This summer, will you keep your promises to yourself? Or will you give into temptations like oysters, a summer rendezvous and lobster rolls?

If your answers are “no” and “yes” in that order, your plans sound like those of our new fictional friends Lucy and Felix from Carley Fortune's book, This Summer Will Be Different. Released on May 7, 2024, Fortune's story follows the chemistry between Lucy, a visitor to Prince Edward Island and Felix, a handsome local and oyster shucker and their exploration of the Island…and one another.

If you’re curious about places and spaces where they roamed, you’re in luck. Follow this SUMMER ROMANCE five-day itinerary across Prince Edward Island.

Day One - Eat your weight in oysters

From Charlottetown, travel route #2 through Hunter River, Pleasant Valley and the charming town of Kensington straight to the Malpeque Oyster Barn for a dozen ice-cold oysters served on the half shell. These locally grown, locally harvested mollusks are very nutritious and can provide the necessary benefits to kick start your romantic getaway – if you eat enough of them?

If you've planned your vacation during the last week of July, you'll want to continue west to the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival. Here on Canada's Oyster Coast, top oyster shuckers compete each summer to represent Canada at the world championships. It's a shucking good time!

Day Two - Leave the city behind

Today, you will be following the North Cape Coastal Drive to the western tip of PEI to see the meeting of the tides and the longest rock reef in North America.

To start, grab an oat milk cappicinno and baked treat at Samuel's Coffee House in Summerside before the one hour drive to the West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum. Should you want to pick up some oysters along the way, stop at Cascumpec Bay Oyster Co. before heading south on Route #14 past potato fields, a white church and grazing cattle. 

Next stop, MacAusland Woolen Mills in Bloomfield to buy a world-famous wool blanket - or five! This family business has a great story of its own as a mill has been in operation from this location since 1870. Today, it remains the only mill in Atlantic Canada still producing 100% pure virgin wool blankets. 

If you’re a flower lover like Lucy, you’ll want to visit the Little Dutch Flower Farm for a burst of colour and fragrance. This flower u-pick may provide just the inspiration you need to grow your cosmos, sunflowers, salvia and dahlias next summer. 

Day Three: Fall in love...

In the Green Gables Shore region, you could spend days immersed in the places that inspired L.M. Montgomery. A tour of popular attractions like the Anne of Green Gables Museum and Green Gables Heritage Place is a must for any Anne fan and Cavendish Beach in the PEI National Park is the perfect backdrop for romantic beach picnics and and sunset walks.

By now, you're probably ready for dinner. Choose from the North Shore Canteen in French River, Blue Mussel Cafe in North Rustico or "stuff yourself silly" at New Glasgow Lobster Suppers. 

Day Four - Game on

In the event of rain, Charlottetown is a great place for shopping and indoor fun. Sleep in late, then set out to Receiver Coffee at the Milky Way for a great dark roast coffee. Next door at COWS Creamery, score some butter and a hunk of Avonlea Cheddar.

Bibliophiles love Queen Street! Browse the aisles at the three bookstores on the same block, then take a four minute walk down to the Anne of Green Gables Store. Of interest, you'll pass the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. Here, you could grab a quick bite, then find a cozy corner for a game of Trivial Pursuit.

No trip to Prince Edward Island is complete without a lobster roll and your options are plentiful in the capital city. Do you recall that Lucy and Felix dined at the Water Prince Corner Shop? Here, a popular menu item is aptly described as fresh lobster “undressed” with a strip of mayo on a buttered and toasted bun...doesn't that sound tempting?

Day Five: Home sweet home

Visit the southern side of the Points East Coastal Drive region. Take notice of the many artistic mailboxes and the buoy tree along the way to Point Prim Lighthouse (the Island’s oldest light). Arrive hungry as you'll want to dine next door at Point Prim Chowder House. 

Traveller Alert: The coastal and pastoral beauty of this place draws many visitors each summer while some, like Lucy and Felix, fall in love and never leave.

Other PEI Reommendations from Carley Fortune

The special edition of the book, This Summer Will Be Different, by Indigo includes a map of Fortune's favourite spots on Prince Edward Island. She admits that "there wasn’t enough space to list all the spots that I love, and when I visited again last month, I picked up a few more favourites that aren’t on the list" as quoted below:

Ship to Shore Restaurant - Love the food and the staff at this family restaurant near Malpeque. They have the PEI seafood classics (lobster rolls, mussels, oysters), incredible burgers, and amazing fries. PEI is known for its potato farms and French fries are better on the Island. 

Cows Ice Cream - Thisis year, I discovered a new favourite flavour: Peanut Butter Cup Cup, which is a peanut butter ice cream with mini chocolate peanut butter cups. Perfection!

The Inn at Bay Fortune - Had the pleasure of staying at the inn twice this year, and it really is a world-class, one-of-a-kind property. Bay Fortune oysters might be my favourite, and the Fireworks Feast is an incredible culinary experience, and I think their seafood chowder is probably one of the greatest dishes being served in Canada right now. 

Vicinato Ristorante - Want a break from all the lobster and oysters? I loved this Italian restaurant. And I’m snobby about Italian food. It’s right in downtown Charlottetown, and there’s a gorgeous rooftop patio.

Oistre Cider by Double Hill Cidery -  PEI has some wonderful dry ciders. (I don’t mess with sweet ciders.) This one was served at my book launch in Toronto at Oyster Boy restaurant, which was the first time I tried it. We ordered more when we were on the Island—it’s meant to pair well with oysters. 

Island Hill Farm - This goat farm is the cutest place on the Island. We booked a baby goat bottle feeding. And let me tell you: You haven’t lived life until you’ve bottle-fed a baby goat (it’s waaaay more fun than feeding a baby human). There are also gorgeous Highland cows, ponies, roosters, bunnies, a giant Flemish rabbit named Big Bertha, a sweet donkey named Gavin, sheep and alpacas. The farm was so happy-making; it made me want to write another book set on PEI just so I could set a scene there. Or maybe an entire book??? TBD! 

Village Pottery - If you’ve been following me for a bit, you know that I love pottery. Located not far outside Cavendish, this studio has plenty of gorgeous, colourful pieces. I bought two mugs and a cup I’ll use for pens, but I would have grabbed more had I more room in my suitcase. 

Gardens of Hope and Butterfly House - I’m a sucker for gardens and butterflies, and this gorgeous property in New Glasgow (part of the PEI Preserve Co.) has both. I had to drag my boys out of the Butterfly House. 

Oh Hey PEI - I’m not sure whether I was able to fit this gift shop in my Indigo map. It’s in Founders’ Food Hall & Market in Charlottetown and co-owned by photographer Rachel Peters. It’s a must-visit every time I’m on the Island. 

Tidewater Merchants - There are a few locations on the Island, but I’ve only been to the one on the Cavendish Boardwalk. They carry MacAusland’s wool blankets (the kind the Clark family has and Lucy loves so much), jewelry, soaps and cute coastal decorative accessories. I always find something I like. This time it was wall decor for my kids’ rooms. 
 

Related Pinterest Board:

• Manifest Your Summer Romance with author Carley Fortune