Are you an Anne of Green Gables superfan? Keep scrolling to check out my actual itinerary for my recent Anne of Green Gables tour on Prince Edward Island in Canada!
This 4-day Prince Edward Island itinerary was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.When I first saw Hayley Solano’s Instagram posts about her first group tour to Prince Edward Island to celebrate all things Anne of Green Gables, I knew I needed to be on her next trip.
I’ve tried to plan my own trip to PEI, but got stuck with the travel logistics from Seattle (as well as finding people to travel with that would want to deep dive into all things Anne).
So, I signed up for the Enchanted Book Club , entered the tour lottery, and got lucky!
In this post, I’ll break down exactly what happened on this Anne of Green Gables tour so you can decide if you want to join next time.
How I Spent 4 Days on Prince Edward Island
So, before I really get into the full itinerary, I wanted to share that I actually arrived around midnight and this itinerary starts on my first full day.
We had a driver pick up a few tour guests (including our tour leader Hayley Solano of the Enchanted Book Club) and he already had our room keys and took us directly to our rooms. It was really nice to not have to worry about checking in.
My room at the Kindred Spirits Inn was fabulous! It was very spacious and I loved the white wicker furniture, the sofa, the large minifridge, and the closet that was big enough for me to put my suitcase on the ground.
Day 1: Arrival & Welcome Dinner
When I arrived at the Charlottetown Airport the night before, I met another person on my tour who was also from Seattle. Small world!
We ended up seeing each other at breakfast and then decided to explore the area together since our tour didn’t officially kick off until dinnertime.
We walked over to the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place to check out their gift shop (tons of cool items, including Raspberry Cordial) and then walked to Cavandesh Beach.
After a quick rest at the Inn, we met up for lunch at Turkey Tavern , which I highly recommend. Their turkey salad sandwich and coleslaw were both amazing and we got a hot tip to dip our chips in cranberry sauce (total game-changer!)
Plus, our waitress gave us the full scoop on Avonlea Village and her shared love of Anne of Green Gables!
I took another rest after lunch before meeting the group in front of the Inn for our first dinner together.
Welcome Dinner
We all gathered in front of the Inn and got name tags that we wore throughout the entire tour (which helped a LOT since there were 20 of us)! It was really amazing to meet fellow “kindred spirits” in such an iconic location of Prince Edward Island.
We loaded into a mini-bus and met our guides/drivers Jack and Kevin. Both of these guys were characters and they had some incredible stories that they shared. They dropped us off at Carr’s Oyster Bar for dinner.
I had the seafood bake and it was so delicious! I hadn’t realized that PEI is known for oysters, mussels, and lobster. They do each of these very well!
A few weeks prior to the start of the tour, Hayley asked us to pre-order our meals for all the group meals. This really sped up the process once we got to the restaurants.
At this welcome dinner, Hayley gave each of us a hardcover copy of Anne of Green Gables that was a replica of the first edition. It was beautiful!
After getting to know the guests seated next to me, I was starting to fade and was relieved when it was time to head back to the Inn so I could rest up and start the tour!
Day 2: Green Gables Day
I got up around 8:00 a.m. so I could get ready for our first full day of adventuring. Our tour included breakfast at the hotel so I headed there around 8:30 a.m. and met up with some other tour members.
Green Gables Heritage Place
Ok, so when you imagine doing an Anne of Green Gables tour, the first thing you probably picture is the house, right? The Green Gables Heritage Place has the house that Green Gables was based on and it definitely lives up to your expectations.
I spent a lot of time just walking around the exterior of the house and almost pinching myself that I was there IRL.
Inside the House
Once I got inside, I was pleased to see it set up exactly like it is in the books/mini-series. There was Matthew’s room on the main level (along with the kitchen and sitting area) and upstairs was Anne and Marilla’s rooms.
The house wasn’t originally set up like this (when the McNeils lived there) but they redesigned it a bit to fit the story.
The pathway is a one-way route so it’s easy to follow along and see everything.
When we were there, the center was recording a bunch of videos for French schoolchildren so it was kind of cool to watch them film.
Interpretive Center
A lot of the tour group members ran out of time to go through the interpretive center and I feel so bad for them because it was really interesting. It’s all about Lucy Maud Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables).
I ran into our guide/driver Kevin and he pretty much gave me a private tour of the entire center, answering my questions along the way.
A few of my favorite areas were seeing Montgomery’s childhood scrapbooks and seeing the wall of Anne of Green Gables books that were translated into many different languages.
Haunted Wood
At this point in the tour, it was time for us to walk through the Haunted Wood to get to our next stop. After hearing about it in the books, I couldn’t wait to experience it for myself.
I ended up walking behind Hayley and another tour member who stopped mid-sentence when they got to the “haunted” part of the walk because they said the vibes changed. I didn’t personally notice anything but I was also hyper-aware after seeing their reactions.
Once we made it through, we realized we still had about 20 minutes before the next item so I made the decision to race BACK though the Haunted Wood so I could see Lover’s Lane and get some postcards at the gift shop. I regret nothing.
Lover’s Lane
Harsh truth: after walking through the Haunted Wood, Lover’s Lane didn’t seem as intriguing. But, I’m still glad I did it.
There are a few bridges and lots of greenery (at least when I was there in June) and it’s quite lovely.
Gift Shop
I primarily went here to grab postcards so I’d have something to mail at the post office later in the day. Apparently the other stops might not have much selection, so I figured I should take the time to pick out the cute ones.
I’m glad I did because I found some really cute ones.
Montgomery Park and Montgomery’s Resting Place
By the time I raced back through the Haunted Wood, I met up with the group at Montgomery Park. That’s where there’s a statue of L.M. Montgomery where you can pose for photos.
The group had already visited the cemetery across the street to see her grave. There was enough time for me to run over there…but I opted to skip it.
Lunch at PEI Preserve Company
The PEI Preserve Company was maybe one of the cutest cafes I’ve visited. Seriously, the interior is adorable. The food is also super tasty.
I pre-ordered the potato pie thinking it would be like a chicken pot pie (minus the chicken).
Instead, it was a giant slice of pie that was mandolin-sliced potatoes wrapped with bacon and topped with cheese and gravy. It was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted.
We all also got their famous raspberry cheesecake that was fairly light and packed a punch.
Afterward, I headed to their community garden for a quick walk and I finally saw lupines! They were everywhere on the island in June but I hadn’t really noticed them until we got to the garden.
Fun fact: One of the owners of PEI Preserve Company also owned the Kindred Spirits Inn where we stayed.
L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish Home
Our next stop was to see the site of where the original home of L.M. Montgomery sat. I honestly wasn’t super excited for it, but it ended up being awesome!
There’s a little house at the entrance where you pay the entry fee and it actually has an incredible assortment of books and they will stamp them to show that you purchased it at the L.M. Montgomery Cavendish Home.
But the next thing took the cake. We got a surprise Anne visit! Now, I forgot to mention that while I was on my bonus trip to the Heritage Center, I did see Anne sneaking into the house as part of the filming for the French schoolchildren.
I was tempted to loiter to try to see her again, but ended up being responsible and going to the meeting site.
So, I was extra pumped to see the same Anne at this home! She was ADORABLE and was fully in-character as a tween Anne. She complimented my dress and asked if I made it myself (which I replied “absolutely” since she doesn’t need to know about Nordstrom Rack).
We were able to pose for photos with her and just interact with her, which was lovely.
Green Gables Post Office
Next up was a stop at the Green Gables Post Office . What makes this super unique is that it’s the only place where you can send mail that will be postmarked “from Green Gables.”
I ended up sending postcards to my mom, my cousin, and myself (so I wouldn’t miss out on the fun)!
There’s also a museum inside with more L.M. Montgomery stuff. It’s worth going in just to see the gorgeous wallpaper. Yep, I’m still thinking about the wallpaper and where I could put it in my house…
It was at this point where our guide/driver Jack walked around and handed us all commemorative $1 coins featuring Anne of Green Gables. I guess you can only buy then in rolls. It was a cute and unexpected souvenir.
Cavendish Main Beach
Most of the group hadn’t seen Cavendish Beach yet, so we made a couple of stops so we could take photos and walk on the beach. The weather was MUCH better than the day before.
Free Time and Independent Dinner
We got back to the Inn around 5 p.m. and most of the group walked to the Lost Anchor for dinner (people raved about the lobster rolls and mussels). However, four of us took a taxi to the Blue Mussel Cafe .
The food was SO good and I highly recommend their drinks, the lobster dip appetizer, and the mussels.
I was really blown away by the size of my mussel pot! I should have shared it with someone at the table because it was WAY too much for just me.
I got back to my room around 9 p.m. and I was WIPED!
Day 3: L.M. Montgomery Institute + Musical
This was a crazy early day. We had to meet in the lobby for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. (which was 3:30 a.m. for people still on Seattle time like me!)
University of Prince Edward Island
The main reason we went here was to get a private viewing of rare Montgomery artifacts presented by the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island .
We got a full hour presentation about some select items in the collection and it was really special. I’m not sure if they are usually on display but I know they brought out things just for us to see.
I really appreciated seeing an apple blossom blanket that Montgomery knitted herself. And we saw first editions of Anne of Green Gables. Oh, and our guide told us a crazy story about how Montgomery’s publisher printed stuff without her permission and she bought a bunch of copies and inscribed how she did not approve them!
Anne & Gilbert: The Musical
Okay, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I did NOT enjoy Anne & Gilbert: The Musical . I did zero research ahead of time so I wasn’t aware that they changed the story.
They made Moody a total caricature and I just didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. I also didn’t really enjoy the music. I might be jaded because I used to work at a theater and have seen a bunch of shows throughout the years.
However, I want to note that pretty much everyone else loved it. One member had seen it before and she was so excited to see it again. Art is subjective and not everyone will react the same way.
We also got to briefly meet the actors after the show, which was cool.
Lunch at Founders Food Hall & Market
It was 2 p.m. at this point and our guides/drivers gave us 30 minutes to grab lunch at Founders Food Hall & Market just a few minutes from the theater.
I felt rushed for lunch but I had the BEST sandwich at Aldo Reny’s. I was starving at this point and didn’t even take a minute to snap a photo (sorry!) I highly recommend the Paridise. It’s just like the Paridiso at All’Antico Vinaio but even tastier (if you can believe it)!
There were lots of places to get food and a few cute shops.
Confederation Centre Art Gallery
This was a surprise stop on the tour. We ended up swinging by a gallery because they had a Montgomery manuscript that we could see.
CBC News also wanted to interview Hayley and a few tour members about the tour here.
Bookmark Bookshop
Most of our tour group stopped by Cows for ice cream, but I was stuffed from lunch so I continued onto our next stop, the Bookmark Bookshop .
This is a super cute bookshop and it has a whole Montgomery section with her work and work inspired by her.
I also found some cute Anne of Green Gables-themed items like bags, stickers, notecards, etc.
We had a private reception with raspberry cordial and treats and got to hear a poet laureate recite some work and tell us about her own Anne of Green Gables adaptations.
Beyond that, there are lots of good book-themed items at the Bookmark and you’ll be sure to find something you’ll want to snap up.
Shopping/Free Time
After perusing the bookstore, we had about an hour to shop in downtown Charlottetown.
Of course, I had to stop in the Anne of Green Gables store . There were also some boutiques with PEI-made products.
Claddagh Oyster House
We had a group dinner at Claddagh Oyster House . The food here was so tasty! I had the lobster risotto and creme brulee.
One of our guide/driver’s wife was from Japan and she told us all about why Anne of Green Gables resonated with post-war Japanese women. Her character brought hope and optimism for Japanese orphans and women who had been oppressed for centuries.
After dinner, we headed back to the Inn after another packed day!
Day 4: Museum, Carriage Ride, & Avonlea Village
We were told to be at breakfast exactly at 8:00 a.m. (not 8:05 a.m.) because there was a “big surprise.”
Never in a million years would I have guessed that surprise would be Megan Follows (star of the classic Anne of Green Gables mini-series) joining us for breakfast and throughout the day!
We were all fan-girling and it was such an emotional moment for most of the ladies in the room.
The Anne of Green Gables Museum & Carriage Ride
Our first stop was the Anne of Green Gables Museum , which was the home of Montogmery’s Aunt Annie and Uncle John Campbell. We actually got a tour from descendant Pat, who grew up in the home before it became a museum.
What was extra cool was getting to hear about the story of the jilted bride who buried her wedding cake in the backyard and left her trunk of wedding items (like her dress) and ran away. This story appeared in Montogomery’s The Story Girl as well as the show the Road to Avonlea.
We also got to go on a carriage ride around the Lake of Shining Waters.
In the past, it’s been a horse-drawn carriage, but we got a tractor! It was such a lovely ride on a beautiful day and the lake really did shimmer.
There are also several gift shops around the property.
Montgomery’s Birthplace
Next up, we headed to the home where L.M. Montogomery was born . It’s a cute little home that is set up like a museum.
We saw the room where she was said to have been born (even though there’s a rumor she might actually have been born on the ground floor near the kitchen).
Lunch at Sou’West Bar and Grill
Then, we stopped at Sou’West Bar and Grill for lunch. I had the fish and chips and they were so tasty!
I was obsessed with the dill tartar sauce and the tasty coleslaw, too. I’d highly recommend this place for lunch!
Behind The Veil: A Lucy Maud Montgomery Experience
For the 150th anniversay celebration in 2024, the creative team behind Harmony House created a brand-new musical experience featuring original songs inspired by Montgomery’s poetry and journal entries. It’s called Behind the Veil: a Lucy Maud Montgomery Experience .
They brought it back just for the week we were there (because we were there) so it was special that we got to experience it.
Honestly, I was under the impression that it was going to be a musical theatre show/play so I was really thrown that it was more like a concert with a narrator.
The narrator was phenomenal and really brought the journal entries to life. And several of the performers were outstanding artists.
Almost everyone in the group loved the show and begged them to record an album. The show didn’t resonate with me personally, but I think it’s one of the things that I would enjoy a second time now that I know what to expect.
Avonlea Village
At this point in the day, we really only had about 20 minutes to walk around Avonlea Village. That was fine by me because I had already visited earlier in the trip.
It was still super cute to walk around though and I ended up buying some last-minute souvenirs to remember my trip.
We were supposed to have more than an hour of free time before dinner, however we ended up only getting 8 minutes. It was just enough time for me to use the restroom at the Inn, repack my bag, and then hop back on the bus for dinner.
Dinner at Dalvay by the Sea with Megan Follows
If you watched the mini-series or the TV show The Road to Avonlea , you’d be familiar with the White Sands Hotel that’s featured several times. Well, it’s a real place called Dalvay by the Sea and you can stay there, or just enjoy a meal.
Our group got a private tour of the hotel, which is stunning inside! And then we headed into one of the rooms for our farewell dinner that was joined by Megan Follows and her daughter.
I almost feel bad writing about it because I know that it was a special experience that probably won’t be replicated in future tours. But, it was incredible and that’s why I’m sharing. I promise I’m not bragging!
We all sat at a huge table together with Megan, her daughter, and our tour leader Hayley at the head.
We were able to ask all kinds of questions and Megan graciously responded in a humorous and thoughtful way. It was so special.
I also want to mention the food. I pre-ordered the seafood chowder (which was spectacular, the roasted chicken, and sticky toffee pudding.
During dinner, Megan invited me to go into another room where she interviewed me for a documentary she’s working on. It was really nice to tell her how much Anne of Green Gables meant to me as a child and still means to me to this day.
After dinner, we headed outside where Megan autographed our copies of Anne of Green Gables and posed for photos.
It was literally the most epic way to end this Anne of Green Gables tour on Prince Edward Island!
My Reflections
I’m SO glad I went on this Anne of Green Gables tour. I was a little nervous because I’m an ambivert (and extroverted introvert) and I wasn’t sure if I’d have enough space to recharge. Having my own room helped a LOT!
I’m so thankful for the wonderful ladies I met on this trip. It was helpful to always have literature to fall back on if there was a lull in the conversation. And it was so neat to see almost everyone wearing floral dresses each day! A lot of us connected on social media after the trip so we can stay in contact.
While meeting Megan Follows was a total highlight, this trip would have been worth it had that not been an incredible bonus. I did tear up a bit when I saw the “real” Green Gables and walked throughout the house.
Having grown up watching the miniseries and then listening to the audiobooks when my own kids were little, it really felt like I was on a pilgrimage. I can’t describe just how cool it was to immerse myself in Avonlea for a few days.
Anne of Green Gables Tour Wrap-Up
If you are a superfan of Anne of Green Gables and want to visit PEI with fellow women, this tour is for you!
You’ll need to join the Enchanted Book Club (annual members have a better shot of being selected than monthly members) and enter the lottery as soon as it’s announced.
Hayley also has other tours to places like England (for Jane Austen, Beatrix Potter, etc) and Concord (for Louisa May Alcott).
Looking for more Anne of Green Gables travel content? Check out How to Plan the Ultimate Anne of Green Gables Trip to Prince Edward Island
The post My Anne of Green Gables Tour Recap: What It’s Like Traveling with The Enchanted Book Club appeared first on Marcie in Mommyland .
