Postcard from Prince Edward Island

OK, I admit it. I originally wanted to go to Prince Edward Island because I’m a dork, and, like every dorky Canadian girl, Anne of Green Gables was my heroine. There, I’ve said it! But it turns out that there’s so much more to this charming wee island. For one thing, it’s so pretty that I thought I was being punked, and kept looking over my shoulder to see if someone was about to rip away the postcard-perfect backdrop of adorable old homes dotting the coastline. It also turns out that “the gentle island” is the perfect place to travel with a toddler. The laid-back pace and über-friendly people, who never seemed to be annoyed by my then-18-month-old, Ben, no matter how badly behaved he was, nearly shocked this city girl into relaxation. So if nap time goes over a little, don’t worry, you’ll still make it to the lobster supper and ceilidh on time.

A version of this article appeared in our June 2013 issue with the headline "Prince Edward Island", p. 28.

Victoria by the Sea is a pretty little fishing town, complete with a circa 1879 lighthouse. Wander the leafy streets and check out all the small galleries.

Fresh seafood at Lot 30 restaurant.

Ben could have lived at the sprawling Shining Waters Family Fun park, which had a waterpark, a petting zoo, a playground, carousel and boat rides.

A "vintage" photograph of your family in pioneer garb from Grandpa's Antique Photo Studio.

Want to dig for clams or go lobster fishing? The province’s “Experience PEI” program offers everything from a GPS-lead historical scavenger hunt through Charlottetown to sailing. And while I thought Ben was probably a little young to go lobster fishing, the Sensational Sandcastle Experience sounded right up his alley. Sandcastle maestro Maurice Bernard met us on the beach carrying all sorts of buckets and tools to create some epic sandcastle architecture. (And here I thought all you had to do was fill a bucket and turn it upside down. What an amateur!) In short order, we had made a sprawling mini-city that Daddy really enjoyed building, while Ben really enjoyed pretending the toy animals (which Bernard had also smartly brought) were running up and down all the perfect staircases.

Deputy editor Leah Rumack and her family relax like the locals in the land of Anne of Green Gables.