When Jacques Cartier first saw the area we now know as Prince Edward Island, he described it as the "fairest land 'tis possible to see." Almost five centuries later, the sentiment still rings true. Prince Edward Island is a symphony of jewel tones—garnet soil, emerald fields and sapphire seas. In spring, the island blooms into a beautifully designed patchwork quilt, and in autumn the rolling hills are ablaze with color.
Access to Prince Edward Island (or PEI, as many people call it) is as easy as a 9-mi/15-km drive over the Northumberland Strait via the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick or a 75-minute ferry ride from Nova Scotia. The bridge and the ferry trip are elements of the island experience, linking the province to the rest of Canada via the Trans Canada Highway. Once on the island, visitors have easy access to such traditional attractions as the Green Gables House in Cavendish or historic Olde Charlottetown.
There are still plenty of quiet side roads leading to secluded beaches, open countryside, and charming fishing villages and communities. Even at the height of tourism season, the eastern and western ends of the island remain blissfully peaceful. Stir in active theater, shopping and a number of soft-adventure opportunities, and Prince Edward Island provides the appeal of quieter relaxed living, with all the modern amenities.
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