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.

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)

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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)

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)

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.