The Points East Coastal Drive Prince Edward Island is divided into three counties, Prince County at the western side, Queens County in the middle and Kings County in the east. The Points East Coastal Drive encompasses all of Kings County and the southeastern portion of Queen's County, just east of Charlottetown. Kings County was named by Captain Samuel Holland in 1765 for King George III (1738 - 1820), hence making Kings County's shire town Georgetown. This region is the least dependent upon the agriculture industry compared with the other two counties. It is more heavily dependent on the fishery and forest industry. There are three main towns in Kings County, Georgetown, Montague and Souris. Montague is the largest of the three towns, offering many commercial amenities. Kings County is Prince Edward Island's smallest, most rural and least-populated county - making the area one of the most pretty and picturesque to visit! We would advise that you allow at least two full days to tour Kings County and be able to experience all the nature, shopping, entertainment and adventure it has to offer. Maximize your time and make the most of your exploration by staying at one or more of our properties near the Points East Coastal Drive. The Inn at Bay Fortune and Maplehurst Properties are both located in Kings County and offer you and your family acres of waterfront property, elegant relaxation and local cuisine. Our many properties in the Charlottetown area also offer easy access to the attractions along the Points East Coastal Drive. Beaches | Basin Head beach |
Prince Edward Island is, of course, famous for its beaches. If you love fun in the sun, any of Red Point, Basin Head, Greenwich, and Panmure Island Beaches are right for you! These are all supervised beaches and are some of the most popular. Walk the beach between Basin Head and Bothwell and look for starfish; visit the Greenwich Interpretive Center and floating boardwalk; or the dunes and beach lovers haven in Panmure Island Provincial Park. If you are looking for something a little more quiet, Northumberland, Brudenell River or Pinette Provincial Parks all offer an excellent beach experience with picnic areas, activities, and fun for the whole family. Lighthouses Seven of PEI's lighthouses feature some sort of museum or interpretive exhibit, and of those, five are located along the scenic Points East Coastal Drive. The five are: | Point Prim Lighthouse |
- Point Prim Light House - Built in 1846, this lighthouse is the oldest on P.E.I. and the only round lighthouse on the Island.
- Panmure Island Lighthouse - One of the Island's best kept secrets. This is PEI's oldest wooden lighthouse and the view from the lantern is spectacular!
- Wood Islands Lighthouse and Interpretive Museum - This charming lighthouse was built in 1876 on the southernmost tip of PEI. It is now host to 11 themed rooms in the award winning heritage museum, and located just beyond the ferry terminal.
- Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Museum. Built in 1881, this historical landmark was the first Canadian land station to receive the distress signals from the Titanic.
- East Point Lighthouse - "Where the sun rises...and the tides meet!"
To experience the full beauty of PEI's lighthouses, and for some great photographs, be sure to visit during sunrise or sunset!
Golf If you are a golfer of any level, you have likely heard of the Links at Crowbush Cove, Dundarave or Brudenell River. These are among the top golf courses in North America and are located in the heart of Kings County. There are thirty plus courses to enjoy on PEI, so there is something to suit all interests and skills. The beauty of PEI is that it is small enough to allow you to play a round and still have plenty of time left in the day to get to all the other things you want to do on your vacation - even if that's only more golf! Historical Sites and Museums | Orwell Corner Historic Village |
The Points East Coastal Drive features a number of historical sites and museums, each offering insight into a different segment or era of the island's history. Located close to Charlottetown, Orwell Corner historic village offers a glimpse into an 1890's agricultural community. Located almost next door, the MacPhail Homestead is the former home of Sir Andrew MacPhail, one of PEI's less well known but more important citizens. The Homestead offers guided tours of the grounds and great opportunities for picnicking, hiking, or bird watching. | Elmira Railway Museum |
Further east, and further back in time is Roma Three Rivers, which reenacts a French settlement on PEI in the 1730's. Roma Three Rivers is located close to Georgetown and Montague. Further east still are the Elmira Railway Museum, which gives you some insight into the history of the railway on PEI, and the Basin Head Fisheries Museum, which tells the story of PEI's inshore fishery.
Agri-Tourism Looking for a family farm vacation in Kings County? Hosts George and Melaney Matheson and their two daughters at Springwater Farm in Albion Cross always have their doors open ready to greet you and your family. Learn about and experience farm life in rural PEI, and stop by the Shepherd's Nook where you can get fresh lamb, sheepskins, crafts and wool blankets - all hand-crafted and from their farm! For a less immersive but no less interesting experience, be sure to stop and pick up some local in-season produce, either at the King's County Farmers' Market in Cardigan, or at any of our many farms and producers. PEI's farmers are happy to share with you what they are growing, and how it is grown. In season, you'll find strawberries, blueberries, apples, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables that would make a perfect snack in the midst of your day of touring. Active Lifestyle If driving past the scenery is not your style and you and feel the need to get out into it, Mount Stewart or Morell are where you want to be. In Mount Stewart you will find the Confederation Trail, which heads off in no fewer than three directions and offers suitable routes for both walking and cycling, and the Hillsborough River Eco Centre, which is the hub of the Confederation Trail and houses the Discovery Museum featuring natural and cultural history of PEI's Canadian Heritage River, the Hillsborough. Work up a hunger by renting a bicycle in Morell and cycling from Morell to St. Peter's Bay, along one of the most scenic parts of the Confederation Trail. The best part? You wind up in St. Peter's Bay where you must stop at Rick's Fish 'n' Chips! Fuel up on their fresh cut fries and hand-battered fish - but remember you have to get back to Morell. They say to eat where the locals do when you are traveling - you will see as many local license plates as you will see out-of-province ones in this parking lot. Once you get back to Morell, if you still find you have some energy, you can try renting a kayak and paddling along the Morell River. Are you a cricketer or interested in the sport? There is a long and distinguished history of cricket on PEI. The first ever sports organization was the Charlottetown Cricket Club founded in 1859. Cricket was so popular in the day that a crick
| Tea Hill Park | et field was considered an essential part of Charlottetown's Victoria Park. Today cricket can be played at the cricket pitch at Tea Hill Park in the town of Stratford, just across the river from Charlottetown. You will not only find a game of cricket here, but you will also find a family destination with Tea Hill Beach, picnic area and playground on site.
Boating & Fishing "It is to be observed that 'angling' is the name given to fishing by people who can't fish." ...Stephen Leacock | North Lake Harbour |
Whether you call yourself an angler or a fisherman, there is plenty of opportunity to get out on the water along the Points East Coastal Drive. The communities of Georgetown, North Lake, Montague and Souris all offer various options for deep sea fishing, seal watching, whale watching, or simply a day out on the water, and an experience like no other. Local Spirits and Wines At the end of a long day of activity, you may wish to put your feet up and enjoy a relaxing drink. PEI offers three wineries and two distilleries to cater to that need, most of which are located along the Points East Coastal Drive.
While there are only three wineries on Prince Edward Island, the oldest and youngest of them happen to be located along the Points East Coastal Drive. Rossignol Estate Winery is located in Little Sands, just a few kilometers from the Wood Islands ferry terminal and is the first winery on PEI. They feature a selection of red, white and fruit wines. Newman Estate Winery is located in Gladstone and is the newest of the wineries on PEI. It is a next generation winery featuring primarily fruit wines. Don't miss out on touring, sampling and meeting our local wine makers! There are two distilleries located along the Points East Coastal Drive. Myriad View Artisan Distillery, located near Souris in Rollo Bay, is the first artisan distillery on PEI. Islanders have been making illegal moonshine throughout their history, with PEI being both the first province to introduce prohibition in 1900, and also the last province in Canada to repeal it in 1948. The Myriad View Distillery offers you a glimpse into this true PEI tradition, providing (legally, of course!) Shine, Lightning, Rums, Gin, Vodka, Whiskey and Pastis. The Prince Edward Distillery is the second distillery on the Island and located in Hermanville. The Distillery is most renowned for its flagship Prince Edward Potato Vodka (made with only 100% PEI potatoes and water), Wild Blueberry Vodka and Prince Edward Gin. Stop for a tour, learn about their commitment to sustainable agriculture, and take a wee sip of their spirits - you won't be disappointed! In the Evening After supper, you may wish to partake in some of what PEI's vibrant arts and music scene has to offer. The King's Playhouse in Georgetown and the St. Peters Courthouse Theatre both offer a variety of music and theatre programming. The Trailside Cafe and Inn in Mount Stewart offers evening dining and a variety of live local music, and of course many community halls will offer a weekly ceilidh featuring local musicians.
The above attractions are just a sample of what there is to see and do in Kings County. There are so many others that we simply can't put them all in this e-newsletter, so you'll just have to come to our Island oasis and experience it first-hand! Feel free to continue the journey online at the website for the Points East Coastal Drive, or simply ask your host for more information if what you are interested in was not covered. We look forward to your visit this summer where you can relax touring the eastern end of the Island and then return to your Island home to be pampered and relax in the comfort of your selected Inns of Distinction property. |