Charlottetown 
Credit: Mill River Resort
Canada’s smallest province offers some big adventures for a winter getaway. Whether you are looking for a cozy stay at a resort or outdoor winter activities, here are 12 ideas for a wonderful winter getaway in PEI.
**Please follow PEI Health guidelines. Avoid travelling to other regions if advised by PEI Health.**
Winter Wonderland
Mill River Resort is a winter wonderland – outdoor skating, tubing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, nightly bonfires… but they also have the cozy winter side with their spa, pool and sauna, and on-site restaurant. Cozy up with a glass of wine or warm hot chocolate after a day out in the fresh air. You only need to go once to make it an annual tradition. Mill River has three groomed trails totaling more than 8km (one of the trails is lit until 9 p.m.). Ski rentals available. Their special weekday winter getaway package includes one night accommodation, one-day Family Winter Activity Pass, and $25 resort card for $169 +tax.
Stay and Ski
Credit: PEI Tourism
Points East Coastal Inn is the perfect place to stay for Nordic skiers looking to ski the trails at Souris Striders. Trail lengths include 1 km, 2.5 km, 3 km (lit with LED lights until 10 pm), 5 km and 7.5 km (totalling 21km of scenic groomed trails on 40 hectares of land). The Trails are groomed, classic, skate and snowshoe, and suitable for beginner and advanced levels. Rentals are available. This is a great option for windy days as you’re sheltered in the woods.
Grab a delicious packed lunch from the Points East Coastal Inn and return for a home-style dinner. As a provincially registered heritage place, the inn (built in the 1870’s) has so much charm – not to mention the view overlooking St Peter’s Bay!
Trails For Days
Mark Arendz Provincial Park at Brookvale’s Nordic ski site features 24.5 km of groomed recreational trails, 7.5 km of competitive trails and biathlon trails, a complete rental shop (limited hours of operation), waxing huts, biathlon range, and toboggan hill. The latest trail grooming equipment makes the park the destination of choice for Nordic skiing in the Maritimes. Skiers can overnight in Charlottetown – with a variety of options from budget friendly to luxurious.
Meet Me At The Skating Oval
Did you know that Summerside is also a winter destination? The city offers free, groomed Nordic ski and snowshoe trails at Rotary Friendship Park and Heather Moyse Park.
The scenic Baywalk Boardwalk that hugs the city is groomed daily for Fatbiking, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing. Credit Union Place offers free snowshoe and fatbike rentals ($10 refundable deposit). Summerside has outdoor skating rinks, make-your-own pottery classes at Island Stoneware, and delicious restaurants.
Finish your evening off with a warm drink at Samuels Coffee or a cold one at Evermore Brewery. Overnight at number of options in Summerside.
Sleigh and Stay
Ocean Acres, located on the coast in Murray Harbour is offering a fun, winter getaway package for the whole family!
Included in your package is a one night accommodation (up to 6 people) unlimited skating on their 35,000 sq ft. outdoor skating rink, a stunning harbourside evening bonfire and a private afternoon horse drawn sleigh ride (wagon ride if snow is limited) through the countryside!
Fatbiking All Winter Long
Credit: PEI Tourism
Fat Biking is becoming more and more popular on Prince Edward Island. Markz Arendz Provincial Park at Brookvale now offers nearly 10km of groomed single-track fatbiking trails (access from the Nordic lodge) and rentals available.
Summerside offers groomed trails for fatbiking on the Baywalk Boardwalk, Heather Moyse Park and Rotary Friendship Park (free rentals at Credit Union Place).
Winter River Trail, Strathgartney, and the new Cardigan River Trail are all great places to ride your fatbike this winter. If the snow isn’t too deep, taking your fatbike to the beach and riding along the shore is a great ride.
Stay and Savour
This one is for those of you who just want winter to be over already. Just because you don’t love the cold doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy winter. Stay 2, 3, or 4 nights at a participating accommodation and you’ll receive free Canada’s Food Island gift cards that can be used at over 150 restaurants, shops or experiences on the Island. The longer you stay, the more gift cards you’ll receive.
Packages start at $188 for 2-nights’ accommodation and includes a $50 Food Island gift card – now that’s a deal! With over 45 Stay and Savour Packages to choose from, there is something for every type of traveler.
Small City, Big Charm
Credit: Tourism PEI / John Sylvester
Charlottetown is so charming in winter. Grab a glass of wine and sit on the outdoor patios with a blanket and private fireplace.
Check out Discover Charlottetown’s Deals on Deals to get the local scoop on where to get the best drinks and eats on any given day of the week.
Walk the city and get lost taking photos of all the Victorian homes and beautiful spaces – there is no better way to explore Charlottetown than on foot. Live music, local shops, and Island charm.
Credit: Austin Maclin/Tourism PEI
Many hotels in Charlottetown offer free snowshoe rentals (see full list here) through the Snowshoes in the City program and that’s great news because there are over a dozen places to snowshoe in Charlottetown and many more just a short drive away.
Treetop Haven
Credit: Treetop Haven
If you’re lucky enough to score a reservation at the popular Treetop Haven in Mount Tryon PEI, you won’t be disappointed.
Soak in the outdoor hot tub under the stars, grab some of their free snowshoe rentals and explore Craig’s Way Trail, or just hunker down and finally crack open that book that has been on your bedside table for months, BBQ and enjoy all the treats from inside your cozy TreePod.
Fun On the Coldest Days
Once winter is in full swing, Ben’s Lake Nature Camping will be renting fishing shacks (fit two people) for $50/half day or $100/full day. They’re encouraging visitors to bring their skis or snowshoes to explore their trails through old growth forest (including 300-400 year old Eastern Hemlock and veneer grade Sugar Maples). They’ve partnered with Do Duck Inn to offer comfortable cottage accommodations in nearby Vernon Bridge.
North Shore Cozy
A winter getaway at the 5-star historic Barachois Inn is just what everyone needs right now. Grab a suite with a fireplace, curl up with a book or soak in the air massage tub. Fluffy bathrobes, a delicious, full hot-breakfast, and snowshoes available for outings to the nearby PEI National Park. Packages are also available.
