Exploring Canada’s Food Island for Delightful Adventures

Pretty as a painting with red sand beaches, gently rolling farmland dotted with fields of potatoes and dramatic sandstone cliffs, Prince Edward Island (PEI) beckons you to indulge in its adventure offerings. Small in size but abundant in delights for visitors, East Coast island life invites you to slow down, connect with nature and savour solitude.
Celebrated for its picturesque landscapes, the smallest province in Canada offers scenes so transformative they inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s timeless 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables. With its network of gentle walking trails and a vibrant culinary scene, PEI is an idyllic destination for soft adventure, fresh flavours and breathtaking vistas. The Island Walk is your gateway to experiencing the best of PEI.
An Epic Island Journey

Inspired by his pilgrimage on the 800-kilometre Camino de Santiago route in Spain in 2016 and Portugal’s Rota Vicentina in 2019, Charlottetown resident Bryson Guptill created the 700-kilometre Island Walk. This scenic route weaves together red dirt roads, quiet village lanes and beachfront paths, and incorporates 350 kilometres of the Confederation Trail—a transformed railway line that spans the Island from west to east.
Along the Island Walk, you’ll pass through storybook towns, wander woodlands and encounter livestock grazing in the rural countryside. You’ll also experience untamed coastal beauty, windswept beaches and rugged red cliffs. With gentle grades no greater than two per cent, the route is suited for both seasoned hikers and casual walkers of all activity levels.
A Surprisingly Accessible and Convenient Footpath

Looping clockwise around PEI, the self-guided Island Walk is split into 32 sections, each ranging from 19 to 27 kilometres; each walkable in a day. While it takes about 32 days to complete, you can start or stop at any point. Conveniently, Section 1 begins in the capital city of Charlottetown, home to the YYG Charlottetown Airport and a historic and vibrant downtown core.
With relatively flat terrain, you’ll need minimal gear for the trail—just a sturdy pair of walking shoes and a small daypack for essentials. To make your journey even more enjoyable, the Island Walk has teamed up with numerous inn, hotel and B&B operators along the route to offer convenient transportation to and from each section, shuttle your bags to your next stay and even provide takeaway lunches for your day’s adventures.
Make Plenty of Detours

As many avid hikers will attest, multi-day walks are about more than just the accumulation of kilometres—it’s a soulful journey of self-discovery, seeking solitude and reconnecting with nature. The serendipitous encounters transform any trek into a profound adventure. Wander, savour the stunning landscapes and make plenty of detours to uncover the Island’s hidden sides.
Dubbed Canada’s Food Island, PEI is a haven for foodies, featuring fresh seafood including mussels, oysters, lobster and scallops. During Section 2 of the walk from Dunedin to the quaint village of Victoria-by-the-Sea, take extra time to enjoy culinary delights like the buttery lobster rolls at the Lobster Barn and hand-dipped truffles at Island Chocolates.

At Section 5, Summerside, the second-largest city in the province, is known for its love of sport, heritage and culture. Take in a show at the Harbourfront Theatre or an exhibit at Eptek Art & Culture Centre before heading west.
Section 7 of the Island Walk transports you to O’Leary, where you’ll find the Canadian Potato Museum. Explore PEI’s rich agricultural history, discover a fascinating collection of antique and modern potato farming equipment and sample gourmet baked PEI Potatoes and poutine at the museum’s onsite restaurant.

In Sections 17 and 18 of the walk, carve out an afternoon to unwind at Cavendish Beach, PEI’s best-known stretch of sand. While at Prince Edward Island National Park, soak in the panoramic vistas of towering sandstone cliffs, rolling dunes and tidal pools teeming with marine life. Cool off with a refreshing dip at Stanhope Beach.
To the east, the St. Peter’s area of Sections 20 and 21, has a lot to offer with stunning views of the bay, local shops like Freckles & Porcelain and great eatery options. Find the PEI Burger Love 2024 winner and a variety of lobster rolls at the Seafood Shack in Morell.
When to Visit
PEI is a four-season destination. Summer is the peak season with local festivals and events in full swing, like the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival in August. Accommodation books up quickly. For cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, plan your visit for late spring or early fall. The two-week Fall Flavours Food & Drink Festival takes place in late September. Early to mid-October offers the bonus of vibrant fall foliage, adding an extra layer of scenic beauty to your Island Walk.

Photos courtesy of Tourism PEI
This article was sponsored by Tourism PEI
A breathtaking destination, filled with wandering trails, endless beaches and unique experiences everywhere you look. The feeling you get when you’re on Prince Edward Island is unique; you’ll feel relaxed yet excited, stress-free and alive—some would say you’ll feel lighter here.