More than two-dozen easily accessed beaches trim the shores of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province. Take a day trip to the shore for classic beach activities such as swimming, sun tanning, and building sandcastles. Or, hike along the ocean looking for local bird life then enjoy a seaside picnic.
Be it for a romantic vacation or family day trip, Prince Edward Island beaches provide a scenic summer destination.
Summer Vacation at Cavendish Beach
PEI’s most well-known beach is the red-sand Cavendish Beach. Located in PEI National Park, the pristine beach is popular for its expansive sands, pretty vistas, and delightful summer swimming. Walk the boardwalks, hike past ocean caves, bird watch in the dunes, visit interpretive sights, or photograph the shoreline.
Also within the national park lie other favorite PEI beaches: Swim and relax at North Rustico, Brackley, Stanhope, Dalvay, or Greenwich. These sandy, warm-water beaches line the northern shore of Prince Edward Island and are close to summer cottages, the Anne of Green Gables House, and Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site.
Singing Sands Beach at Basin Head Provincial Park
Unique to Prince Edward Island, the Singing Sands Beach at Basin Head Provincial Park near Souris astounds visitors with the “singing” sound that comes from walking on the beach. The sound, according to the PEI Tourism Web site, is thought to come from the quartz sand.
Close to Basin Head, enjoy more PEI beach time at Red Point Provincial Park and Souris Provincial Park.
PEI Camping Beaches
Extend a trip to the beach by camping nearby. About half of the two dozen or so PEI provincial parks offer camping facilities close to many of the local beaches. Camp at Cabot Provincial Park, located in lesser-visited western PEI, with its scenic beach on Malpeque Bay (famed for its oysters).
Red Point Provincial Park lies close to the curious Singing Sands Beach at Basin Head and Souris, the departure point for ferries to the Magdalen Islands (Les Îles de la Madeleine).
The lighthouse and white-sand beach at Panmure Island Provincial Park are popular with families. Situated on a causeway, the park provides access to the ocean shoreline as well as sheltered swimming in St. Marys Bay. The park is also an excellent base for day trips to beaches near Murray Harbour and Gladstone.
More PEI Beaches
Find more PEI beaches in the province’s parks, both national and provincial. Visit the Tourism PEI Web site for an interactive map of the island’s public beaches. Be it supervised swimming, beach campgrounds, or historic sites, visitors will no doubt find a peaceful Prince Edward Island beach that soothes the soul.
