The north-central shores of Prince Edward Island are strongly tied to one of the most famous children’s series in Canadian history.
©Tourism PEI / John Sylvester
The area, known as the Green Gables shore, is the setting for the Anne of Green Gables book series, as well as the home of the series’ author. These north-central shores run between North Rustico and New London with the town of Cavendish at the heart of it all.
PEI’s Green Gables shore is, of course, a huge draw for any literary lover. On top of the area’s unique history are many other ways to explore the province’s Green Gables Shore.
Green Gables Heritage Place
Located at the junction of Cavendish Road and Highway 13, The Green Gables Heritage Place is an open air museum. The grounds and historic homes offer a close look at the real-life inspirations used by Montgomery for her famous books.
- Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, the Heritage Place offers weekly programming, immersive experiences, and guided tours.
- Explore the two short trails of the park which lead behind some of the buildings through shady forested areas.
More Anne
The area offers other ways to delve deeply into the literary history of L.M. Montgomery.
- Montgomery Park is across the street from the Heritage Site. There are more heritage buildings, as well as lush and manicured garden trails. This is also the preserved site of Montgomery’s original childhood home.
- The Anne of Green Gables Museum (May-October) is about 20km west of Cavendish and makes for a scenic afternoon drive. The Museum is also close to several seaside resorts, cabins, or lodges.
- While not quite in the area, there are even more experiences available in Charlottetown, roughly 40km south of Cavendish. The Anne of Green Gables the Musical (June-August) is a comedic retelling of the original novel and runs all summer at the Sobey Family Theatre.
Avonlea Village
The historic Avonlea Village resembles an open-air museum, like Green Gables Heritage Place. It is an active hub for tourism and getting the best of the local food or shopping in the area. Avonlea Village is set up so visitors can park (with ample space available) and explore the shops and beautiful scenery on foot. The Village is home to boutique and gift shops, ice cream and dessert stores, seafood, patio dining, burger and pizza joints, pubs, and upscale restaurants.
Cavendish Beaches
Cavendish Beach is at the heart of the Gables Shore, which has long, expansive white-sand beaches. And further down the shore is Mackenzie Brook or MacNiells Brook, with rockier but still as beautiful scenery.
- The Cavendish Beach Music Festival and Sommo Festival are two of the most popular summer festivals.
- More beautiful beaches can be accessed from Prince Edward Island National Park, east of Cavendish. Some of these ocean spots get windy enough for great surfing! The park has quieter areas with large sand bars and shallow waters, perfect for swimming and families to enjoy.
©Tourism PEI / Carrie Gregory
Trip Planning – Green Gables Shore
The Green Gables Shore is a portion of PEI’s north-central shoreline along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is named after the fictional character Anne of Green Gables from Lucy Maude Montgomery’s book series. The area is known for its connections to the author and the book series, its beaches, and its gorgeous shoreline areas. It is also a hub for local arts and culture.