Delicious food, fun and quirkiness combine in one of Canada’s most scenic provinces. This tour of Prince Edward Island introduces travelers to superb shopping and scenery, as well as a house made of bottles and an iconic lighthouse.

1. Summerside

Starting Point

A place where still waters run deep, Summerside is the west coast’s cultural hub. A seaside village with a revitalized waterfront and a proud shipbuilding history, activity pivots around the water. The town’s tidy, tree-lined streets are dotted with eye-catching homes and a handful of attractions that speak to the province’s growth during the 19th century as a result of robust maritime and fox breeding industries. Summerside’s waterfront boardwalk and Water Street (which runs parallel) are the best places to stroll. Adjacent to the yacht club, the mock fishing village of Spinnaker’s Landing is a summertime shopping village with eclectic stores that purvey everything from chintzy souvenirs to antiques and one-of-a-kind jewelry.

2. Cape Egmont

Drive 18 miles, 27 minutes

Cape Egmont’s main tourist attraction and a canny recycling project, the three whimsical Bottle Houses were the brainchild of the late Édouard Arsenault. Inspired by a postcard of a glass house sent to him by his daughter, 66-year-old Arsenault began collecting bottles from friends, neighbors, local restaurants and dance halls in 1980. Over four years, he amassed more than 25,000 recycled bottles, which he fashioned to create the six-gabled Bottle Houses. By the time of their completion in 1984, the Bottle Houses had already become a major tourist attraction. A truly inspiring vision to behold, set within gorgeous gardens, the Bottle Houses also provide the harmonious setting for classes and events, including yoga and meditation sessions. Nearby, the squat Cape Egmont lighthouse is also worth a visit for its compelling setting; the lighthouse is reached by a scenic red earth dirt road that leads to the humble red-and-white tower surrounded by eroded red cliffs.

3. West Point

Drive 43 miles, 50 minutes

The small and secluded community of West Point offers off-the-grid charms married with stunning views of the Northumberland Strait, convenient access to Cedar Dunes Provincial Park and a lively marina. Visitors can experience the area’s pristine beaches, dunes and wooded ecosystems via a boardwalk and a network of interpretive trails. One of the most visited attractions on the island, the 69-foot-tall West Point Lighthouse was built in 1875 and is the tallest and most striking maritime beacon on Prince Edward Island, especially photogenic due to its unique black-and-white stripes. Manned until 1963, the lighthouse was transformed into an inn in 1987 that now offers some of the nation’s most unusual sleeping quarters; 13 modern rooms with walk-out decks and mesmerizing views.