SUMMER DELIGHTS
Take a trip up west to sample beautiful lighthouses, delicious ice cream, spooky stories and P.E.I. history
Take a trip up west to enjoy lighthouses, delicious ice cream, spooky stories and P.E.I. history
This week I sat on the beach at Robinson’s Island, and I could feel the end of summer.
It was that first brisk cold air, and I swear I’ve seen a few red leaves on the ground.
There are only a few more days left before students go back to school and many other people go back to work. While there isn’t much time left for large vacations, there’s time over the long weekend to have a mini staycation. And for this trip, it’s time to focus on where you can go up west.
For me, this has been the summer of lighthouses. Not only are they beautiful places to visit and to hike around, but they are also ideal for all of your Instagram posts.
If you like lighthouses, before heading to western P.E.I., take a slight detour to the Cape Tryon Lighthouse. It’s in French River and stands on the edge of a cliff after a long drive down a red dirt road. There are birds that nest in the nearby cliffs. If you look out at the water, you may even see some marine life down below.
When you get well into Prince County, try to make the time to visit the West Point Lighthouse near O’Leary. The black and white iconic building makes for a lovely place to go at sunset as you walk along the beach. The lighthouse rents rooms in the original building and has a new addition. Plus, if you’re a ghost lover, West Point Lighthouse has a long history of being haunted, so you may even be visited by a previous lighthouse keeper (or two).
In July, I spent an afternoon driving through western P.E.I. and, in particular, exploring the Tyne Valley region. The Yeo family has had a strong impact on that area, including the Old St. James Church in Port Hill. I couldn’t help but want to explore the old building and learn more about local history. This building is also known as the Old Shipbuilders’ Church and now operates as a history and genealogy centre. Along one of the walls you can see a family tree that shows the lineage of some of the original families in the area, including the Yeo family.
If you continue down the road, you reach Green Park Provincial Park and the Green Park Shipbuilding Museum and Yeo House, which is a P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation site. James Yeo, the original owner, was a politician/successful businessman from the 19th century, and his homestead is open to visitors. However, you’ll have to move quickly as the site closes for the season on Sept. 3.
Many Islanders have already toured the historic building, but this weekend people have a chance to experience it in a new way. Organizers are hosting a Ghost Story Night today in the Yeo House Kitchen. Roderick MacNeill is the guest storyteller, with the event starting at 8 p.m. and costing $5.
A lot of people have different accounts of hearing voices, weird noises and breathing at the Yeo House. As well, there have been times artifacts have been moved around the rooms. Those are just some of the stories that will be told.
After that, you may want to take a breather for the night. You can camp nearby at the Green Park Provincial Park or rent out a mini cabin along the shore for the night.
The summer is defined by visits to the beach – and ice cream. I have more than a bit of an addiction to any kind of ice cream, and this past year I’ve heard countless people suggest visiting Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour in Summerside. It’s in the old Holman Homestead and harkens back to an older time, with servers wearing white caps and dishing out treats from an old-fashioned menu. I’ve been sent pictures of ice cream sundaes, banana splits and Italian cream sodas that are all made with homemade ice cream.
The final days of summer are here, and it’s easy to fall back in the day-to-day habits of school or work. But, your sense of adventure doesn’t need to fade, even as the days grow shorter. So, if you don’t get the chance to visit these places this weekend, there are more opportunities to come, if you take them.