A Few of My Favourite Places to Visit on Prince Edward Island

Last summer I did something different.

For the first time in years, I took Sundays off.

Running a farm and tourism business means weekends are usually our busiest time. But in 2025, I made a point of stepping away once a week and doing something I rarely get to do during the season — explore the Island like a visitor.

What I didn’t expect was how quickly those Sundays started turning into memories.

Some Sundays I headed out on my own.
Some were with my daughter and grandson.
Some with my mom.
And some with friends.

Along the way I discovered a few places I would happily recommend to anyone visiting Prince Edward Island.

A couple of years ago I also shared an Island bucket list of places I love to visit. Many of those spots still stand the test of time, but last summer’s exploring added a few new favourites to the list.

Places I recommend visiting on PEI

• Canoe Cove Beach - a sheltered south shore beach that’s perfect when the tide is right
• Richard’s Seafood - worth the drive and worth the line
• Victoria-by-the-Sea & Ewe & Dye Weavery - lobster, weaving, and one of the Island’s most charming villages
• Thunder Cove - spectacular red sandstone cliffs even without Tea Cup Rock
• The Table Culinary Studio - an unforgettable hyper-local dining experience
• Brudenell Miniatures Barnyarnd Zoo - a relaxed place for kids to explore
• The Butterfly House & The Preserve Company - butterflies, gardens, and potato pie
• Roseville Beach - a quiet West Prince beach that feels like a hidden gem

Photo: Welcome PEI

Argyle Shore & Canoe Cove

I had heard about the beaches at Argyle Shore and Canoe Cove for years, but somehow had never made it there. They’re on the south shore, not an area I usually travel through, so last summer when my daughter and grandson were visiting, we decided to make a proper beach day of it.

We started at Argyle Shore, expecting the wide sandy beach shown in all those great promo photos.

Instead, the beach was gone - the tide was right up to the stairs and the surf was hammering the cliffs.  It was stunning to watch, but far too rough for us.

So we jumped back in the car and headed to Canoe Cove.

By the time we arrived there, the tide was on its way out and the parking lot was full.  My grandson was thrilled!  He happily splashed in the shallows while the shoreline slowly appeared.

By the time we finally coaxed him out of the water, there was plenty of beach to explore.

Canoe Cove was sheltered and relaxed, with people of all ages enjoying the gentler surf.

It turned out to be a great beach day after all... and Canoe Cove is somewhere I’d happily go back to and recommend.

The big takeaway? On the south shore, timing the tides really matters.

BEST Lobster Roll EVER

Richard’s Seafood - the Shack

Anyone who has visited the farm before has probably heard me talk about Richard’s Seafood.

I had already eaten at their Victoria-by-the-Sea location, where I had what might be the best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted, so last summer I decided it was time to try the original location in York.

Getting there was half the fun. The drive through the National Park is beautiful and makes the whole outing feel like part of the experience.

When I arrived, there was a line... actually, expect a line regardless of location. But there’s a reason for that. Richard’s is wildly popular, and once you taste the food it’s easy to understand why.

It absolutely did not disappoint. I ordered the lobster roll, and I swear... it's the best on the Island!

If you love good seafood, it’s well worth the stop.

Photo: CBC

Victoria-by-the-Sea

Victoria-by-the-Sea is one of those little Island villages that always feels worth your time. It’s small, walkable, and full of interesting artisan shops tucked into historic buildings.

While we were there we had lobster at the Lobster Barn (also a great lobster roll!), wandered the village a bit, and made sure to stop in at Ewe & Dye Weavery.

Christine, the owner, is a master spinner and master weaver, and her work is absolutely stunning.

Our paths actually crossed very early in my Island life. Within about six weeks of moving here I invited the local spinners and weavers guild to visit the farm for an afternoon of spinning.

At the time I didn’t even know how to spin yet... and I didn’t even own a spinning wheel.

Christine was part of that group.

It’s funny to think about that now, considering how much fibre has become part of my life since then.

If you enjoy fibre arts, weaving, or beautiful handmade textiles, Ewe & Dye is definitely worth a visit.

And if you stop in, tell Christine I said hello.

Thunder Cove - Even without Tea Cup Rock

Thunder Cove is probably best known for Tea Cup Rock, which sadly collapsed during Hurricane Fiona a few years ago (remember her? I do!)

Even without it, the area is still well worth visiting.

I stopped there the same day I had been to Richard’s Seafood, and finding the beach took a little effort. It’s not an official park entrance and if you’re not paying attention it’s easy to miss the turn.

In fact, I did miss it and ended up driving into Twin Shores Campground before realizing I’d gone too far.

Once I found the right road and walked down the cliffs to the beach, though, it felt like discovering a hidden stretch of coastline.

The red sandstone formations and sweeping views make it a beautiful place to wander.

The Table Culinary Studio

This by far, was my favourite stop last summer.

Years ago a duo walked into my shop and told me they were renovating an old church here on the Island and turning it into a culinary experience. It sounded like an amazing idea.

That was my introduction to The Table.

Derek and Christine (business partners) visited the farm many times over the years, and I followed what they were building as their restaurant grew into something pretty special.

But running the farm meant I never actually made it there.

Last September, when my mom was visiting, I finally fixed that. I closed the farm mid-week and off we went.

Dinner was a seven-course experience in a stunning setting.  

Part of what makes The Table unique is how they build their menus. Instead of deciding what they want to cook and then ordering ingredients, they start by talking to Island farmers, fishers, and food producers about what is at its best that week... and build their menu from there.

There's a brand new menu every week and in ten years of following that model, they have never repeated a single recipe!

Each course was a mini experience of its own - showcasing not only the food but also the producer.  That desert will never be forgotten: corn ice cream.

Yes… ice cream that tasted like corn. And it was delicious.

The restaurant has since passed into the hands of chef Hunter Guidon, who is continuing the vision of celebrating Canadian ingredients and wines.

Safe to say, The Table has now made my list of annual must-visits.

Brudenell Miniatures Barnyard Zoo

I visited Brudenell Miniatures when my daughter and grandson were visiting.

What I appreciated right away was how relaxed the whole place felt. My grandson was free to explore without us worrying about him every second.

We bought some feed for the animals, which of course ran out quickly, so we had to buy more.

There were cattle, pigs, miniature horses, ducks, a couple of alpacas, and even bunnies popping in and out of their burrows. It isn’t a petting zoo where you walk among the animals (although there was an escapee little goat who demanded attention!) Instead, you move through the paths and the animals wander over when they see the feed.

Before long a few other young children had gathered as well, and they all ended up feeding the animals together.

It was one of those simple experiences that kids seem to understand immediately... space to explore, animals to visit, and time to enjoy it.

Rachel & Colson make a new friend.

The Butterfly House & The Preserve Company

Another stop that day was the Butterfly House and the Preserve Company.

Inside the butterfly house everything slows down. Visitors are asked to move carefully and let the butterflies come to you.

My grandson surprised me with how patient he was, quietly waiting and watching.

Afterwards we wandered over to the Preserve Company for lunch.

And that’s where I discovered potato pie.

YUMMMMM.

That's some BIG lobster!

Roseville Beach - A quiet West Prince gem

A little closer to home, one Sunday I headed 'up west'. On our drive, a friend and I stumbled upon Roseville Beach, a spot that doesn’t show up on many maps but is well worth finding.

A short trail leads to a long stretch of shoreline, and when we arrived the beach was completely deserted.

We walked for quite a while. One direction took us along cliffs filled with swallow burrows, while the other opened into a wide stretch of beach heading west.

Somewhere along that walk I found the largest lobster claw I’ve ever seen.

And I mean really huge.

One of those simple Island moments... a long walk, good conversation, and a place that feels like you’ve discovered it for yourself.

A reminder to explore

Having Sundays off last summer reminded me of something that can be easy to forget when you live here.

Prince Edward Island may be small, but there is always somewhere new to discover - a beach you’ve never visited, a meal worth driving for, or a place you stumble upon simply because you decided to take the long way home.

And if your travels bring you to Western PEI, consider booking a visit to Green Gable Alpacas. With a bit of luck, it might become one of those Island memories for you too.