Stepping onto the red dirt of Canada’s smallest province immediately shifts your family into a lower gear. The salty air, the rolling green hills, and the endless stretches of coastline create an environment where kids can simply run, dig, and explore without the overwhelming stimulation of a major metropolis. When you are looking for things to do in prince edward island with kids, you quickly realize that the island's magic lies in its tactile, outdoor experiences rather than massive theme parks or indoor entertainment centers.
Traveling here with young children requires a specific mindset. The pace is slower, the weather can change rapidly from a sunny beach day to a windy afternoon requiring fleece jackets, and the best moments often happen while hunting for sea glass or watching fishing boats return to the harbor. Whether you are navigating a stroller across a boardwalk or managing a toddler's epic sandcastle ambitions, this guide will help you craft an itinerary that balances parental sanity with childhood wonder.
To explore more of our general recommendations for the island, be sure to check out our complete Prince Edward Island city guide.
Top Things to Do in Prince Edward Island with Kids
Building a daily itinerary on the island usually revolves around the weather. When the sun is shining, you head to the shore; when it is overcast, you explore the historical villages and local farms. Here are the absolute best spots to prioritize.
Unforgettable Beach Days
You cannot visit this maritime province without spending significant time on the sand. Basin Head Beach is legendary for its "Singing Sands." Because of the high silica content, the white sand literally squeaks under your feet as you walk, which toddlers and older kids alike find endlessly entertaining. The beach features a channel bridge that serves as a local rite of passage for older kids jumping into the current, though families with little ones will prefer the calm, shallow edges. Facilities here are solid, with washrooms, showers, and a small concession stand. Expect to pay a standard provincial park entry fee (around $10-15 CAD / $7-11 USD per vehicle).
For a more dramatic and quieter beach experience, head to Greenwich (PEI National Park). The main Cavendish beaches can get incredibly crowded, but Greenwich offers a spectacular floating boardwalk that crosses a marshland before opening up to the province's largest sand dunes. The boardwalk is completely stroller-accessible, making the 15-minute walk from the parking lot a breeze.
If you want a break from the saltwater, Sandbanks Provincial Park on the western side of the island offers a spectacular freshwater beach system. It features the world's largest baymouth barrier dune formation and incredibly calm, warm waters that are perfect for wobbly toddlers who are intimidated by ocean waves.
Hands-On History and Culture
Traditional museums can be a hard sell for energetic children, but PEI excels at living history. The Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation - Orwell Corner Historic Village is a massive hit with families. This charming 19th-century living history village allows kids to step back in time. They can watch a real blacksmith at work, visit the farm animals, and run freely across the expansive green lawns. It is highly interactive, and the staff are incredibly patient with curious toddlers.
If you want an organized activity that gets you out of the car, Experience PEI is phenomenal. They offer authentic, hands-on Island adventures tailored for families, such as digging for clams on the mudflats or learning to make traditional Acadian dishes. It is a fantastic way to engage older kids and preschoolers in the local culture without feeling like they are in a classroom.
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Thrills and Playtime
Sometimes you just need a place for the kids to burn off a morning sugar rush. The Mark Chicken Coop Playground (Charlottetown) is a modern, high-quality community playground located near the Simmons Sports Centre. It features four distinct play zones, safe rubberized flooring, and plenty of seating for tired parents. It is entirely free and a great pit-stop if you are spending the day in the capital city.
For a quirky, memorable experience, check out the Haunted Mansion Kensington. This is a surprisingly high-quality walk-through haunted house set in a Tudor-style mansion. It features impressive animatronics and optical illusions. A major bonus for parents: they have a "chicken bypass" route for younger or more sensitive kids, and the outdoor grounds feature a lovely garden and small amusement rides that are perfect for preschoolers.
Eating Out in Prince Edward Island with Kids
Dining on the island ranges from casual seafood shacks where sand on the floor is expected, to upscale farm-to-table experiences. With toddlers, casual is always the winning strategy.
Seafood Shacks and Casual Bites
You cannot leave the island without visiting Richard's Fresh Seafood. Located right on the Covehead wharf in the National Park, this legendary fish shack serves what many consider the island's best lobster roll and fish and chips. You order at the window and eat on the rooftop deck or picnic tables overlooking the water. It is loud, casual, and incredibly child-friendly. Parent Tip: The lines here can take over an hour during peak summer lunch rushes. Arrive right when they open at 11:30 AM to secure a table and avoid a toddler meltdown.
Family-Friendly Dining Experiences
For a sit-down meal that caters beautifully to families, The Preserve Company in New Glasgow is a standout. Housed in a historic butter creamery, it offers riverside dining with a very accommodating children's menu. But the real draw for families is what happens after the meal. The property features a beautiful butterfly house, expansive Gardens of Hope, and rescued animals that kids can visit. It turns a standard lunch into a two-hour activity. Strollers navigate the property easily, and high chairs are plentiful.
High-End Dining (Proceed with Caution)
If you are traveling with teenagers or have secured a local babysitter, The Table Culinary Studio is a spectacular high-end farm-to-table destination set in a renovated church. They offer a sophisticated 7-course tasting menu focused entirely on hyper-local ingredients. However, this is absolutely not a place for toddlers or restless young children; the experience is lengthy and intimate.
Similarly, establishments like Claddagh Oyster House or Sims Corner in Charlottetown are designed for quiet, slow-paced dining. They lack high chairs and the environment is not forgiving of a dropped fork or a tired toddler's vocal complaints. Skip these unless you are enjoying a parent-only evening.
Getting Around & Transportation Adventures
Getting to and around the island is an adventure in itself, and requires a bit of logistical planning when traveling with kids.
Bridges and Ferries
There are two main ways to access the island with a vehicle, and both are thrilling for kids. The Confederation Bridge is a 12.9-kilometer engineering marvel that crosses the Northumberland Strait. It takes about 10-12 minutes to drive across. Important note: You only pay the toll (around $50 CAD / $37 USD) when you leave the island, not when you arrive.
Alternatively, the Northumberland Ferries – Wood Islands to Caribou offers a 75-minute scenic voyage that turns a long drive into a maritime adventure. Kids love getting out of their car seats, walking the decks, feeling the ocean wind, and looking for seals. The ferries have small cafeterias and washrooms with changing tables.
Navigating the Island
You absolutely need a rental car to explore PEI. Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft do not operate on the island, and rural taxi companies are incredibly limited and often require booking a day in advance. If you are staying in a rural cottage or anywhere outside of downtown Charlottetown, a vehicle is non-negotiable for family travel.
Age-Specific Tips for Things to Do in Prince Edward Island with Kids
Tailoring your island itinerary to your children's developmental stages will save you a lot of frustration. What fascinates a three-year-old might bore a thirteen-year-old, and vice versa.
Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
For this age group, the island is a giant sensory bin. While the famous North Shore beaches (like Cavendish) boast soft white sand, the South Shore (known as the Red Sands Shore) is famous for its rocky tidal pools. Toddlers can spend hours here poking at hermit crabs and splashing in the shallow, sun-warmed water left behind by the receding tide. Crucial tip: The rocks and shells here are sharp. Pack sturdy, closed-toe water shoes for your toddlers; bare feet will result in tears. Also, be mindful of delicate tourist shops. There is a well-known porcelain shop in Charlottetown filled with thousands of fragile pieces at toddler-eye-level—skip these high-stress environments entirely.
Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
Preschoolers thrive on the island's gentle outdoor pacing. This is the perfect age for the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation - Orwell Corner Historic Village mentioned earlier. They are also the perfect age for cycling. The Confederation Trail spans over 400km across the island on old railway beds, meaning it is entirely flat and free of vehicle traffic. The stretch from Morell to St. Peters is particularly scenic and family-friendly. Rent a bike trailer or a tag-along bike and enjoy a safe, easy afternoon ride.
School-Age (Ages 6-10)
Kids in elementary school are ready for more active adventures. A quintessential island experience for this age is Rustico Bay Deep-Sea Fishing. Families board a rugged, safe fishing boat to head out onto the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The crew helps kids haul in mackerel and cod, and they often pull up a lobster trap to show the kids how it works. The trips are usually only a few hours long—perfect before seasickness or boredom sets in.
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Tweens and Teens (Ages 11-14)
Older kids might roll their eyes at Anne of Green Gables, but they will love the island's outdoor sports. Northshore Surf School offers fantastic family-friendly surfing lessons on PEI's scenic north shore. The waves here are generally smaller and more forgiving than ocean swells in places like California or Hawaii, making it an ideal spot for beginners to build confidence. If you visit outside of peak beach season (or just want a woodland adventure), Brookvale Provincial Park (officially the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park) is PEI's year-round outdoor adventure hub. In the summer, it offers miles of thrilling mountain biking trails suitable for adventurous teens.
What to Skip in Prince Edward Island with Kids
Not every brochure-worthy attraction translates to a good time with children. Protect your time, your wallet, and your patience by crossing these off your list.
PEI Potato Museum
While taking a photo in front of the giant fiberglass potato statue in the parking lot is a classic PEI memory, you do not need to pay to go inside with young kids. The museum itself is incredibly text-heavy and relies on static displays of antique farming equipment. Unless you have a child with a hyper-specific interest in agricultural history, toddlers and preschoolers will be begging to leave within five minutes.
Province House National Historic Site
Often listed in older guidebooks as the "Birthplace of Confederation," this site has been a literal construction zone since 2015. The historic interior is completely closed to the public for a massive conservation project. Do not plan a day around visiting this building, as you will only be looking at scaffolding and protective fencing.
Wax World of the Stars (Cavendish)
Located in the heart of the Cavendish tourist strip, this dated wax museum is expensive and often confusing for kids. The figures frequently fall deep into the 'uncanny valley,' proving more creepy than entertaining. Many of the celebrities featured are from eras your children will not recognize. Save your admission money for an extra round of mini-golf or ice cream instead.
Woodleigh Replicas
Once a premier PEI attraction featuring massive, explorable scale models of British landmarks (like the Tower of London), Woodleigh has been closed for years and is now a shadow of its former self, slowly being reclaimed by nature. It is not an active attraction, despite occasionally popping up on outdated travel blogs.
International Fox Museum and Hall of Fame
This is a tiny, one-room museum in Summerside focused on the history of the silver fox fur farming industry, which boomed on the island in the early 20th century. It is mostly photographs and pelts. It is entirely unengaging for children and the subject matter (fur farming) can prompt difficult conversations you might not want to have on vacation.
Wyatt Heritage Properties – Lefurgey Cultural Centre
This is a traditional Victorian heritage house focused on local history and art. The displays are static, there is a strict "do not touch" vibe, and it lacks the interactive, run-around freedom that makes places like Orwell Corner so successful with kids.
Prince Edward Island Brewing Company & Terre Rouge Craft Kitchen (Charlottetown)
While the brewing company does offer wood-fired pizza, it is fundamentally a high-volume party and event venue, especially on weekends. It lacks the relaxed, family-friendly brewery vibe found in other cities. Similarly, Terre Rouge is an upscale spot focusing on sophisticated small plates in an intimate, adult-oriented atmosphere. Bring the kids to a lively patio on Victoria Row instead.
Pro Tips from Parents for a Smooth PEI Trip
- The COWS Ice Cream Hack: COWS ice cream is a mandatory PEI experience, but the flagship locations at the Charlottetown waterfront and Cavendish Boardwalk often have 45-minute wait times in the hot sun. Instead, drive 10 minutes to the COWS Creamery factory location on Capital Drive in Charlottetown. The lines are shorter, parking is free and easy, and you can take a quick, stroller-friendly tour to see how the ice cream and t-shirts are made.
- Park Pass Math: If you plan to visit the beautiful beaches of Cavendish, Brackley, and Greenwich over more than three days, do not buy daily passes. The Parks Canada family seasonal pass is cheaper and allows you to bypass the daily entry lines, getting you onto the sand much faster.
- Beware the Late Summer Stingers: Late August brings Lion's Mane jellyfish to the warmer North Shore waters. Their stings are painful and can ruin a beach day. Before heading to the beach, check the 'PEI Beach Reports' Facebook group, where locals post daily updates on water conditions, wave sizes, and jellyfish sightings.
- Pack Layers, Always: The island breeze is real. A sunny 75°F (24°C) day can feel chilly the moment the wind picks up off the water. Always have a windbreaker or fleece packed in the stroller or beach bag, even in mid-July.
Prince Edward Island offers a rare kind of family vacation—one where you aren't rushing from one overwhelming attraction to the next. Instead, you are measuring the success of your day by the number of seashells collected, the stickiness of ice cream on chins, and the depth of the sleep your kids fall into on the drive back to your cottage. By prioritizing outdoor play, avoiding the fragile indoor spaces, and embracing the island's relaxed rhythm, you will find that planning things to do in prince edward island with kids is wonderfully uncomplicated. Pack the water shoes, prepare for some red dirt on your pant legs, and enjoy the maritime magic.