PEI with a baby

August is gorgeous on the East Coast and when we were in Cape Breton we snuck in a weekend getaway to Prince Edward Island. Since our home base was Sydney, Nova Scotia, we drove to Caribou and hopped on the ferry to Wood Islands, PEI. We bought our tickets online for a passenger vehicle and it was all seamless ($66 for a round trip vehicle and passengers included). Once you’ve parked your vehicle in the designated spot, you get to roam around the ferry, enjoy the scenery (sunset in our case!) and just have a lazy time bonding with the group. There are stairs around the ferry but there’s a lift as well. We chose to wear the Bjorn with the little one but we saw plenty of parents with strollers. The food is mediocre but will do when in a bind and yes, there’s high chairs onboard! Best part is that there’s a COWS ice cream shop on most ferries… the Little Monkey got a fair tasting of some maple COWS ice cream thanks to her doting Grandpa! Our diaper bag was stuffed with treats (mum mums, fruits, cheerios) and lots of books for entertainment purposes and this made for a fairly peaceful journey.

We got in pretty late and drove straight to our rental cottage in Stanhope. By the Bay Cottages was just right for us. It was conveniently located, had all the amenities we needed with a baby (including a high chair and a crib!) and made for a pleasant and relaxing stay. The stars out at night were unbelievable!  We were looking for a relaxing weekend and did things in a slow manner without much rush, which meant that everyone, including the Little Monkey, got to sleep in, soak up the sun and be fairly carefree for the two days we were in PEI.

Here’s our picks for a quick weekend trip to Prince Edward Island :

Anne of Green Gables : It was a quick stop in Cavendish to explore all things Anne of Green Gables. The trek from the library to the grandparents’ house, through the many lanes, took us only about fifteen minutes. Including a visit to the house, we spent about an hour. The place is relatively stroller friendly with the exception of the house itself. Though the guides were very friendly and watched the stroller for us while we went to explore the various rooms with the baby on our hip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drive : I’ve never seen rolling hills till I got to PEI, the island is so relaxing and peaceful, no one is in a hurry, everyone’s just doing their own thing with a smile on their face. A drive around the coast is highly recommended to get a good feel of the island. You do have to pay to enter the parks which give you access to the coastal route and it comes up to about $20 per vehicle. It’s worth it, especially if you time it at a great sunset. You can also spend the day doing the drive, swinging by the various beaches and having a dip. We were lucky that the water was actually warm (surprisingly!) and the Little Monkey and I were also able to enjoy the beach (vs. in Cape Breton).

 

 

 

New Glasgow Lobster Supper : If you’ve spoken to me about PEI, you’ve heard me raving about this charming little place. It’s a bit hick and laid back, checkered paper cloths and all but I LOVE IT. Where else can you eat your weight in mussels (buckets and buckets of it!!), enjoy a pound of lobster and then have unlimited dessert, for only $30? I was in foodie heaven. Don’t expect anything fancy, but do expect a lot of fresh seafood and friendly service. It can get busy during the rush hour but the lines move fast and they have high chairs! I’ll definitely be back to the New Glasgow Lobster Supper!

 

 

 

Gahan House : Being the beer fanatic that the hubs is we had to stop in here for some pints and appetizers. Great appys and really good brews made this the perfect place to grab a bite and spend an afternoon before we hit the road (and ferry) back to Nova Scotia. They also sell their ales here so remember to stock up! Since the Gahan House is in the heart of Charlottetown we got the chance to roam around exploring the Sunday markets and stalls before catching the evening ferry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COWS : We stopped in at over 5 COWS shops not just for the ice cream and chocolate but also for the goodies. The Little Monkey scored a lovely stuffed animal by bribing her grandmother with a smile and big MOOOOOOOOO. I’m convinced that her first word really was Moo. No Lie. She loves that thing still and it provided great entertainment (and peace) for our return drive.

 

 

It’s all about going with the flow, discovering new places and making new friends when you’re in PEI. Do it all with a baby on the hip and a beer in hand and you’re all set for a fab time!

  • Huguette E.
    December 16, 2012 at 10:23 am

    We always enjoy a vacation in PEI. Ahh the days of the Ferry, living in NB we now enjoy the bridge. Glad you enjoy the trip, love COWS 🙂

    • Yashy
      December 16, 2012 at 9:45 pm

      COWS… ah! I could use a scoop right now!

  • Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel
    July 31, 2013 at 9:05 pm

    I’ve always wanted to go to PEI – definitely a place on my wish list.
    Thanks for linking up to Travel Tuesday!

  • Laura
    January 20, 2019 at 3:40 pm

    Loved reading about your trip with a little one! We are considering a PEI trip with a 7 month old. I have some questions if you wouldn’t mind emailing me?? 🙂 [email protected]. Thanks so much for the great post!

    • Yashy
      January 20, 2019 at 6:51 pm

      Hi Laura, feel free to email the questions to [email protected] we’re actually heading back to PEI this summer as well!!

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