Cruising the Saint Lawrence – Charlottetown, PEI

Prince Edward Island is in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.  Its colorful patchwork of rolling farm fields running down to ocean beaches and rocky cliffs is very picturesque.  We first visited PEI on a car trip in 2007.  We stayed in Charlottetown and also toured the countryside.  On this 2015 cruise we had one day to wander through this pretty town.  I’m including pictures from both visits.

Our ship docked next to Peake’s Wharf, a restored waterfront area with craft shops, boutiques and restaurants. 

We picked up a map at the Charlottetown Visitor’s Center and did our own walking tour, enjoying the scenery.

 

St. Dunstan’s Basilica was rebuilt in 1916 after a fire.

 

 

 

This is the City Hall.

 

Province House was the site of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, a meeting that ultimately led to the creation of Canada in 1867.  It is the current seat of PEI’s legislature.

 

 

 

 

Beaconsfield Historic House was designed in 1877 for James Peake, a wealthy ship builder.

 

Bet that’s where Peake’s Wharf got its name…here’s another view of it.

Government House was built in 1835 as a residence for the Governor.  Today it is the official residence for the Lieutenant Governor.

The Government House Farm was designated a municipal park in 1873.  It was named Victoria Park in honor of Queen Victoria.

The park has a boardwalk along the waterfront and foot paths through the woods.

 

Getting to Ardgowan Cottage would have been a hike but in 2007 we had a car…   This was the home of William Pope, one of PEI’s Fathers of Confederation.  You can visit it’s pretty garden.

Next post will be the lovely countryside of Prince Edward Island.