Island INNsider 
www.innsofpei.com
[email protected]
Welcome to the Island INNsider, the Inns of Distinction Prince Edward Island Newsletter
Greetings!

June is the beginning of the very busy tourist season on P.E.I. and many of our guests ask us what they should see and do while they are visiting our beautiful Island.  We felt it would be appropriate to feature the five touring regions over the next several newsletters so that you can discover some of the attractions that make PEI special. The Points East Coastal Drive will be our first touring region. Sit back, relax and imagine yourself experiencing the eastern side of PEI.

 


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.


 
Recipe - PEI Pork and Spinach Terrine
Courtesy Chef Domenic Serio of the Inn at Bay Fortune

The Inns of Distinction is privileged to include among its members the Inn At Bay Fortune, one of PEI's best known Inns.  This month, Chef Domenic Serio has provided us with this very seasonal recipe that would make an ideal lunch dish on a warm summer day.
Inn at Bay Fortune
 

 Yield: One 900g (2lb) Terrine

1lb (450g)Fresh Garden Spinach  

1lb (450g)Boneless Pork Shoulder

1tbsp (15g) Fine Sea Salt  

� tsp (1g) Fine Black Pepper  

1tbsp (15g) Chopped Onion  

1tbsp (15g) Chopped Garlic  

1tsp (1g) Ground Nutmeg  

1tsp (1g) Sweet Paprika  

Zest of 1 Lemon

 

METHOD:

1. Wash spinach to remove and dirt or grit, remove any large coarse stems. Cook briefly in a covered pan with only the liquid that clings to the spinach. Once wilted, cool completely and coarsely chop.

2. Cube the pork shoulder and grind twice through the small plate of your meat grinder (if you don't have a meat grinder your butcher or grocery store can do this for you)

3. In a large bowl combine ground meat, spinach, seasonings, lemon zest mix by hand for 5 mins or until sticky and well mixed. Fry a small piece to taste for seasoning adjust if necessary to your taste.

4. Pack meat solidly into a small terrine mould or small loaf pan.

5. Bake in a pre heated 350F degree oven, until the internal temperature reaches 150F degrees. The terrine will shrink from the sides and be firm to the touch but it should not be browned.

6. Remove from the oven and chill for 24hrs in the pan. Place a small weight on the top of the terrine while chilling

Recipe - Fresh Berry Parfait
courtesy Maplehurst Properties

This recipe from Maplehurst Properties is a great way to take advantage of local berries.  It works well as either a breakfast dish or a light and healthy dessert on a hot summer day.  Feel free to add or replace some of the berries with other varieties to suit your taste or the occasion.  Amounts given are per serving. 
 
Maplehurst Properties

3 tablespoons sour cream

2 tablespoons brown sugar

� teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon lemon peel

2 ounces fresh blueberries

2 ounces fresh strawberries

2 ounces fresh raspberries

3 tablespoons vanilla yogurt

Granola (recipe follows)  

Mint Leaves

 

Whip together yogurt and sour cream. Mix in brown sugar, lemon peel and lemon juice to taste. Whip until smooth in texture. Chill.

When ready to serve, layer the strawberries in a parfait glass, pour one third of the yogurt mixture over the berries, add a layer of the blueberries, one third of the yogurt mixture, add layer of the raspberries and the remaining yogurt mixture. Top with 1/8 cup granola. Garnish with mint leaf.

 

Granola

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup honey

2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup light brown sugar

Mix together melted butter with honey and brown sugar, and toss with the rolled oats until well blended. Bake 20 minutes at 325.

If desired, add sliced or slivered almonds and dried fruit of your choice (raisins, cranberries, currants, ...) and bake an additional 5 - 10 minutes or until golden brown. Leave the mixture to cool and harden.  Once cool, granola can be used immediately or stored for several days in an airtight container.


"Perfection is never something you can actually attain. It's something 
you search for. Because once you reach it, it's not perfect.. you've 
lost it..it's gone. You can never be perfect." 

 

The quote above from renowned chef Thomas Keller exemplifies what we do at the Inns of Distinction - strive to make your stay with us perfect, and once we have done so, to exceed your expectations on your next visit with us.  Whether your trip to PEI is for business or pleasure, you can count on us to make your experience as memorable and perfect as possible.  As we like to say, you may come as guests, but you'll leave as friends. And we guarantee you'll want to come back again.

 

We hope you enjoyed this month's newsletter, and we look forward to highlighting the other touring regions in PEI for you in the coming months. 

   

Sincerely,

 

The Innkeepers of the Inns of Distinction, Prince Edward Island
"You've made the journey, we'll make it memorable!"
In This Issue
The Points East Coastal Drive
Recipe - PEI Pork and Spinach Terrine
Recipe - Maplehurst Properties

The Inns of Distinction are:
 
 
Join Our Mailing List
 
Upcoming Events
Tourism PEI provides a list of upcoming festivals and events taking place in all regions of Prince Edward Island.

Upcoming events for June are available here.

General tourism information about Prince Edward Island is available here