Prince Edward Island is actually several islands, the main one that bears the name and several others. It has been called the “Garden of the Gulf” because of its lush, pastoral scenery. It is home to just 141,000 residents. The community lies north of Nova Scotia and east of New Brunswick. It has two urban areas; the largest and the capital of the island is Charlottetown, built around Charlottetown Harbor. The other, smaller town is called Summerside, built around Summerside Harbor. When looking up information about Prince Edward Island you’ll often see it abbreviated to “PEI”.
PEI is not small; it is actually 2,184 square miles. It is 139 miles long and from 4 to 40 miles wide. There is an 8 mile long bridge between the island and the mainland but if you prefer you can take a ferry or airplane.
PEI greets a visitor with rolling hills, forests, sandy beaches and ocean coves, its famous red soil and incomparable natural beauty. Strict laws help protect that landscape from becoming polluted or over-developed.
There are lots of things to do and see on PEI with the beautiful beaches, golf courses, eco-tourism adventures, tooling around the countryside or attending cultural events in local communities. The rural communities are laid back and imbued with an old world ambiance; no one is in a hurry and everyone appreciates every minute of the day. Most rural economies depend on agriculture although industrial farming is increasing. Tourism is an important part of the island’s economy.
Tourists come from all over the world to see the red sandstone cliffs, salt water marshes, long beaches and explore the bays, coves and harbors. You won’t want to miss Basin Head, whose beach is made of white silica sand; the grains emit a noise as they are walked upon and rub against each other, earning the beach the name “the singing sands”.
There is fishing, hunting, biking, hiking, musicals, movies, cultural festivals and live entertainment in taverns and eating establishments. There are frequent musical events focused on genres such as the tango, Scottish highland music and dancing. An annual King Arthur’s Kitchen serves authentic food of the Middle Ages cooked and served by people in period costumes. You can enjoy classical music concerts and live performances by contemporary artists in all music genres.
PEI has moderately cold winters with frequent temperature swings caused by Arctic air colliding with the milder Atlantic air. Summers are warm but very comfortable with a top temp of 86°.
Housing is quite reasonable and particularly suited to those looking for a place to retire. Apartments can be rented from $500 up depending on the area you settle in and houses can be bought for as little as $90,000.
The economy depends mainly on tourism, agriculture and fishing. Recently, though, the focus has been on bioscience, aerospace and renewable energy, all of which has given the island’s economy a boost. It does have the highest sales tax at 10% for nearly all goods and services other than food, home heating fuel and some clothing. Wind turbines provide 15% of the island’s electricity. Minimum wage is $9 per hour.
You are definitely not isolated on Prince Edward Island. There are 2 main airports located in Charlottetown and Summerside plus a good highway system and regular ferry service to the mainland.
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