PEI Trip Day 4: Haunted Mansion, Cavendish and Hurricane Igor

This is what I had to come back to the next day: The Haunted Mansion. I had seen it the night before as we drove through Kensington, all lit up and looking fabulously spooky! We asked Susan at our B&B about it and I could tell she was trying to be polite, saying that some people find it a lot of fun. I sensed what she really meant was it was a tourist trap. No worries, I was a tourist.



We were greeted by this gargoyle only to find out that the mansion was closed until October!



My husband and I considered what it would be like to run this kind of place, how perfect it would be for us. Talk about the coolest job ever! Oh well, time to move on...

You would think we would have started our drive south towards to bridge to New Brunswick from here but no, we headed north to Cavendish country.


You can see how this countryside inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery to write Anne of Green Gables. This is Hostetter's Viewscape along the French River. We had to stop and take a photo, it was so beautiful. That was our only stop, we drove all the way to Cavendish Beach from there:



Hurricane Igor was attacking Newfoundland at the time which was not that far away and you could literally feel Igor's presence here. We had to fight against the wind and got sandblasted all over just to reach close to the shore. The photos were just not illustrative enough of how crazy it was so...



I took a video! Yes, my new camera has video capability which rocks! You can barely hear my voice and I was screaming as I videotaped the ocean which is why you will hear an annoying high pitch voice but probably not make out the words, "This is Suzie the Foodie, getting her butt kicked by the Atlantic Ocean," or something like that. You will see a glimpse of my husband at the end too!



But that wasn't the end of the story either! Being in Cavendish, we just had to check out Green Gables Heritage Place. We were only there for a little while so we did not pay to go in for the tour but we got to see the house and some of the museum:



Anne is a cherished character in Canadian Literature and I am ashamed to say I have never successfully read any of the books. I was never into children's literature, even when I was a child, but after spending time in Prince Edward Island and getting to know the setting so well, I now want to read the books.



I absolutely love the displays, totally inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery as a writer and a woman. To see her old typewriter and all her books, so exciting. As a woman with a degree in English and Creative Writing with a minor in Canadian Literature and Studies, there is no excuse for me to not have read her books. I think that will be a project for me this winter.

On our drive back along Highway 6 we actually saw an Open sign at a store and stopped to check it out. Sadly, they were in the midst of packing up the last of the nicknacks, it was looking like we were not going to be getting any souvenirs of our trip. 

We totally went by this house the first time and missed it, Lucy's birthplace. We just had to go back. I wanted a photograph so I got out of the car and took some photos. From there we drove all the way into Summerside. I had discovered that I still had the keys to the inn and our room so we stopped by the b&b to drop them off. Since we were in the area my husband and I picked up a souvenir from Marks Work Warehouse, LOL.



We each bought a famous dirt shirt. I made my husband put it on in the parking lot. A shirt dyed by the earth of PEI, that was totally up our alley:



As we drove along empty farm land and highway I changed into my dirt shirt too. Better to do it there than along the bridge where there are bound to be many cameras!



The bridge costs $42.50 to take when you leave which is still a lot cheaper than the ferry. It was such a cool experience we had to do it one more time despite the crazy winds.

So that is our PEI adventure. I hope you enjoyed going on the trip with us. I wanted to make an online scrapbook of our trip here to share with you. In four days we saw a ton of the island and I have to say getting battered by the winds in Cavendish was the most exciting part of the trip for me. I really connected with nature there, it was so wild and exciting. Since we got home life has been mostly dark and dreary. Oh well, at least I got to escape to the gentle island for four days!

PEI Trip Day 3: Points East Coastal Drive

The part of the trip I had the hardest time navigating was around and through Charlottetown, PEI. In the downtown core towards the harbour the construction was brutal and the streets confusing. Thankfully, once over the bridge and away from the city we were quickly seeing the sites along the Points East Coastal Drive:

Our first stop was Cape Bear Lighthouse, we did not go to the Marconi Museum, did not even see it actually! I had no idea it was there but we did see the beautiful lighthouse and the amazing views:


I will never get used to that red soil! Absolutely stunning and magical, what a special place. We continued driving on and began noticing a trend: very few places to stop for food and gas. If you did come across a place, it would be closed for the winter. Crap!

The drive along the east coast of the island is very windy and was going to take a ton of time. We did not have a lot of food with us and to be honest, many of the stops were not that exciting, especially with everything closed. As much as we love the views, we really wanted to accomplish to Tip-to-Tip Tour and get our certificate at the East Point Lighthouse.




We decided to cut across part of the province and then drive all the way into Georgetown which looked like a bigger town than most of the other ones. As soon as we drove into the town we got a weird, weird feeling. There were no restaurants, no cafes... nothing but old houses. One house was so old and broken, the windows had been smashed and the curtains had flown out onto the side of the house, blackened and frayed. I told my husband, we are not stopping here. Not that there was anything to visit or do.



We picked up some Skittles in Souris to keep us alive, at this point we were starving and just wanted food. Souris also did not have a lot to visit or do. We considered getting a slice of pizza at a tiny joint but we were getting close to East Point and figured there would be a restaurant there like there was at North Cape.



We made it! Oh thank goodness, we made it and it had a cafe! Here is another stunning lighthouse overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.



First we picked up our certificates which we were very proud of. I think it is clear from this photo though I was having a hard time. I was in a lot of pain, starving and exhausted. I loved this trip but going home the next day sounded pretty good to me. We had made this huge adventurer's accomplishment but it was time to think about going home. Next I wanted some food and to start making our way around the other side of the drive, down towards Charlottetown.


We stopped by the cafe and ordered some sandwiches and a hot beverage. I did not even photograph the food, it was immediately devoured and topped off with a couple of two-bite-brownies. We got in the car and headed southwest.



I would have loved to stop by some of the cafes that we found but everything was closed.



We tried to get to see this lighthouse but there did not seem to be a way to get there. The signage on this drive was not as good as the North Cape Coastal Drive and there was more garbage on the side of the road in this area which just made me want to bypassed a lot and just head for downtown. We did try stopping by the information center in Mount Stewart but it seems to have disappeared, we could not find it anywhere and once again, we got weird vibes and decided to drive right downtown:



Starbucks! Hot chocolate and a big comfy chair to sit in as we relaxed and recovered from a long day's drive. From here we had to figure out what we were going to do for dinner. Money was getting a little tight, we were not dressed up so we had to find a casual place to go for a bite. I absolutely adored downtown Charlotte, it was so cute, friendly and adorable. I could see myself living there!



We ended up at Olde Dublin Pub in downtown Charlottetown. Lots of atmosphere, very casual, I was hopeful.



My husband got a fantastic shepherd's pie and I got the seafood potato skins with a Caesar salad. Both were terrible. As soon as I saw how burned the cheese was on top, I had a bad feeling. I think the only seafood was some salmon on top and they were completely unseasoned, dry and awful. I had to get some sour cream to go with them and still, horribly dry and absolutely tasteless. I thought combining seafood and potatoes was perfect for a PEI meal, I was totally wrong. At least I was not hungry anymore, I forced myself to eat it, how disappointing.

The conclusion of our third day ended with a long drive on the wrong highway back to our b&b, taking the two across the province and through Kensington. I saw the most amazing tudor house lit up like a Christmas tree that I just knew we had to visit before we left for home. But that my hammy hamster friends, is another story.

PEI Trip Day 2 Part 2: Victoria-by-the-Sea

We might have missed the little gem Victoria-by-the-Sea in Prince Edward Island had it not been for the Chocolate Festival. I planned our entire trip around that festival and I am so glad I did! Victoria-by-the-Sea is absolutely adorable, if not enchanted. It truly is right by the water and even has its own lighthouse.



We were going to the chocolate dinner and ended up in the town really early so we took some photographs: me by the water with an old broken dock behind me.



When we saw the map of the town, we realized that this place is just as small as we thought it was: four blocks. Yet! The town has so much to offer: cafe, chocolate shop, restaurants, B&Bs, glass studio, antiques shop and even a playhouse. Despite there being a lot to do, everything was pretty much closed by the time we got there so we went for a drive:



We continued our journey to see a little bit more of PEI before dinner and I am so glad we did. Look at that wild and weird sky!



By the time we returned the sun was really starting to get low, the sky filled up with clouds but wow, what a view!



Eventually we turned around and ended up at Victoria Village Inn & Restaurant and I can vouch for the food! In fact to read about the restaurant and our chocolate dinner, make sure to come visit my foodie page.

I loved this area of PEI. I think this little treasure of a spot was the highlight of my trip. I love older houses with tons of charm and Victoria-by-the-Sea seems to be designed around my daydreams of the kind of place I have always wanted to live. In some ways it felt like I had stepped into a miniature set for Practical Magic. The perfect place for our anniversary.

PEI Trip Day 2: North Cape Coastal Drive

When I was researching Prince Edward Island I kept coming across people discussing the North Cape Coastal Drive which goes all the way around the western part of the island. You travel along it all the way to the northern tip called North Cape where you will find the Atlantic Wind Test Site and North Cape Interpretive Centre. Our trip was all about gently exploring the island by car so this is where I wanted to begin. Thankfully the drive begins in Summerside which is where we were staying.

As we drove along it past the last of the suburbs we noticed stars on just about every single house. They signify the home's Acadian roots. I was hoping it had to do with magic but nope! Still, I loved seeing stars on people's houses.



You can tell tourism is a huge element of PEI and do they ever do it well. On each drive you will find at least one information booth where you can freshen up as well as pick up brochures and even free maps. I tried to find a map I could buy before going on the drive and could only find free basic maps at the gas station. You will find a ton of information at these buildings and it is all free and the people are very helpful. The signage along this windy trail is also fantastic, continuously assuring you that you are on the right path.



Our first stop that we came across quite quickly was West Point Lighthouse. They have added on an inn so you can actually stay there. I would seriously consider doing it next visit just so I could stay in a place so close to the ocean.



I will never get used to that red sand that makes the ocean water rusty brown! It was beautiful and we could not have asked for better weather that day.



We walked along a raised walkway/boardwalk which protects the fragile sand dunes which are amazing! Behind my husband's right shoulder you can get a glimpse of the hotel added on to the lighthouse.



We started on the southern part of the circular route going north and you will see lots and lots of farmland. This part of the island is incredibly flat and most of the houses are far away from the eroding shore but here we actually did glimpse a house by the water. This is not a scenic ocean drive though, you are not driving right along the coast. Most of the roads are set back pretty far away from the ocean, I had to use my 10x zoom lens to get this shot from the car. Still, it is a gorgeous drive!



This is a very typical scene on the North Cape Coastal Drive, an old farm house with lots of sky. The only thing unusual about this photograph is the state of the lawn. One thing we noticed about PEI is people are vigilant when it comes to lawn care. It seems that every property other than this one is incredibly pristine and perfectly manicured.

If you do this drive, make sure you have a full tank of gas and some food. There are no real rest stops for those kind of amenities along this drive (and many others) so fill up, pack a lunch and head out and you will be fine. 

Modern windmills are everywhere on the western part of Prince Edward Island. You can even see them in Summerside and we came across this windfarm along the North Cape Coastal Drive. It was astounding. We even stopped the car and just listened to the powerful turbines dance in the wind. I know windmills are controversial, some people abhor them, but I find them fascinating. I would prefer to live near one these if forced to choose between them and old smoke stacks.



We really wanted to accomplish the "tip-to-tip tour" of PEI so we went to the gift shop and picked up our ribbons, proving we had made it to North Cape. All we had to do now was drive to East Point Lighthouse and get our certificate. Not on the same day though! That would be too much.



What you are seeing in this photograph is one of the arms of the wind turbine at the Atlantic Wind Test Site which is HUGE! See how it dwarfs the lighthouse at the North Cape Interpretation Centre? There are dozens and dozens of windmills here, probably because it is such a dark and windy place. If you are interested in seeing more of this area, make sure to check out my foodie blog for a review of the Wind & Reef Seafood Restaurant.

Technically that is just half the trip that day but it was the most interesting part of the drive. We drove along the northern part of the route southeast back towards Summerside. We had a dinner reservation for the island chocolate festival dinner and we wanted to get back to the inn to get dressed and for me, maybe lie down. That was one heck of a drive!

The Blue Shank Inn Bed & Breakfast in Summerside, PEI

When I was looking for a place to stay in Prince Edward Island, I did not want to stay in downtown Charlottetown. We had a car, we were going to spend our days exploring so I wanted a place that was kind of central but in a quiet area. I started looking online and found The Blue Shank Inn Bed and Breakfast and was immediately intrigued. It looked a lot like the inn we were married in ten years ago, it was just blue instead of pink. A friend of mine on Facebook mentioned she had stayed there and loved it. I felt that was a sign from the Universe to check it out. Is the Universe ever wrong?

We drove up to the house and I was surprised that it was in the middle of a suburb. After spending days and days on PEI, you begin to realize practically every area is either suburb or farm land. Across the street is the Wilmot River that leads out to Bedeque Bay and you are right by the main strip that either leads to Charlottetown or to downtown Summerside. It was the perfect location for our vacation.



As soon as I stepped into the inn I was charmed. Owner Susan Cameron had filled the entranceway with the scent of vanilla thanks to a fragrance burner and the little autumn-inspired decorations had me smiling immediately.



She took us up to our room. When I called and said it was our anniversary she insisted The Harris Room was the room for us and it sounded lovely. It is a very gracious room when it comes to space and is elegant and comforting.



If you stay here, you absolutely must have a tolerance for the adorable. Teddy bears are everywhere which did not bother me one bit. The room is very tastefully decorated so the little cute touches made it feel more like home. It was the perfect balance between formal and informal.



I absolutely love that stunning chaise lounge, so beautiful. Outside the bay window is a fantastic and huge linden tree the birds adore. It ensures privacy and tones down the natural light for those who want to sleep in.



We had our own en suite bathroom and I absolutely adored those green plank floors!



From the bathroom you can look out on to Susan's lovely garden. Please note the elegant touches around the bathroom, every item was chosen with thought and care.



The garden is stunning and we even got to have home grown tomatoes in a white balsamic dressing! Make sure to check out my foodie page to hear all about Susan's fantastic food that she made for us every morning.


Horses used to travel the road the inn is on and be caressed by blue flowers which would leave their shanks blue, hence the unusual name. 

The Blue Shank Inn Bed and Breakfast is beautiful and comfortable, filled with fantastic food and company. We would travel the island during the day and come back to the inn in the evenings to rest and recover for our next day's adventure. It truly was our home away from home. It made the perfect location for our home base during our vacation in Prince Edward Island. Thanks Susan and Scott!