Pedaling PEI

Prince Edward Island is made for outdoor adventures: beaches, endless country roads, a tip-to-tip cycling trail and parks. Oh, and it's an island. You might think of the little girl named Anne and her Green Gables 'hood, but you need not be part of that scene to travel to Prince Edward Island. In addition to a heap of Celtic culture, with nightly musical extravaganzas at pubs from coast to coast, the province has an incredible local food scene and a thriving community of artists. PEI also shines with its parks, its beaches and its ocean adventures. In addition, with budget-friendly trips all the rage this summer, PEI is a short two-day drive from Toronto.

What to do: Cycling is probably the best reason to travel to Prince Edward Island. The Confederation Trail is an ideal choice for a week or two cycling vacation. Running along an abandoned railway line, the trail stretches the entire length of the province, 279 kilometers from the town of Tignish at the western end of PEI to Elmira in the east, with an additional 78 kilometers of side trails. From cute country towns, ample ocean views, forested side roads to plentiful parks, Confederation Trail packs an abundance of landscapes and sites into a few hundred kilometers. Thanks to its rail roots, the trail is flat in most sections and the surface is crushed gravel for most of the way. Bright, plum-coloured gates mark the entry points to the trail, which is shared with hikers and walkers. The western section of the trail begins at the town of Tignish in the windy North Cape area and includes mixed woodlands, quiet streams, wetlands, and more, before heading into the farmland around Elmsdale and O'Leary. Highlights of this area include the Potato Museum and Wellington, the gateway to the Acadian Region of the province, before the trail moves into the rolling hills of the central region. Hardwood forests dominate this section of the trail, in addition to a short side trip to the province's capital city, Charlottetown. Try to find the time to take a gander at Charlottetown's waterfront if you have the chance. Stunning. The eastern section begins at Mount Stewart and travels through a variety of terrain and charming villages on the Cardigan River. Other highlights of the area include Harmony Junction and East Point, the best place to in the province to view seabirds. 

Local flavour: While in Tignish, consider partaking in some special seaweed treats -- they love the stuff down there and even have an annual Irish Moss Festival to prove it. Stop in at the town of Miminegash and sample some seaweed pie, for example. Not into seaweed? Prince Edward Island is also known for its shellfish, specifically the praise-worthy Malpeque oysters harvested near the town of Malpeque in western PEI. A fine place to stop and sample after a long day on the trail. Try the Malpeque Oyster Barn in the harbour for a no-muss, no-fuss experience in freshness.

Side trip: Hit the beach! PEI has an abundance of beautiful, largely uncrowded beaches (90 at last count) with stunning dune systems that provide incredible scenery. Best bets include the Jacques Cartier Provincial Park, Cabot Beach Provincial Park, Cape Bear and Panmure Island Provincial Park.

While you're there: From August 15 to 29, PEI plays host to the Canada Games featuring the finest amateur athletes in the country, and one of the largest multi-sport competitions in the world. This year, triathlon makes its debut at the Games with a competition centered at the Summerside waterfront with the transition area located at Terminal Marine Wharf. For a full rundown of the two-week event, visit www.2009canadagames.ca.

Where to stay: The province is overrun with bed & breakfast establishments and cute country inns. To get you on your way in style, consider spending a night at the West Point Lighthouse Inn, Museum and Restaurant www.westpointlighthouse.com, Canada's first inn in an active lighthouse.

How to get there: Air Canada, WestJet and Sunwing airlines all offer services from Toronto to PEI. If driving, Prince Edward Island is 1,600 kilometers from Toronto, but you get to drive across the stunning 13-kilometre Confederation Bridge.