Charlottetown

Overlooking a natural harbour in Canada lays the small city of Charlottetown. Charlottetown became a city in 1855 and now has a population of around 32,000 people. The city has a unique charm and quality that attracts many visitors each year. Charlottetown overlooks the stunning natural harbour and has some outstanding architecture, which clearly demonstrates its rich heritage. Charlottetown has some of the best entertainment in Prince Edward Island with many theatres, art galleries, concerts, tours and festivals making the city a popular tourist destination.

Attractions

Charlottetown has a place in history as the Birthplace of Confederation, as the first meetings to discuss the federal union were held in the city in 1864. You can visit the Province House National Historic Site, where these meetings took place, and learn more about Charlottetown’s history through historical programs and guided tours.

Founder’s Hall is Charlottetown’s new heritage attraction; it combines new technology and history to give visitors a fun and interactive experience. You are transported back in time through the Time Travel Tunnel to learn about the history of Canada. The use of millions of dollars worth of technology makes the time travelling experience an unforgettable one.

The Confederation Centre of the Arts hosts the award winning Charlottetown festival, where Canadian musicians, songwriters, artists, storytellers and play writers take centre stage a give brilliant performances. The centre celebrates four decades of Canadian art and culture on its stages and in its galleries as Canada’s National Memorial to the Fathers of Confederation.

The Beaconsfield Historic House, built in 1877, has an elegant Victorian style and is open all year round for lectures, tours and special events. The house was built for a prominent ship maker and merchant called James Peake Jr. and the building clearly demonstrates his social and economic status. Beaconsfield Historic House was one of the finest residents in Charlottetown with its stunning architecture and interior design. You can also enjoy the peaceful gardens around the house and the lovely view of Charlottetown harbour.

Peake’s Wharf is an area on Chartlottetown’s waterfront that has craft shops, waterside boutiques, restaurants bars and cafes. Peake’s Wharf is surrounded by the Hillsborough River and boat cruises are offered daily allowing you to view marine life, historic points of interest and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the harbour.

Located in the middle of the city is the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre. This is a state-of-the-art entertainment centre, which has live and broadcast racing as well as over two hundred slot machines. You can look out over the track in the dining room whilst you enjoy a delicious meal from the all-you-can-eat buffet.

One of Charlottetown’s most popular attractions is the Waterfront, you can explore the history and atmosphere of the city with relaxing walks and discover many local shops and restaurants along the way. Set tours are organised along the waterfront that begin at Founder’s Hall and continues on the Peake’s Wharf. Along the way you will also see some of the beautiful Victorian mansions of Old Charlottetown as well as Victorian Inns and the Beaconsfield Historic House. There are also many acres of park to enjoy where visitors can play sports, swim and have picnics. The tour ends at Fanningbank, which was built in 1834 as the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor.

Shopping

As Charlottetown is a small city, it doesn’t have much to offer in the way of shopping. However, there are a few exceptional places around the city that have some striking shops and boutiques that are oriented around tourists. Peake’s Wharf is located on the waterfront; here you can find quaint and fascinating merchandise at the numerous boutiques and craft shops. There are also a number of restaurants, cafes and bars in this area. The Confederation Court Mall is the place to go for the more familiar chain stores. The mall has 90 stores where you will find all the well-known shops and restaurants. The building is also architecturally attractive and blends in nicely with the surrounding Victorian buildings.

Nightlife and Eating Out

There are many places available in Charlottetown to go for a great night out. The City Cinema, located on Kings Street, shows 2 films each evening and has a superb line up of popular domestic and foreign films throughout the year. The Confederation Centre of the Arts has three stages where you can see shows throughout the warmer months. The centre shows new performances as well as the regular musical, Anne of Green Gables. Also available during the warmer months is harness racing at the Charlottetown Driving Park. You can bet and play on the slot machines as well as enjoy drinks and snacks in the top floor club.

Richmond Street is the area of Charlottetown to go to for good pubs and restaurants. It is a street behind the Confederation Centre that is made specifically for pedestrians. You can enjoy drinks and meals on the street-side patios and enjoy live music that is offered by some pubs and restaurants. There is also an Irish pub located on Sydney Street called the Olde Dublin Pub. The venue has a dance club and hosts live band performances, with a range of music from country to rock.

To find out exactly what’s going on in the city of Charlottetown on an evening have a look at the free monthly newspaper called Buzz. The paper has up-to-date details of events happening around Prince Edward Island, and is available from visitor centres, bars and restaurants.

There are over 120 restaurants in Charlottetown serving a wide variety of food. You can find any cuisine you desire including Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Lebanese, Seafood and many more. You can enjoy traditional suppers, romantic meals for two, family feasts or fast food meals in the many restaurants that Charlottetown has to offer. There are many good places to eat on the Waterfront and Richmond Street also has some excellent restaurants.

Tourist Information

• Coastal Destination, 4 Walker Drive, Charlottetown, PE C1A 8S6
• Telephone: +1 902 8921917

Airport

Charlottetown Airport is located within the city on Maple Hills Avenue, just a short distance away from Charlottetown centre. It is a public use, land airport with 2 runways that operates 24 hours a day. The airport has parking facilities, good transport links and terminal services such as a restaurant, gift shop, business centre and ATM facilities. The airport has flights to and from Detroit as well as the major cities in Canada including Vancouver, Montréal, Toronto and Halifax.