This is such a busy little town that it can be hard to see the gentle, pastoral home of the Anne of Green Gables  novels. The best place to get in touch with its charm is at the site of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Cavendish Home , where the author lived for many years, a simple and authentic site. The town is also the location of Green Gables , the novels’ fictional 19th-century home.

Green Gables is part of Prince Edward Island National Park, whose western entrance is in Cavendish. This is the park’s busier side. The soft sand and gentle surf of Cavendish Beach make it one of the most popular beaches in the province. The park’s coastal road leads to North Rustico Beach, which is a favorite with sightseers. At the park’s western end, the Homestead Trail leads for 8 km (5 miles) through rustic green woodlands and meadows.

The park’s quieter eastern side features a long stretch of pristine beach and dunes, and a scenic coastal road. The Reeds and Rushes Trail is a lovely short boardwalk track leading to a freshwater marsh pond where local species of geese and duck nest and feed.

Enchanting vistas are found along the roads of the south shore, between Confederation Bridge and Charlottetown. Visitors will also find Victoria-by-the-Sea, a small village that is home to some of the island’s most interesting craftshops.

En route to Charlottetown, visitors can make a short detour to Fort Amherst-Port-la-Joye National Historic Site . It was here, in 1720, that the French built the island’s first permanent settlement. The British captured it in 1758, and built Fort Amherst to protect the entrance to Charlottetown Harbour. While the fort is long gone, the earthworks can still be seen in the park-like surroundings.

The natural beauty of the island’s eastern area is easy to experience on Panmure Island, south of Georgetown. Level roads make it popular with cyclists. In summer, the octagonal wooden Panmure Island Lighthouse  is open, and the view from the top takes in a long vista of the island’s beaches, saltmarshes, and woodlands. The lighthouse still guides ships into port as it did when it was first built in 1853.

Just outside of the small hamlet of Orwell, Orwell Corner Historic Village re-creates the day-to-day life of a small 19th-century crossroads community. Orwell Corner was thriving until well into the 20th century, when changes in transportation and commerce lessened the importance of the settlement. This charming villlage was restored and opened in 1973. Among the buildings are a blacksmith’s, church, schoolhouse, and Clarke’s store, the social center of the village. Upstairs is the workshop of Clarke’s seamstresses, who made dresses for local ladies.

Just 1 km (0.5 mile) away is the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead . This Victorian house and its surroundings were the much-loved home of Macphail, a local doctor, journalist, teacher, and soldier who counted among his friends prime ministers and acclaimed writers such as Kipling. The house features many exhibits dealing with Macphail’s life. Outside, trails wind through deep woodlands.

The birthplace of Canada is a charming small city. Along Peake’s Quay, sailboats lie snug against marina piers, and the waterside buildings are home to intriguing shops and restaurants. The elegant Confederation Centre of the Arts  hosts an array of live entertainment including the popular musical Anne of Green Gables . Province House National Historic Site  is where the 1864 Charlottetown Conference was held, which led to the formation of Canada as a nation. Several rooms have been meticulously restored to their 19th-century character. Ardgowan National Historic Site  was once the home of William Pope, one of the Fathers of Confederation.