Glorious PEI might be best known for its beaches and outdoor activities, but there’s tons of fun stuff to do on the island when days are grey and wet (or you just need a break from the sun). Here’s how to best spend rainy days on Prince Edward Island.
Harbour Hippo
Take a Harbour Hippo tour of Charlottetown. The hippo is an amphibious vehicle with a covered roof, so a little rain won’t spoil the fun on this 55-minute tour as you go through the city and into the harbour.
Haunted Attractions
If your kids don’t scare easily, or love being freaked out, then the Route 6 Motel Haunted Experience in Cavendish is so frightening that the t-shirts they sell announce that only one out of three guests makes it through to the end! A little less frightening is the Haunted Mansion in Kensington, which is set in a stately Tudor style mansion with a recreation of the streets of London in the basement and pretty gardens outside.
Off the Wallz
Off the Wallz trampoline parks in Stratford and Summerside are perfect for burning off energy, and offer soft play areas for under-8s as well as trampolines and ninja courses for bigger kids and grown-ups. Both locations also offer a video-game arcade.
Black Light Mini Golf
There’s no shortage of mini-golf courses in Prince Edward Island, and thanks to Black Magic Indoor Black Light Mini Golf in Cavendish, you can stay dry and play inside too. This pyschadelic painted course is heaps of fun.
The Happy Potter
The Happy Potter in Stratford offers paint-your-own pottery (everything from mugs, tiles, bowls, and ornaments) as well as workshops where you can build your own bowl from clay. Once fired, they can mail your masterpieces to you for a small fee (if you are leaving the island before they are ready).
The Beat of One Drum
Work with an Indigenous Artisan at Lennox Island First Nation’s The Beat of One Drum and learn about the importance of the hand drum to the Mi’kmaq culture. You will learn to assemble the base and weave moosehide to make your own drum to take home. For children 8 and up.
Knit Pickers
Learn to Loom Knit at Knit Pickers . Learn to knit a scarf & hat in 2 hours! And you will take home a PEI-made knitting loom. Ages 6-106!
Orwell Corner Historic Village
If it’s only lightly raining, grab an umbrella and visit Orwell Corner Historic Village. Wander the grounds and visit the animals or take part in one of their experiences such as Hey Fiddle Fiddle, Bread and Butter or New Life on the Farm.
Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour
Head to Summerside for an epic sundae at Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour. Housed in a heritage home with plenty of seating, Holman’s is famous for its Spaghetti Sundae, where a Ferrero Rocher “meatball” sits atop a heap of ice-cream spaghetti and red (strawberry) sauce.
Culinary Bootcamp
Book your family into a Culinary Bootcamp at Holland College in Charlottetown. The school offers a range of full and half-day cooking classes where you can learn to make everything from seafood to desserts.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Observe rare artifacts and optical illusions at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! In Cavendish Beach.
Hive and Hollow Social Lounge and Board Game Cafe
Kids age eight and up are welcome to play at Hive and Hollow Social Lounge and Board Game Cafe in Charlottetown, which also offers paint your own pottery stations. While you’re there, order a Crazy Shake – truly over-the-top milkshakes topped with brownies, s’mores, and cake slices!
Weaving with Wood
Make your own basket while learning about Acadian culture and history at The Island Tradition’s Weaving with Wood experience.
Helping Hands
For a taste of farm life, try Helping Hands at The Table Culinary Studio in New London. Feed the chickens, pigs and sheep at the farm and make kid-family recipes back at The Table.
Acadian Museum
Learn all about the Acadian history of the Island at the Acadian Museum in Miscouche.
The Alley
Go glow bowling under blacklight at The Alley in Charlottetown, which offers craft beer, cocktails, and upscale pub grub which makes it extra fun for mom and dad too!
Red Rock Climbing Wall
Red Rock Climbing Wall in Stratford offers a challenging climbing experience for kids and grown-ups alike (and is a great way to tire yourself and your little ones out!).
PEI Escape Rooms
PEI Escape Rooms in Charlottetown offers three challenging experiences suitable for ages six and up. Try to get out of The Great Island Bake Off, Oak Island, or The Photo Lab before your time runs out.
Confederation Centre of the Arts
Browse the four galleries at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown to take in some contemporary Canadian art. The Centre also offers a range of arts, dance and theatre camps for kids and teens throughout the year (though these will often sell out in advance).
Seaglassing Workshop
Learn to make beautiful seaglass pendants and keychains at a Seaglassing Workshop in Charlottetown. This activity is suitable for ages eight and up, and creates a beautiful souvenir to take home.
Wax World of the Stars
Pose with your favourite celebrities and movie characters at Wax World of the Stars in Cavendish.
That Fun Place
Little kids will love the inflatables, ball pit, and play structures at That Fun Place in Charlottetown. This indoor play place also has a small cafe so you can grab a coffee while your kids wear themselves out.
Stompin’ Tom Centre
Enjoy live entertainment, exhibits, and a range of interactive musical experiences at the Stompin’ Tom Centre in Skinners Pond. Or check out Tips and Tunes with Stompin’ Tom. Write your own songs to the rhythm of a Stompin’ Tom tune and record your work to take home with you.
Bottle Houses
Dart through the raindrops to explore the Bottle Houses in Cap-Egmont. The three beautiful structures made from bottles are delightful to explore, and the gardens they sit in are pretty.
Island Hill Farm
Check out Island Hill Farm – arguably the cutest place on earth! Children can meet and hold baby goats and bunnies (make an appointment to bottle feed them), touch and brush llamas, alpacas and the bigger goats. Island Hill Farm offers a variety of experiences such as goat yoga, making goat-milk laundry detergent and kids summer camps.
Hiking in light rain
In light rain, hiking one of PEI’s trails can be beautiful. Many of the Island’s trails are sheltered in the trees and protected from rain. Try Bonshaw Hills Trail, The Bubbling Springs, or Winter River Trail.
Fishing
A little rain won’t stop the fun at Tranquility Cove Adventures Deep Sea Fishing and on-board BBQ. Captain Perry Gotell has a covered area on the boat with zip down windows for needed shelter.