North Cape Coastal Region PEI

The more rugged side of the island, the North Cape Coastal Region is rich in Acadian history with its fishing & farming communities, historic architecture & stunning scenery. Take a read through our summaries below on each of the communities in the area.

Summerside

Summerside is filled with architectural examples from eras gone by & features numerous murals that depict significant events in the area's history. The ship-building industry (which was integral in the areas development) is still alive today in the form of the boat shed at Spinnakers' Landing, a quaint fishing village-styled marketplace at the Summerside Waterfront. You can stroll along the 4.67kms (2.9 miles) of boardwalk from the waterfront at the harbour, past downtown buildings to Green's shore, a quiet marsh just outside of town.

If it's watersports you're looking for, then try kayaking, canoeing or kite-boarding from The Shipyard, or sample some seafood at The Lobster House Restaurant. Catch a performance at The College of Piping or the Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre or simply roam through the Downtown area & do some shopping. For further information, check out the PEI Summerside Tourism site. There are lots of great accommodations in and around Summerside; cottages and hotels, great Bed and Breakfasts as well as beach houses.

Island Insider: Book one of Wyatt Heritage's historic tours of Summerside & discover the historic tales of the area as you walk through the streets.

La Région Evangeline

As the French name of the area suggests, La Région Evangeline is rich in Acadian history that is still alive & well today. With plenty of historical sites, traditional Acadian food & crafts, the region will keep you busy with all its festivals, sites & sounds. Visit the Acadian Museum, the unusual Bottle Houses of Prince Edward Island made entirely from bottles, or get active at Union Corner Provincial Park. Sample scrumptious Acadian food at Le Centre Expo-Festival or check out the unusual yarn at Fibre-Isle International. For full information about attractions and events in the area, visit La Région Evangeline's site.

Island Insider: Check out the historical murals at Mont-Carmel Parish Center, Evangeline Recreation Center in Abram-Village & La Place du Village in Wellington for a glimpse into the areas cultural history.

O'Leary & Mill River

Golfing & potatoes don't normally mix, but in this area you'll have time for a few putts at the Mill River Golf Course beforevisiting the PEI Potato Museum and learning about potato farming in the area & its history. Visit the O'Leary site for more information on the area.

Island Insider: Visit the Quilt Gallery or MacAusland's Woolen Mills for some hand crafted items to take home with you.

West Point & Miminegash

Picture perfect beaches await you at Cedar Dunes Provincial Park, with its fully functional lighthouse where you're in for a treat: experience the tradition of lightkeeping, dine at the fine restaurant or stay overnight in the unique West Point Lighthouse Inn. Shop for crafts at West Point's many stores that feature hand crafted items, or visit the harbour for some fresh seafood. As you travel along the coast to Miminegash, you'll stop often for those “wish you were here” seaside holiday snaps of the shoreline. At Miminegash harbour, you might be lucky enough to watch the traditional Irish Moss gatherers with their horse-drawn carts, who gather moss on the shore after wind storms.

Island Insider: Visit the fascinating Irish Moss Interpretive Centre in Miminegash for the story of the industry & sample their famous Seaweed Pie!

Tignish & North Cape

North America's longest natural rock reef is just one of the North Cape's scenic attractions, where you can watch the clashing tides of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait, or walk out onto the reef at low tide & watch seals basking in the sun. While you are there be sure to visit the North Cape Interpretive Centre. The Atlantic Wind Test Site has some interesting interactive displays that explain how the power of wind is harnessed & also has an aquarium of local marine life. If you're feeling energetic, you can try the Black Marsh Trail, the only bilingual coastal nature trail on the island. Take a look at the Tignish site for pictures & more information.

Island Insider: Take a trip to the windy northwestern tip, where you'll see some impressive turbines that help power the island, but don't forget your wind breaker – there's a reason those turbines keep turning.

Alberton & Northpoint

In Alberton, you can visit the Museum & Genealogy Centre for some history on the area, including displays that detail the highly successful fox-farming industry that thrived in the early 1900s on the island. Relax at one of the town's cafes after some shopping or head out to nearby Northport Pier, where you'll find a marina, shops and a restaurant with views of the port. Or you can visit Jacques Cartier Provincial Park, just 5km (3.1 miles)from Alberton & take a swim at the supervised beach. Visit Alberton's site for more to do in the area.

Island Insider: Try Mill River Fun Park for fun family experience that includes pools, waterslides, a pirate ship & more.

Tyne Valley & Lennox Island

Home to the largest native community on the island, Lennox Island is a great place to learn about the Mi’kmaq, with Prince Edward Island's only aboriginal history museum. Take a walk on one of Lennox Island's trails or try your hand at sea kayaking, deep sea fishing or shop at the native craft shops for some unique pieces. As you head towards Tyne Valley drop by Bideford Parsonage Museum, where the famous L.M. Montgomery boarded while teaching nearby from 1894-95. Also visit the Prince Edward Island Shellfish Museum or the Green Park Shipbuilding Museum where you can learn about the industry that was the backbone of the island's economy for many years.

Island Insider: Don't forget the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival in early August, a highlight in the area's events calendar.

Click here for a full brochure of the North Cape Coastal Drive.