Our Favourite Day Trips on PEI

A crosswalk on a road leading to a grassy area with a red and white lighthouse in the background under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

A Favourite Summer Evening: Brackley Beach, Stanhope & Covehead

If we could recommend one scenic drive on PEI, this might be it.

We absolutely love driving the Gulf Shore Parkway from Brackley Beach toward Covehead Harbour, especially at golden hour. The combination of dunes, beaches, rolling landscapes, and ocean views feels like PEI at its very best. To make this recommendation even cheesier, we'd suggest rolling down the windows with some great tunes. It's one of those drives that reminds us why we keep coming back to the island.

  • The drive eventually brings you to Covehead Lighthouse, one of our favourites. We often walk over after dinner, climb the path that takes you over the dunes behind the lighthouse to dip our toes in the shallow pools of water that collect at low tide. 

    Just across from the lighthouse you'll find Richard's. We’ve been coming here for years and it still holds up! If you're looking for our personal recommendation, order the lobster burger. Most visitors head straight for the cold lobster roll, but in our opinion they're missing out. The lobster burger is served warm on a buttery bun and loaded with chunks of PEI lobster. It's rich, messy, and absolutely delicious. Don't let the lineup at the order window scare you away, they're experts at handling a crowd and the line moves surprisingly quickly.

    We usually grab a seat on the patio, enjoy the harbour views, and settle in for a meal. If you're travelling with a dog, even better. Pets are welcome in the outdoor seating areas, and our two favourite spots are up top where the views are fantastic or at the large high top table tucked in under the shade canopy for a large group!

    While you're in the Brackley area, we also love stopping at Oh Hey PEI. It's one of those shops where we always seem to find something we didn't know we needed. One of our favourite discoveries was finding the famous Merrickville caramels there, a little taste of home that always makes us smile.

    Right next door is the Brackley Oyster Co., consider stopping in to grab something from their freezer to take back to the cottage for a future meal. They usually have handpies from the Handpie Co. which make everyone’s day.

    For us, this outing isn't about checking attractions off a list. It's about slowing down, enjoying the drive, grabbing a great meal (or two), and taking in some of the most beautiful coastal scenery PEI has to offer.

    • Approximately 45 minutes from the cottage

    • Beautiful coastal drive and photo opportunities

    • Great for families and sightseeing

    • Easy beach access

    • Lighthouse and harbour views

    • Located within Prince Edward Island National Park

    • Since it’s a National Park, dogs are not welcome on the beach but they are welcome at Richard’s!

A woman with red hair wearing a white hat, white shirt, and black shorts walking on a wooden bridge with a railing in a grassy outdoor area on a sunny day.

Doggie Beach day at Grand Tracadie

If you're travelling with your pup, this is one experience we recommend.

Grand Tracadie Beach is one of our favourite dog-friendly beaches on the island. The beach is set up to welcome dogs and their people, making it a great place to let your four-legged companion run, swim, and make a few new friends. Think of a dog park but on a much larger scale. On a warm summer day, you'll often find dogs happily splashing in the water and playing along the shoreline.

  • After the beach, make your way to FiN Folk Food. This pet-friendly, order-at-the-counter restaurant is a great place to cool off and grab a bite to eat, with indoor air-conditioned seating available for you and your pup.

    And before you head home, don't skip Harry's Dairy Bar next door. Be sure to grab a pup cone for your four-legged travel companion and a dipped cone for yourself!

    We spent Canada Day here last summer with our family and dog, and it quickly became one of our favourite PEI memories. For us, this is the ultimate dog day, sand between your toes, salty paws, happy pups, and ice cream all around.

    • Approximately 45 minutes from the cottage

    • One of PEI's most dog-friendly beach & dining experiences

    • Great for swimming, walking, and socializing with other dogs

    • Bring water, towels, and a few treats for your adventure or grab food at Fin Folk and don’t forget the ice cream!

A lighthouse with a red top and white body, surrounded by lush green trees and a garden of purple and lilac flowers, under a cloudy sky.

If you're in the mood for wandering, shopping, and taking your time, Victoria-by-the-Sea is one of our favourite day trips on the island.

Part of the experience begins before you even arrive. As you drive into the village, the road is surrounded by water on both sides, and there's something about that view that always feels a little special. It's one of those moments that reminds us we're on an island.

A Day in Victoria-by-the-Sea

  • The village itself is full of charming shops, local artisans, colourful buildings, and little places to stop for a treat. We usually spend our time strolling the streets and popping into whatever catches our eye.

    One of our favourite stops is Wave Co. right by the wharf. The owner moved to PEI from Kingston a few years ago and absolutely loves dogs. The last time we visited, our dog, Gracie, refused to leave because she kept getting dehydrated mussels from behind the counter! We love browsing the locally made products, from PEI potatoes to the MacAusland blankets and other island-made treasures.

    We always stop at Island Chocolates for a delicious treat and when hunger strikes, we almost always end up at Richard's. The menu here is a little different from the Covehead location, which gives us an excuse to visit both.

    A good recommendation if travelling with less seafood crazed people, Casa Mia does take out orders. We'll pick up a pizza while we wait for our Richard's order and enjoy everything together at the outdoor seating area overlooking the harbour. It's become one of those quirky little traditions that just makes sense!

    For us, Victoria-by-the-Sea is one of those places where the day doesn't need much planning. Wander, browse, eat something delicious, and enjoy wherever the afternoon takes you.

    • Approximately 65minutes from the cottage

    • A small village with seasonal shops, hours can vary, so check ahead if there’s somewhere specific you’d like to visit.

    • Public washrooms available in the village.

    • Enjoy lighthouse views, coastal scenery, and plenty of local food options throughout the village.

    • Very dog friendly, most shops welcome dogs and even offer treats!

A white lighthouse with red accents on the top, windows, and benches surrounding it on a grassy area near the coast, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

A Half Day Adventure: Point Prim

If we're being honest, we don't usually make the drive to Point Prim for the lighthouse.

We go for the chowder.

The drive itself is beautiful, winding through quiet countryside and coastal scenery before eventually arriving at the tip of the peninsula. It's an easy outing to combine with another adventure, but we've also happily made the trip just for lunch.

  • Our destination is always Prim Point Chowder House. While the seafood chowder gets plenty of attention, our favourite is actually the clam chowder. In reality, we usually order both and share because neither of us wants to miss out. And whatever you do, don't skip the buttermilk biscuit. Seriously. We talk about the biscuit almost as much as the chowder.

    One of our favourite parts of lunch is grabbing a table overlooking the rocky shoreline. Dogs are welcome outside, and there's something special about sitting by the water with a bowl of chowder and an ocean breeze.

    Before heading home, we usually wander over to Point Prim Lighthouse. While dogs can't go inside the lighthouse itself, the person who stays back can enjoy walking the grounds and popping into the little gift shop. The owners always seem up for a chat, and we're continually surprised by how many locally made products they manage to fit into such a small space.

    For us, Point Prim is proof that sometimes the best PEI outings aren't the biggest ones. Sometimes all you need is a scenic drive, a lighthouse, and a really good bowl of chowder.

    • Approximately 50 minutes from the cottage

    • Dogs are welcome on the lighthouse grounds but cannot climb the lighthouse.

    • The outdoor patio at the Chowder House is dog friendly.

    • The Chowder House is seasonal so check opening days and hours before you go.

    • Public washrooms are available at the lighthouse.

A rustic dining area with a long wooden table set for a meal, adorned with potted plants, glasses, and napkins. The room features large windows, wooden walls, and decorative hanging light bulbs. There is a sign that says 'Fireworks' in the background and a brick fireplace.

A Special Night Out: FireWorks at The Inn at Bay Fortune

If you're celebrating something special—or simply looking for one of the most memorable food experiences on PEI—we can't recommend FireWorks at The Inn at Bay Fortune enough.

We've done the experience twice and would happily go again. It's definitely a splurge, but in our opinion it's worth every penny.

    • Approximately 25 minutes from the cottage

    • Make reservations well in advance, especially during peak season.

    • Plan for the entire evening.

    • Come hungry.

    • Don't make late-night plans afterwards, you'll want to linger and enjoy the experience.

    • Dogs are not welcome to the experience

  • The evening begins with a tour of the farm and gardens, where you'll learn about how much of the food served that night is grown right on the property. It's fascinating to see where everything comes from and adds a whole new appreciation for the meal that follows.

    After the tour, guests gather for a relaxed happy hour before settling in for a multi-course feast. Much of the cooking takes place over open fire, and the menu changes throughout the season based on what's growing, available, and at its peak.

    One of our favourite things about the evening is that it feels more like an event than a dinner reservation. You aren't rushing through a meal—you're spending an evening enjoying the property, the food, and the experience.

    If the full FireWorks experience isn't in the plans this trip, consider stopping by for happy hour instead. You'll still get to enjoy the beautiful setting, the gardens, and a taste of what makes this place so special.

    And one final piece of advice: save a tiny bit of room. At the end of the evening, they often bring out homemade marshmallows to roast over the fire. No matter how full we are, we somehow always find space.

    One of the things we love most about FireWorks is how connected Chef Michael Smith remains to the experience. We've visited twice and have seen him there both times—he even cooked for us during our first visit. After that first evening, we picked up one of his cookbooks and were lucky enough to have him sign it. You'll actually find it at the cottage if you'd like to flip through it during your stay.

    For us, FireWorks is one of those PEI experiences we still talk about long after we've gone home.