Ding, Hot & Sour soup, and friendly service.

Churchill Arms, 75 Queen St (right near the Delta Hotel, +1 902 367-3450. A cozy British pub and restaurant. Well known for their curries, everything is tasty and affordable. Portions can be quite large.

Brits Fish and Chips, 41 University Ave, +1 902 892-3474. Famous for their fish and chips and their casual and friendly atmosphere.

Chez Cora, 123 Queen St, +1 902 569-5681. Casual restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. Extensive breakfast menu.

Cows Ice Cream, 150 Queen St, +1 902 892-6969. Canada's most popular spot for ice cream! A trip to Cows is unlike any other ice cream experience. The smell of fresh made waffle cones will lure you in through the door, but you will stay for the apparel! Cows not only offers a bounty of creatively named (and delicious) ice cream flavours like "Gooey Mooey" or "Wowie Cowie", but the store sells t-shirts for women, men, and children that are humorous parodies of pop culture, such as "Cowy Potter and the Udder of the Phoenix".

Peake's Quay Restaurant, 11 Great George St, +1 902 368-1330. Peake's Quay Restaurant is located a few feet from the Charlottetown Waterfront with a full lunch and dinner menu.

Lucy Maud Montgomery Dining Room, 4 Sydney St, +1 902 894-6868. At the Culinary Institute of Canada, a well respected school for chefs. The students prepare and serve meals under the tutelage of their instructors. The food is classically and competently prepared. The dining room has an excellent view over Charlottetown Harbour, though the institute's building is hopelessly municipal in appearance. Begins service at 6PM, reservations requested.

Thai Food & Dimsum Place, 198 Kent St, +1 902 367-9094. Pretty authentic Thai food. Hot! But they ask you how hot you want it. Very tasty, made fresh, affordable. The interior of the place is very simple (your date will not be impressed) but the food is perfect.

Maid Marians Place, 7 Ellis Rd, PE C1A 7X1 (East of university, +1 902-566-4641. Really the local place to eat. Cheap, old American cantina style but good food.

Fishbones, 136 Richmond St. (Victoria Row, +1 902 628-6569. A seasonal bar and restaurant, located on Charlottetown's historic Victoria Row. Great atmosphere and more than reasonable prices.
Baba's Lounge, 81 University Ave., +1 902 892-7377. A spot that many young locals go year-round. Generally the most reliable but is quite small.
Olde Dublin Pub, 131 Sydney St., +1 902 892-6992. An authentic Irish pub.
Upstreet Brewing, 41 Allen Street, +1-902-894-0543. Local independent craft brewery that serves beer, mixed drinks and food. Kid-friendly until the late evening.
Upstreet Craft Beer Corner, 156 Great George Street, +1-902-894-5972. Convenient downtown bar that serves Upstreet beers as well as beers and ciders from local PEI cideries and breweries. Serves Cornish pastries from The Handpie Company as light snacks as well as chips from Covered Bridge Chip Company.

Fishbones, 136 Richmond St. (Victoria Row, +1 902 628-6569. A seasonal bar and restaurant, located on Charlottetown's historic Victoria Row. Great atmosphere and more than reasonable prices.

Baba's Lounge, 81 University Ave., +1 902 892-7377. A spot that many young locals go year-round. Generally the most reliable but is quite small.

Olde Dublin Pub, 131 Sydney St., +1 902 892-6992. An authentic Irish pub.

Upstreet Brewing, 41 Allen Street, +1-902-894-0543. Local independent craft brewery that serves beer, mixed drinks and food. Kid-friendly until the late evening.

Upstreet Craft Beer Corner, 156 Great George Street, +1-902-894-5972. Convenient downtown bar that serves Upstreet beers as well as beers and ciders from local PEI cideries and breweries. Serves Cornish pastries from The Handpie Company as light snacks as well as chips from Covered Bridge Chip Company.

Founder's Hall on the Charlottetown waterfront.

Founders' Hall, 178 Water St., +1 902-437-8570. 9AM-5PM. PEI tourist information office.

Founders' Hall, 178 Water St., +1 902-437-8570. 9AM-5PM. PEI tourist information office.

Head west on Route 2 for 60 km to Summerside