Dr. Lili Nasseri - Freelance Travel and Health Writer

Top Five Ways To Rediscover PEI This Summer Maritime Traveller Times & Transcript, Moncton N.B. Published: Saturday May 5, 2007 Page: G2 Neighbouring Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province, offers a wealth of natural beauty and resources. It's a great place to visit whether you have a week, a week-end or just a day! I find that we often take places like PEI for granted. Never taking the time to visit because we think it will 'always' be there. Having moved often across the great Canadian landscape, I've often regretted the little places I put off till tomorrow to visit. Sometimes there is no tomorrow. So take out your hiking boots, grab your bicycles and dig out your binoculars, cameras and beach towels. This summer, pick something you have always wanted to try or already love to do, but have always stayed close to home to do it- and make your way to PEI with an agenda to discover something new. Adventure Ever dreamed of windsurfing? Rustico Bay, located on the central north shore of PEI is touted as a premier sailing site on the Island. With winds gusting to an average of 18 knots over more than sixty meters of rolling shallows, the Island offers a great opportunity for both beginners and experts to catch a few waves. Beaches Though New-Brunswick has some beautiful beaches, nowhere else will you find the stunning burnt orange sandy landscape of PEI's Cavendish Beach. Even for those self-proclaimed 'non-beach' lovers, it is a sight to behold. (The sand and soil are red as a result of their iron oxide content, which rusts on exposure to air.) The waters are usually warm enough for a swim by mid-July. Bring a bottle of sunscreen and one of vinegar; one’s for the sun, the other for the jellyfish. Cycling The bucolic landscape of Prince Edward Island, with its green pastures and rolling hills makes for a great day of cycling. The previous train tracks have been converted to a bike path, the Confederation Trail, which connects the island from tip to tip. Deep Sea Fishing Ever dreamed of catching your own fish? Even if you haven't, a quiet day spent on the waters is a great way to relax. In PEI, you have the choice to angle mackerel, tuna and even sharks. You can charter your own boat from a large number of fishing ports along the Island's coastline and expect to have about three hours out on your own. So instead of heading over to supermarket this summer, why not try something different? Geocaching What exactly is geocaching? This is actually a modern day twist between a scavenger hunt and orienteering with a GPS in hand. This crazy new activity originated in Beaver Creek, Oregon in the year 2000, when a computer consultant, Dave Ulmer, wanting to test the accuracy of GPS units, decided to hide a stash of goods in the woods and posted its coordinates on an internet GPS users' group. The stash consisted of a logbook as well as prizes like books and videos. The only rule was that if you find it, you can take a prize as long as you leave some other thing behind for others to claim. Needless to say, the activity has taken off like wildfire and there is now even a geocaching society! If you're at all interested in learning more, check out www.geocachingpei.com/geocaching for more information. Still not sure what to do in PEI this summer? Check out their website at www.gov.pe.ca/visitorsguide or call 1-800-463-4PEI for a free brochure. Better yet, just set a weekend aside and drive there with the aim of discovering something new.

Top Five Ways To Rediscover PEI This Summer

Maritime Traveller
Times & Transcript, Moncton N.B.
Published: Saturday May 5, 2007
Page: G2

Neighbouring Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province, offers a wealth of natural beauty and resources. It's a great place to visit whether you have a week, a week-end or just a day!

I find that we often take places like PEI for granted. Never taking the time to visit because we think it will 'always' be there. Having moved often across the great Canadian landscape, I've often regretted the little places I put off till tomorrow to visit. Sometimes there is no tomorrow. So take out your hiking boots, grab your bicycles and dig out your binoculars, cameras and beach towels. This summer, pick something you have always wanted to try or already love to do, but have always stayed close to home to do it- and make your way to PEI with an agenda to discover something new.

Adventure

Ever dreamed of windsurfing? Rustico Bay, located on the central north shore of PEI is touted as a premier sailing site on the Island. With winds gusting to an average of 18 knots over more than sixty meters of rolling shallows, the Island offers a great opportunity for both beginners and experts to catch a few waves.

Beaches

Though New-Brunswick has some beautiful beaches, nowhere else will you find the stunning burnt orange sandy landscape of PEI's Cavendish Beach. Even for those self-proclaimed 'non-beach' lovers, it is a sight to behold. (The sand and soil are red as a result of their iron oxide content, which rusts on exposure to air.) The waters are usually warm enough for a swim by mid-July. Bring a bottle of sunscreen and one of vinegar; one’s for the sun, the other for the jellyfish.

Cycling

The bucolic landscape of Prince Edward Island, with its green pastures and rolling hills makes for a great day of cycling. The previous train tracks have been converted to a bike path, the Confederation Trail, which connects the island from tip to tip.

Deep Sea Fishing

Ever dreamed of catching your own fish? Even if you haven't, a quiet day spent on the waters is a great way to relax. In PEI, you have the choice to angle mackerel, tuna and even sharks. You can charter your own boat from a large number of fishing ports along the Island's coastline and expect to have about three hours out on your own. So instead of heading over to supermarket this summer, why not try something different?

Geocaching

What exactly is geocaching? This is actually a modern day twist between a scavenger hunt and orienteering with a GPS in hand. This crazy new activity originated in Beaver Creek, Oregon in the year 2000, when a computer consultant, Dave Ulmer, wanting to test the accuracy of GPS units, decided to hide a stash of goods in the woods and posted its coordinates on an internet GPS users' group. The stash consisted of a logbook as well as prizes like books and videos. The only rule was that if you find it, you can take a prize as long as you leave some other thing behind for others to claim. Needless to say, the activity has taken off like wildfire and there is now even a geocaching society! If you're at all interested in learning more, check out www.geocachingpei.com/geocaching for more information.

Still not sure what to do in PEI this summer? Check out their website at www.gov.pe.ca/visitorsguide or call 1-800-463-4PEI for a free brochure. Better yet, just set a weekend aside and drive there with the aim of discovering something new.