Prince Edward Island | Bridget McNulty

Posts Tagged ‘Prince Edward Island’

If you’re planning a visit to Prince Edward Island…

// June 11th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Prince Edward Island, travelling

Here’s what I would suggest, little nuggets of wisdom we’ve picked up along the way…

* Early June is a great time to visit. It’s just before tourist season starts, so there aren’t too many people at any of the attractions, but pretty much everything is open in preparation for the tourist flood, so you get private (or semi-private) viewings of all the island highlights.

* That said, it is CHILLY! Much colder than I anticipated. Turns out Canada isn’t a very warm country, who knew? Just kidding, I knew, I just thought it would be a tad warmer than it has been. Think jeans and sweaters every day. Not unpleasant cold, just brisk.

* Staying at different places every night gives you a better look at the island. We moved around to different parts of the central section of the island every night, and have seen pretty much all there is to see of this part of the world… Of course, there’s also an Eastern and Western part of the island, but we’ll save that for next time!

* Leave time to get lost. We didn’t get painfully lost at all, but there were definitely times when we were driving down roads and not knowing where they would end up. It’s such a great way of seeing the country, and there’s so much to see that you’ll feel as if you’re touring just by driving the highways (which don’t resemble city highways at all).

* Don’t spend too much time in the built-up areas. They’re charming, and very pretty, but there’s such extraordinary views just around the corner that you’d be cheating yourself out of a whole lot of serenity if you stick to the well-worn paths.

* Find the right accommodation for your needs. For a couple or friends, I’d recommend the places I’ve mentioned during the week. For families, I’d recommend Greenvale Meadows (http://www.greenvalemeadows.com) – a lovely guesthouse we popped into. It has three rooms, and a kitchen, bathroom and living room all for the use of guests, so you can settle in and really make a home on the island.

* Indulge in the PEI lobster dinner, if you’re a lobster fan. I had it yesterday and it was superb! A whole lobster, vegetables, baked potato, and bread, with a massive helping of local mussels as a starter and blueberry pie (my first ever!) as dessert… Superb!

* If you’re an Anne of Green Gables fan, make sure to visit Green Gables and do the Anne of Green Gables Museum (and all the many Anne gift shops!) If not, just sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the most beautiful places on earth.

* Don’t forget your camera!

The epitome of comfort.

// June 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Prince Edward Island, travelling

For our last night on Prince Edward Island, Jess and I were very specific about what we wanted… A comfortable, cosy space all to ourselves, where we could unwind (preferably in fluffy bathrobes, my new favourite piece of clothing!) and chat to our hearts’ content.

Welcome to Little York Bed and Breakfast (http://www.littleyorkbandb.com), this dream come to life!

From the moment we arrived, Robert did everything he could to welcome us into his home, an old farmhouse built in 1840 by an Irish immigrant farmer. Each of the rooms is named after which member of the family lived there (The Parent’s Room, The Son’s Room, The Daughter’s Room) and Jess and I were (quite fittingly!) given The Daughter’s Room… a delightfully cosy spot for late-night girl talk (and a great sleep)…

The house is full of beautiful old details, lots of handmade quilts and simple old-fashioned decor. It feels immediately like a home, but not like you’re trespassing in someone else’s home, just as if you’ve returned to a loved childhood spot… In other words, instantly comfortable.

There’s a big old garden in the back, with all sorts of delicious-looking vegetables growing (apparently PEI soil is almost magical, very full of iron and makes everything grow)…

… and Robert still cooks (and heats the house) with this beautiful old stove, which he keeps in the kitchen, the heart of the home.

And what a beating heart it is! As soon as we arrived the house filled with the most delicious baking smells… fresh biscotti! To go with fresh (and unbelievable) chocolate chip cookies, permanently on offer with all kinds of tea in the downstairs dining room. In my ideal home, there would be a constant supply of cookies and biscotti to get me through the day!

I had high expectations for breakfast (what with the homemade biscotti and all) and I have to say it far exceeded any of my expectations… Fresh fruit salad (yum) followed by these superb raspberry and blueberry scones (which were every bit as good as English scones – can you believe it? I didn’t think people in this part of the world knew how to make scones!)

And THEN (as if we had any more space in our bellies!) speciality French toast with cream cheese and raspberry jam, PEI potatoes and sausages.

Wow!

All in all? A wonderfully warm spot with every comfort you could wish for.

A hidden gem.

// June 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // Prince Edward Island, travelling

One of my favourite things about Prince Edward Island (and one of the things I’ve found the most surprising) is that it’s really easy to navigate. Really easy. As all who have ever driven in a car with me will attest, I have an extremely poor sense of direction. But Jess and I haven’t been lost once since we were here! Not once… Amazing.

However, when we found ourselves right on the edge of the Island, near a lighthouse and with only a few dirt roads surrounding us yesterday afternoon, we felt as if our luck had finally run out… Still, we kept driving, and we were rewarded with this wonderful sight at the end of a long path. Welcome to Briarcliffe Inn!

And what a welcoming place it is. There was even a sign out for us!

Bill and Mary are the owners of this delightful home, which is beautifully decorated with antiques of all shapes, sizes and colours. My particular favourite was this wall of vintage beaded handbags… aren’t they beautiful?

The inn also has some of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever had the pleasure of sleeping on. Really, this is a 10 out of 10 bed! It’s such a treat to wake up and feel totally refreshed…. I could easily have stayed in bed all day, especially seeing as it was a little cloudy (and a lot chilly!) this morning.

The room also had a lovely view out over the garden, which helped bring the outside in, and made me a little less grumpy about having to work in such a pretty place! (Yip, this isn’t just a holiday, folks, I actually have to work from time to time…)

Still, Jess and I found time for a long walk down by the shore, and visited the lighthouse at Sea Cow Head. We also went for a fabulous dinner (steak, mashed potatoes, salad, brownie and ice-cream) at the Landmark Cafe in Victoria-by-the-Sea, a charming little place not far from the Briarcliffe Inn. I think the thing I loved most about our stay was the extraordinary location – right by the sea. It feels hidden, and is so full of treasures that I’m sure it’s the definition of a hidden treasure. We took a stroll to this spot… How incredible is the red earth? Haven’t gotten over it yet.

And then there was breakfast. Oh my goodness! This is what breakfasts should always look like, as far as I’m concerned… fresh fruit, yoghurt and sweet soda bread, followed by a Dutch pancake filled with all sorts of goodies. Delicious!

All in all? An extremely comfortable stay at a really lovely inn.

A heavenly haven.

// June 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // Inspiration, Prince Edward Island, travelling

Just imagine:
You’re in an amazingly beautiful place, surrounded by stunning scenery on all sides, and you’ve been touristing it up all day, visiting all the Anne of Green Gables sites you can find. But you’re tired, too, from a whirlwind two weeks of travelling and visiting and catching up with friends.

What’s the one thing you’re looking for?
If you answered
a) tranquility
b) comfort, or
c) rejuvenation,
you’d be right. Spot on, in fact. And I got all three (and more) last night at the delightful Bonshaw Breezes (check them out at http://www.bonshawbreezes.com/).

From the moment we pulled up and saw this beautiful place…

… with this astounding view, I was hooked! In love. It was some kind of magic.

And the magic continued. It wasn’t only that it was deliciously luxurious (4 and a half star, and worth every one!) but that we felt as if our every need was anticipated… sometimes before we’d even realised we needed something!

The details throughout the guest house are just perfect, right down to the cooling peppermint foot cream (who knew I needed that? But the moment I rubbed it into my feet I realised I had been waiting for it for months…)

They have an outdoor hot tub that looks out over the forest (absolutely wonderful), an indoor spa bath with an array of delicious bath crystals to choose from, and 100 movies on DVD or VHS if you feel like watching a film while you unwind (why don’t all hotels have this? It’s genius!!)

And the garden is just stunning… With horses grazing in a field right over there.

More than anything, though, was the feeling we got when we walked in the door. It wasn’t that we felt at home (although we did – we quickly made ourselves at home!), but that we felt we could completely unwind… there was no stress, no need to do anything, no excuse not to make the most of the beauty surrounding us. In fact, Jess and I loved it so much we decided against going out for dinner and stayed in our bathrobes while we drove to the grocery store to buy ice-cream!

Proof positive that Bonshaw Breezes is one place you won’t be in a hurry to leave!

And the breakfast… oh! The breakfast. A three-course feast of apple, strawberry and rhubarb compote with delicious granola and yoghurt, a homemade frittata (yum!) and a delicious morning version of apple pie. Absolutely scrumptious. And served so beautifully…

But what really made the stay so fabulous was our wonderful hostess, Sharon. She was so warm and wonderfully quirky, and immediately made us feel like we belonged in her lovely home.

(Here she is in her kitchen… with eggs).

All in all? The perfect place for a honeymoon, holiday, or romantic spa getaway.

In Anne’s Land.

// June 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Prince Edward Island, travelling

Welcome to Prince Edward Island, in Canada!
Over the next couple of days I’ll try and give you a guided tour of our trip through this truly extraordinary land… although I’m taking so many thousands of pictures that I’ll probably try and limit them to the places we’re staying.

Don’t believe me about how beautiful it is? This is a view out over the sea…

All the cliffs are red sandstone, which looks just incredible with the blue sea and green fields.

We spent our first night on PEI in the quaint Parkview Guest Farm (check it out at http://www.parkviewfarms.com) Parkview is a working dairy and beef farm, in the stunning rural area of Cavendish. If you’re an Anne of Green Gables fan (which we are), this is the ideal place to stay – less than five minutes from the original Green Gables!

You stay in the actual old farmhouse, which is great because it immediately feels like home…

… And the decor is fabulous! More dolls, stuffed toys and teddy bears than you could imagine. It’s all about the details.

All the rooms are wallpapered and decorated in specific colour schemes, and they each have different teddy bears (which is a touch I really appreciated. I like teddy bears). I think it would be a great place for families to stay – loads of space for kids to run around in, more than enough toys, and a big communal space to congregate in. Also free wifi (hence this blog!). The only thing some visitors might not like is that the bathroom is communal. Very spacious, but if you come in season you might have to queue for a shower in the morning!

You can also get a first-hand view of how the farm runs, if you’d like to… Jess and I decided to do all the dorky Anne of Green Gables activities right down the road, instead! We are definitely Anne of Green Gables dorks. But we did watch the cows out of our bedroom window, and hear them mooing in the morning (a surprisingly peaceful sound).