Canada’s smallest province goes big on character. This island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ranks among the East Coast’s most original beach destinations, with its dozens of historic lighthouses, hardy seaside villages, and stretches of rosy-red sands. Sloping fields and grassy pastures define Prince Edward Island’s pastoral inlands away from the craggy shores. Along many of the rural highways, you might feel like you’ve slipped into a watercolor painting — the views have long drawn creative types here.

Prince Edward Island is also a destination for the outdoors. Cyclists challenge themselves on the epic cross-island Confederation Trail, a multi-use recreation route built along the course of abandoned railway tracks. Along the way, you’ll see centuries-old family farms that continue to grow the fresh ingredients used in the island’s many celebrated chef-owned restaurants, where the locavore ethos predates the farm-to-table trend. The center of the culinary ambition — and the majority of the province’s population — lies in the handsome capital of Charlottetown, a harborside city known as much for its ocean-fresh seafood as its well-preserved Victorian architecture.

Prince Edward Island can be a chilly, sleepy place for much of the year, though it comes to life in the summer months. July and August are the busiest times to stay in one of the area’s vacation rentals and for good reason: Attractions are open, the sun shines late, and restaurants set up their patios for outdoor dining. Crowds thin after Labor Day weekend in early September, after which some tourist sites may close, but the beaches and trails are a little less busy. Much of the island rests under a blanket of snow in the winter, when the hardiest locals enjoy fat biking the trails and ice fishing.

Lennox Island

Since long before the arrival of European colonizers, the people of the Mi’kmaq First Nation have called these coastal lands home. Today, a Mi’kmaq community thrives on Lennox Island, where the stellar Lennox Island Mi’kmaq Cultural Centre is a memorable place to experience aboriginal storytelling and traditions. Hikers come here to retrace the footsteps of Mi’kmaq historical figures along the looping Path of our Forefathers Trail.

Prince Edward Island National Park

On the province’s north shores, this sprawling coastal area lays claim to some of the island’s most scenic coastal areas, including several supervised beaches and hiking trails through the shifting mountains of sands known as the Greenwich Dunes. Prince Edward Island National Park preserves vital habitats like marshes and wetlands, making it a prime spot for birdwatching. It’s also soaked in literary history, with the landmark Green Gables Heritage Place a popular stop on many bookhounds’ itineraries.

Lighthouses

Historic lighthouses are one of the islands’ most memorable icons. In total, there are more than 60 of these beacons dotting the rugged shoreline, with about half of them still in use to this day. Favorites include Point Prim, Seacow Head, and East Point, the latter marking the easternmost point on the island.