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A lighthouse stands among grassy dunes with the sun setting over the horizon in the background.

Prince Edward Island, Canada, encourages travelers to slow down, whether it’s watching the tide roll in over a stretch of red sand or lingering over a plate of fresh oysters. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

On Prince Edward Island, the land rolls like an old patchwork quilt — emerald fields stitched together by red dirt roads, bordered by the blue-gray shimmer of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Canada’s smallest province rewards visitors with an unhurried pace, a thriving culinary scene and landscapes straight out of a storybook.

For many, a trip to P.E.I. is an homage to “Anne of Green Gables.” L.M. Montgomery’s 1908 novel about a red-haired orphan who falls in love with the island’s windswept beauty has drawn visitors for more than a century.

Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish is a must-see — its iconic farmhouse and surrounding landscape conjure the fictional Avonlea. The farmhouse originally belonged to Montgomery’s relatives, the McNeills, and served as the inspiration for Green Gables in her beloved novels.

Montgomery was a frequent visitor here, and the area around the home deeply influenced her writing. Iconic spots include Lover’s Lane, a meandering path through spruce and maple trees, and the evocatively named Haunted Wood, where Anne Shirley and her “bosom friend” Diana Barry imagined ghosts lurking around every bend.

A bush with pink flowers stands in the foreground in front of a white cottage with green trim in the background.

L.M. Montgomery’s 1908 novel "Anne of Green Gables" has drawn visitors to Prince Edward Island, Canada, for more than a century. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

A replica setting of an early 20th-century bedroom. A single bed is placed against the wall on the right, with a small side table next to it with a case of pink flowers and a red dress hanging from a closet door on the left.

Green Gables Heritage Place pays homage to famous fictional orphan Anne Shirley on Prince Edward Island, Canada. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

A dirt path leads into a wooded area with tall grass on either side and trees hanging above.

The landscape surrounding L.M. Montgomery's home, including Lover’s Lane, a meandering path through spruce and maple trees, deeply influenced her writing. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

A short walk away, the Site of L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish Home offers a more personal glimpse into the author’s world. Though the house where she lived with her grandparents is gone, its foundation remains, surrounded by the same sweeping meadows and trees that filled her childhood.

One piece of the original home still stands — the attached kitchen where Montgomery penned “Anne of Green Gables.” Standing near the space where Anne’s story first took shape is a powerful experience for literary pilgrims.

For an even deeper connection to Montgomery, head to the Anne of Green Gables Museum in Park Corner. Housed in the Campbell family home, where Montgomery was a frequent visitor, the museum features original artifacts, including a glass cabinet that served as the inspiration for Anne’s enchanted bookcase. Just outside the house is a picturesque pond that inspired the novel’s Lake of Shining Waters.

To complete the literary tour, a visit to L.M. Montgomery’s Birthplace in New London is essential. This modest white-and-green house, where Montgomery was born in 1874, now houses a collection of her scrapbooks, early editions of her novels and family heirlooms.

Montgomery herself is buried at Cavendish Community Cemetery. Fans often leave flowers or notes of gratitude, paying tribute to the woman who immortalized P.E.I.’s landscapes in literature.

Call of the coast

The north shore is home to Prince Edward Island National Park, a protected stretch of dramatic red cliffs, sandy beaches and historic lighthouses hugged by rolling dunes. The park encompasses much of the famed Cavendish Beach, where visitors can stroll barefoot along the natural sand or safely explore fragile dunes from a long, elevated boardwalk.

For a more dramatic coastal view, head west to Cape Tryon Lighthouse, a striking red-and-white structure perched atop rugged cliffs overlooking the gulf. Built in 1905, the lighthouse continues to stand sentry over one of the island’s most breathtaking landscapes.

A lighthouse stands on a grassy dune with a dirt road winding next to it and the horizon above the ocean in the background.

Built in 1905, Cape Tryon Lighthouse continues to watch over one of Prince Edward Island's most breathtaking landscapes. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Island flavors

P.E.I.’s reputation as Canada’s food island is well-earned. The province is famous for its oysters, with spots like Malpeque producing some of the world’s best.

To eat like a local, head to New Glasgow Lobster Suppers, a family-run institution since 1958. Diners are treated to a feast that starts with fresh rolls, seafood chowder and mussels before the main event: a perfectly steamed lobster served with homemade potato salad. The casual, communal atmosphere here shouldn’t be missed.

For a more intimate dining experience, Blue Winds Tea Room in Clinton is a hidden gem for “Anne of Green Gables” fans. Run by a dedicated Montgomery enthusiast, this charming spot serves recipes straight from the author’s journals, including New Moon pudding and raspberry cordial — the very drink that got Anne into major trouble with Diana.

Close-up view of a cooked lobster on a plate with a lemon wedge on top.

For a true Prince Edward Island experience, head to New Glasgow Lobster Suppers, a family-run institution since 1958. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Close-up view of a plate with small sandwiches and pastries sitting on a blue checkered placemat.

Blue Winds Tea Room serves recipes found in L.M. Montgomery's books and journals, including raspberry cordial and New Moon pudding. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Close-up view of a glass with a red-pink drink, lemon wedge on the rim and purple straw sitting on a yellow coaster atop a blue checkered placemat. A small vase with white flowers is behind the glass.

Blue Winds Tea Room serves recipes found in L.M. Montgomery's books and journals, including raspberry cordial and New Moon pudding. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Happy trail

One of the most unique ways to experience P.E.I’s beauty is by exploring the Confederation Trail, a 270-mile network of converted railway lines that once formed the island’s now-defunct train system. When the railway was abandoned in the 1980s, it was transformed into a scenic cycling and walking trail that meanders past potato farms, sleepy fishing villages and shimmering bays.

For “Anne of Green Gables” fans, the trail also offers a bit of literary history. In the novel, Anne first travels on P.E.I. by train, stepping off at Bright River, inspired by the real-life community of Hunter River. Though the trains are long gone, visitors can still stop in Hunter River and imagine Anne’s nervous excitement as she waited to meet Matthew Cuthbert, the quiet, kind-hearted man who would change her life.

P.E.I. encourages travelers to slow down, whether it’s watching the tide roll in over a stretch of red sand or lingering over a plate of fresh Malpeque oysters. Here, the reward is not in rushing to the next attraction but letting the island’s quiet charm unfold at its own unhurried pace.

author picture
Aaron Kidd is the Pacific bureau chief, working out of Akasaka Press Center and Yokota Air Base in Tokyo. The University of South Carolina alum previously edited for Southeastern newspapers, including The Charlotte Observer and Augusta Chronicle. 

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