Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND CITY LIGHTS This year, The Charlottetown Festival features the 52 nd season of the Guinness record-setting production of Anne of Green Gables—The Musical, as well as Atlantic Canada premieres of both the worldwide smash hit, Mamma Mia! and Toronto Soulpepper Theatre's award-winning musical, Spoon River (www.confederation centre.com). Upstreet Craft Brewing, a new artisan brewery, showcases unusual fl avours in its downtown Charlottetown shop. The city's newest eateries include Local 343 on Water Street and Receiver Coffee Co. on Victoria Row. Both feature locally-inspired eclectic menus and take-away options. Atlantic Canada's longest- running dinner theatre is hugely popular and continues to combine good food with funky performances at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel and the Brothers 2 Restaurant in Summerside, where they originated ( www.roddvacations.com/ feast). For a more intimate venue, The Guild showcases seasoned and emerging talent including art, dance and theatre produc- tions (www.theguildpei.com). Throughout Charlottetown you'll fi nd a network of walking trails and waterside boardwalks, craft and specialty shops. Although Summerside is smaller than Charlottetown, it also has a bustling waterfront replete with indoor and outdoor theatres, interesting boutiques and places to eat. THE GREAT OUTDOORS The P.E.I. portion of the Trans Canada Trail—the Confederation Trail—is now complete. Stretching 444 km (276 mi.) from Tignish in the west to Elmira in the east, it also connects to the Island's two entry points (www.tourismpei.com/pei-cycling). PEI Coastal Tours & Experiences offers excursions with experts, ranging from Aboriginal forest walks to tonging for oysters in Malpeque Bay. There is some- thing for all ages and interests including tie-ins with farming, fi shing, art, music and culture ( www.peicoastal.ca). In Summerside you can enjoy the 7 km (4 mi.) Baywalk along the Bedeque Bay or stroll through the wooded Rotary Friendship Park. Two heritage walks in the historic downtown area of the city will appeal to those interested in historic architecture. Cyclists love GranFondo PEI, a cycling event embracing the beauty of the region while increasing awareness of cycling. Golf enthusiasts agree that P.E.I.'s courses are spectacular and they are all within an hour's drive of each other ( www.golfpei.ca). Aside from golf, the Island is known for its authentic experi- ences—many outdoors, including fun with falcons, feeding tuna, painting pictures, harvesting Irish moss and going on a GPS adventure (www.experiencepei.ca). If you have time, you'll want to explore lighthouses and fi nd your way to the top of some of them to reward yourself with magnifi cent vistas. HERITAGE AND CULTURE The Arts & Heritage Trail is an Island- wide guide for authentic Prince Edward Island cultural experiences with elements such as museums and historic sites, performing arts venues, festivals, special events, theatre, galleries, craft shops and artisan studios (www.artsandheritage pei.ca). SPECIAL EVENTS JUNE • Festival of Small Halls, Province-wide JUNE SEPTEMBER • Indian River Festival • The Charlottetown Festival • Victoria Playhouse Festival, Victoria-by-the-Sea JUNE JULY • DiverseCity Festival, Island-wide JULY • Cavendish Beach Music Festival • "Mermaid Tears" Sea Glass Fest, Souris • Summerside Lobster Festival JULY AUGUST • Highland Storm Festival, Summerside AUGUST • Island Fringe Festival, Charlottetown • Old Home Week, Charlottetown • PEI Jazz & Blues Festival, Charlottetown • Tyne Valley Oyster Festival SEPTEMBER • Beef n' Blues, Summerside • Fall Flavours, Province-wide OCTOBER • Farm Day in the City, Charlottetown www.tourismpei.com/pei-festivals-and-events QUICK FACT P.E.I.'S OFFICIAL ANTHEM IS ISLAND HYMN, WRITTEN IN ‚ƒ„… BY LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY, FAMED AUTHOR OF ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. ANNE, LAKE OF SHINING WATERS • TOURISM PEI/JOHN SYLVESTER