Lovely Charlottetown

Charlottetown is the capital of Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island.

The Confederation Centre of the Arts is housed in an ultra-modern building. It was opened in 1964 and covers an entire city block. The centre is Canada's national monument to Confederation. It includes a museum, art gallery, provincial library, two theaters, and a restaurant. The centre is best known as the venue for the annual summer production of “Anne of Green Gables – the Musical”. The production is part of the annual Charlottetown Festival from June to September.

Recognizable against the skyline of the city are the red sandstone spires of St. Dunstan's Basilica. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of the province. The basilica was built in the French neo-Gothic style at the end of the 19th century. It is a designated National Historic Site and is one of the largest buildings of its kind in eastern Canada.

Across from the basilica on Great George Street, you'll find the historical statue of two John Hamilton Grays who attended the Charlottetown Conference in 1964. They were the two Fathers of the Confederation.

Designed by Canadian architect W.C. Harris, Beaconsfield House was built in 1877. The house is an impressive example of Victorian architecture. It has lacy wooden decorations, a mansard roof, and a graceful dome. Today it is home to the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation and a bookshop. It also hosts exhibitions of local history and lectures and concerts are held here.

There are beautiful Victorian neighborhoods for walking and taking guided or self-guided walking tours is a popular thing to do. Walks along Richmond, Grafton, and Kent Streets will take you through neighborhoods with gabled houses, parks, and gardens.

The beautiful Gothic Revival St. Paul's Anglican Church sits on Grafton Street.

In the Great George Street Historic District, a National Historic Site you can find some of the most beautiful old wooden homes.

Fort Edward Battery is in a strategic position on the harbor. The waterfront boardwalk leads from the city center toward Victoria Park and the battery. You can see a row of cannons and small barracks. The battery was moved to its present location in 1805 and was named Fort Edward.

Victoria Park is the largest of the parks in Charlottetown. It is a great place with grassy lawns, tennis courts, a playground, and a swimming pool.

Set among the formal gardens of Victoria Park is the white Government House. It is also known as Fanningbank. This Georgian-style building became the official seat of the Governor of the island after 1835. Today this is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of PEI.

Victoria Row is a traffic-free area popular for shopping. In the summertime, there are sidewalk cafes and restaurants. People can listen to live music from an open stage at night. Along one side of the street, people play chess and checkers at picnic tables.

Peakes Wharf is a wonderful place along the harbor for waterfront lunches, boat tours, and views of the harbor. There are free daily and evening concerts in July and August.

Confederation Landing is a waterside park with a boardwalk, gazebos, benches, and an inline skate park. It is a favorite place in June when roses are in bloom.

Province House, the “Birthplace of Canada” is part of the Province House National Historic Site. It is a three-story sandstone building that was built between 1843 and 1847. Today it is the seat of the Parliament of Prince Edward Island. The parliamentary rooms are open to visitors.

Prince Edward Island National Park is less than a half-hour drive from Charlottetown. The park has beautiful red-sand beaches.

Within the park is Green Gables, the farmhouse and land made famous by Lucy Maud Montgomery in her book “Anne of Green Gables”. Today it is a National Historic Site. The house is open to visitors as Montgomery's childhood home.

Blockhouse Point Lighthouse is a wooden structure that is a key navigational aid and the second oldest lighthouse on the island.