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Monthly Archives: April 2011

PEI A to Z

Posted on by Posted in Uncategorized .

Yesterday I completed my first PEI A to Z.  Before I start another round, let’s see what we have covered:

It was an interesting challenge, especially JQXYZ, while other letters offered so many choices I had trouble picking the best one. Tomorrow I will start over with some new subjects.  Some topics like experiences, crafts, and music will deserve more updates, while other letters will feature new subjects.

Please tune in and feel free to suggest topics:  especially for JQXYZ.

Granny ~oo~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zone 5-6 for gardening

Posted on by Posted in PEI the Garden Province .

Today I come to the end of my first ABC of Prince Edward Island.  Since I could not find too many tourism related words starting with Z, I decided to talk about gardening.  My favourite colour is blue so we will talk about Blue Gardening.

PEI has temperate weather – not too hot, not too cold.  This usually means that winter is kind to hardy plants.  You will find parts of Prince Edward Island in hardiness zone 5, 5a and 6.  To be safe, you should stick to zone 5 because the ratings vary depending whose chart you consult.  I hope you enjoy my Blue pictures:

Granny ~oo~

Blueberries

High Bush Blueberries

daylily

Blueberry Sundae Daylily

aster

Blue Danube Aster

geranium

Hardy Geranium

lily of the nile

Lily of the Nile

hosta

Hadspen Blue Hosta

iris

Victoria Falls Reblooming Iris

:-)

Your Cycling Holiday

Posted on by Posted in The Confederation Trail .

Confederation Trail

So you are planning to Cycle in PEI.  You have probably read that the Confederation Trail is surfaced.  Be sure to understand that that means the stone/cinder packed trail bed and not a PAVED roadway.  A hybrid or mountain bike is certainly preferred to a racing bike; you need wider tires for better traction.

 

tourism cycling guide

Now that we have that out of the way, you should get a trail guide.  This is a pocket size cerlox guide that is water resistant.  It should hold up to several days of rugged cycling.  I know it just went to print in April and the 2011 guide should be available for distribution shortly.  You can consult last year’s guide online.  For each featured section of the trail you can find information on accommodations, supplies, and attractions.  Note that only those who pay to be listed in the guide are featured – there may be many more interesting stops along the way.

Of course, you are not limited to the Confederation Trail.  Many cyclists like to go up to the national park:  Cavendish, Brackley, and Greenwich.  This involves travelling on some highway.  You can find a list of highways that have cycling lanes or paved shoulders on the government website.

See yesterday’s post about geocaching.  You can find several geocaches right on the trail although I have not found a way to list them seperately fromt he other hundreds in PEI.

Here are some other cycling resources:

trail markers

Remember to do some research.  If you are looking for accommodations close to the trail, it may be handy to know the trail exit closest to where you need to go.  It has been my experience that many operators do not know where they are in relation to the trail: exit number and distance from the trail. A bit of Google Map research may be helpful.  The trail is marked in Kilometres starting at zero in Tignish.  I have only found one establishment that knows exactly where it is and how far:  The Trailside Bed and Breakfast is located at 174.5.  I know there are no “.5″ markers on the trail so I guess they mean they are halfway between 174 and 175.

For more information on the trail, please refer to my previous posts.

tomorrow I will finish my first A to Z of PEI – what will Z be?

Granny ~oo~

X marks the spot

Posted on by Posted in Experiences .

treasure map

Have you ever gone treasure hunting? Have you tried Geocaching?  Geocaching can be a rewarding way to explore Prince Edward Island.  I picked a location at random and found 133 locations within 25 miles.  See this map of Downtown Charlottetown for a sample of the many geocaches located there. If you have never tried Geocaching you should do a bit of research beforehand.

Geocaching is called a sport.  While some caches are located along the street, sometimes you have to hike a fair way to get to the cache.  It is a lot like a treasure hunt.  When you get to where you are supposed to be, you have to look up and down, perhaps under a rock.  The cache itself is probably some sort of weatherproof box so the TREASURE does not get wet.

The thrill of Geocaching is the hunt for the treasure.  There is no X marks the spot.  But when you find the container, there is a sense of accomplishment and anticipation to see what trinkets you may find. Remember to bring some leave-behinds with you – you are supposed to trade so that the cache never gets depleted.

GPS

So how do you get to where you are supposed to go?  Well the geocahing site you visit will give you coordinates: longitude and latitude.  You know Google is smart enough to tell you where that is on the map, but you can’t always take Google with you in the bush.  I have had pretty good success using my portable car navigation GPS – but I cannot enter a longitude and latitude into it.  That means I have to keep guessing which way to turn to get the numbers moving in the right direction.

The best way to geocache is to have a proper handled GPS device.  It should read in degrees minutes seconds or better yet in degrees decimal.  If you plan on purchasing a unit, make sure it has enough decimal places.  For example, N 46° 16.88 W 063° 10.37 would leave you a 49 square metre area to search.  N 46° 16.881 W 063° 10.371 leave you just 1 square metre to search.  Beware, the one who hid the cache may not have been as accurate.

Not all caches yield big treasures like a Rubik cube, but you are sure to find something interesting in most of them.  Be sure not to disturb the environment and to place the cache back where you found it. Always have a pencil or pen with you – most have log books but they do not always supply a writing instrument.  If you are cycling the Confederation Trail, there are many geocache sites just a few steps from the trail.

 

Enjoy!

Granny  ~oo~

Weather on PEI

Posted on by Posted in First Timers .

PEI First Timers usually have questions about the weather.  We have maritime weather which means we seldom have temperature extremes.  If you know the geography of the East coast of North America and you know about the gulf stream, you will see that warm water from the South comes up to Nova Scotia before turning into the deep Atlantic.  This helps bring warmer weather into the area.  PEI is nestled by New Brunswick and Nova Scotia which helps protect it from other harsh weather.

Temperature

Consult this chart on the Government website.  The average summer night time temperature is 14 degrees.  This means nights are almost always cool which makes it good for sleeping.  It also means that if you walk along the beach at night, you may need a sweater or windbreaker.  Daytime temperatures are usually in the mid 20′s. This means you will not too often be hunting for shade or air conditioning. As a matter of fact, most rural accommodations do not have AC because it is not needed.  Although we do get the occasional 30+ temperatures, the wind helps keep the temperature comfortable.

-Fall

Fall temperatures are very nice.  PEI is a popular destination for people who love to experience nature without the hustle and bustle. They can enjoy off-season rates while the weather is still warm.  There are also many special events int he fall such as fall flavours.

-Spring

Spring in PEI is unpredictable.  You can come to PEI in June and still see ice floes on the North Shore.  This year, all the snow and ice was gone well before Easter.  I gathered these pictures from Greenvale Acres.  Taken a year apart in the beginning of June, notice the difference in vegetation growth.

Hosta June 2005

Vegetation Growth June 5 2005

Hosta June 2006

Vegetation Growth, June 4 2006

Wind

Yes it gets windy in Prince Edward Island.  We have several wind farms here because of it.  Average wind speeds (not sure exactly what that means) are in excess of 16KPH almost everywhere on PEI.  And yes it gets windier.  It is not unusual to get winds at 30KPH and gusts to 40 or 50.  When the wind gusts exceed 70KPH the Confederation Bridge is closed to high sided vehicles.  At higher speeds the authorities close the bridge completely.  Taking winds into consideration and the cool evenings, again, remember to have appropriate outer wear.

Winter

The maritime weather patterns tend to isolate PEI from the cold harshness found in the Northern states, Southern Ontario and Quebec. Many winters feature light snow cover but we do get the occasional zingers.  In 2004, White Juan closed the Island down for a day or two.  it was several days before roads were re-opened across the province.

snowed in

Trying to find my car

house engulfed in snow

see the snow half way up the door of the house

road narrowed by snow

This is a three lane major highway just after the storm subsided

Hurricanes

Hurricane Juan of 2003 is perhaps the most memorable recent event.  PEI usually gets 1-2 Hurricane warnings per year.  Most hurricanes lose their intensity as they approach the Eastern Seaboard. Those that make it further North are often downgraded as they make land in Nova Scotia – They bear the brunt of most major storms that make it this far North.  So if you visit PEI in September or October, you should keep an ear out for weather forecasts.

 

Tomorrow, X marks the spot.

Granny ~oo~

Victoria by the Sea

Posted on by Posted in PEI the Garden Province .

victoria by the sea

Victoria by the Sea is a small village on the South shore of Prince Edward Island near Crapaud.  Somewhat like a pioneer village, it features several old houses that have been converted to shoppes and restaurants.  There are 8 place s to find food in Victoria so you are sure not to go hungry.  There is also one hotel, one inn and one B&B.

The Shopping

coach house antiques

Coach House Antiques is a house filled to the brim with all sorts of treasures. I always enjoy looking for unique finds.

island chocolates

Island Chocolates:  need I say More?

Books

I have heard of a new bookstore called Kit Marlowe and Company – details to follow.

Red Sand Jewellery

Red Sand Jewellery features one-of-a-kind items made by a local artisan.  With so many mass produced items on the market, it is refreshing to see something unique.

Victoria’s Glass Studio features glass art, jewellery, crafts , and more.  The website reference I found is www.natures-creation.ca but it seems to be broken.  I hope this is not a sign that the shop is closed.

 

This is just a small sampling of what you may find.  There are many other shops and attractions to visit including the Victoria Playhouse.  Victoria by the sea is a small village.  You can park the car and spend the day walking about, enjoying the scenery.

Victoria By The Sea is a place were you can experience Prince Edward Island without the distractions of amusement parks, large hotel complexes or vehicles hurrying by.

Tomorow, more about the Weather.

Granny ~oo~

 

Unusual PEI Experiences

Posted on by Posted in Experiences .

Authentic PEI Experiences

If you look up Unusual PEI Experiences you may come upon 12 great experiences. This is a collection of 48 experiences including food, attractions, festivals, and shops.  You can also find Experience PEI, a collection of four dozen activities managed by one host.  The other major collection is Authentic PEI Experiences.  Here is s sampling:

 

ceilidh on the water

Ceilidh on the water: labelled the only kitchen party on the water, this 2 hour cruise runs in July and August.  The cost is $52 per person with discounts for seniors and children.

 

pei potato museum

The PEI Potato Museum hosts a potato farm tour, making of potato fudge, and a potato lunch.  This activity runs from June to September at a cost of $49 per person.

explore the beaches

Beachin it is a cruise that helps you see the beaches from a different perspective.  You will visit three beaches near the eastern tip of PEI.  This half day trip will cost $150.

lavender

The Five Sisters of Lavender invite you to fall in love with lavender.  You will learn about the dozens of uses for lavender.  You can also enjoy a campfire chat and take a fairy dust walk in the woods. Bring a small flashlight to help you find the fairy dust on the trail.

Tune in Tomorrow for Victoria by the sea.

Granny  ~oo~

 

TEA in PEI

Posted on by Posted in Experiences .

Child Tea

When I was a child I loved to play dressup. I’d put on a fancy dress and slip my little feet into mommy’s shoes.  I’d clippety clop across the floor with my little tea set to organize the perfect table.  I also had my singing teapot to keep me company.

That feeling probably never goes away.  That is probably why grown up ladies like to go out for tea.  Tea in itself is an experience.  We like to see the doilies, the fancy napkins, the crystal, the delicate china and accouterments that all have to be washed by hand, lest the dishwasher ruin the glaze on the china.  Then, of course, there is the tea. I read another blog today on the different types of tea and how everything has become a specialty.

So if you are a fan of tea, there is lots for you in Prince Edward Island.  However, beware of the term tea room.  To me a tea room is  a place where you go to dress up, put on  a fancy hat, enjoy tea and scones or crumpets, and perhaps indulge in sweets and savouries.  It seems today that several “restaurants” call themselves tea rooms and may only occasionally offer the delicacies noted above.

The Prince Edward Island Preserve Company has a tea shoppe where you can find all sorts of tea paraphernalia.  Of course you can also enjoy a fine cup of tea in their restaurant.

 

I saw an ad for a dress up tea party in Charlottetown on May 15th.  I wonder if there is room for me – sounds like a lot of fun.

 

kitchen witch

The Kitchen Witch Tearoom is located just outside New London.  They offer a full menu and a selection of gluten free products.

 

cardigan tea room

The Cardigan Tearoom is an elegant little eatery located in the craft centre.  They offer a varied light lunch menu.  The craft centre is located in what was the train station and offers some history of the rails on PEI.

 

In addition to those noted above and according to the tea guide, there are 6 active tea room in Prince Edward Island.

 

Lady Baker’s Tea Trolley is a good place to buy tea. They are among the tea suppliers to Island businesses.  I see from their website that they won an award for innovative packaging.  Of course you can also have a good cuppa tea there also.

 

Tea Party at Dalvay

In Dalvay by the Sea there is an elegant tearoom in a historic home.  Only open for tea in the summertime, you can get the full Afternoon Tea Experience for $22 per person. They also offer an afternoon tea and tour.  And yes, there is also a full service restaurant on the premises.

 

blue winds

The Blue Winds Tea Room apparently serves high tea only one day a week.  Their website may be down for the winter but you should check on their availability when the summer season arrives.

 

harbour lights

The Harbour Lights Guest House is located in North Lake, not far from Elmira which was the end of the railroad line.  They offer an east-east tea tasting, gonfu style.

 

mrs profitts

Mrs. Profitt’s Tea Room is located in Victoria by the sea. It is in the front of the Orient Hotel.  From recollection, there are 6 tables and they offer a traditional English Style savouries, sandwiches, and sweets.  There are no prices on their online menu.  They are open from June to September.

grandma's tea room

In Winsloe, you will find Grandma’s  Tea Room. They feature a tea sniffing bar where you can select your own interesting tea aroma. I found an good article there on the difference between high tea and afternoon tea.  Their afternoon tea is $19.95 per person.  Although they are open year round, they only have set hours in the summertime:  other times by chance or appointment.  This tea room is in the owner’s home and you should not be afraid to call.  If they are at home, they can probably open for you.  Note this is the same place I talked about yesterday with the scrapbooking and tea experience . . . and where I found my topic idea for today.

 

Tomorrow, more on Unique experiences in PEI.

Granny ~oo~

 

Scrapbooking in PEI

Posted on by Posted in Crafts .

Lucy Maud Montgomery ScrapbookThere is a connection between scrapbooking and Prince Edward Island.  The Confederation Centre has a display of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Scrapbooks.  Yes, she was a scrapbooker who collected various newspaper articles that helped showcase Canadian Heritage and culture the way she saw it.  You can still find “Imagine Anne” in bookstores.  The commemorative book was published for the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables.

So where can you get scrapbooking supplies in PEI?  While not as popular as it once was, you can still find some scrapbooking supplies at dollar stores and other discount shops like Buy Rite. According to cropacrosscanada.com, there are three major scrapbooking stores on Prince Edward Island:

one stop crop

One Stop Crop is located in Kensington.  They have a Facebook page.  Their picture album shows off the many nice page layouts they have put together. They have scrapbooking supplies and they hold classes.

scrapbook studio

The ScrapBook Studio is in Charlottetown.  They have tools and paper products.  They also hold classes.

Island Made

The Island Made Scrapbooking Gift Shop is located in Winsloe.  They have PEI borders, picture buttons, tags and several other items with a PEI or Nautical theme.  While they don’t seem to have classes, they have a studio where you can scrapbook your vacation photos – good idea for a rainy day.  They also have a half day experience that includes garden tour, tea and scones, and a scrapbooking “make and take.”

Tomorrow we’ll talk about tea.

Granny ~oo~

Relax on PEI

Posted on by Posted in PEI the Garden Province .

Prince Edward Island has a lot of catch phrases associated with it:

  • The Garden Province
  • Garden of the Gulf
  • Million Acre Farm
  • Abegeweit (Cradle on the waves)
  • Birthplace of Confederation
  • Spud Island
  • Come Play on our Island
  • The Gentle Island

I remember the year when New Brunswick said “We don’t do ordinary”.  The same year, Prince Edward Island launched “The Gentle Island”.  At one point I also saw “the gentle island of rejuvenation.”

You can still find your way to the tourism website just by using http://gentleisland.com; still, I prefer the more user friendly http://peiplay.com.

Yes it is true.  Prince Edward Island is a place where you can come to rejuvenate.  It is a place of serene countryside, provides a laid back atmosphere and plenty of beaches where you can relax and soak in the rays.  So I invite you to admire some of the beauty PEI has to offer by looking at a few of my favourite pictures:  click to enlarge.

beach scenefield of dreamsBuffalo Parksunflowers

 

Tune in tomorrow for Scrapbooking.

Granny ~oo~