The Green Gables Shore region of PEI is home to some of the province’s biggest and most popular historical and natural attractions. A trip to Prince Edward Island National Park, for example, offers some of PEI’s most awe-inspiring coastal scenery and recreational opportunities. On the other hand, attractions like the Green Gables Heritage Place or locations like Avonlea Village are some of the region’s top historical destinations.
There are also a handful of places on the Green Gables Shore, like Cabot Beach Provincial Park, where visitors get the best of both worlds.
Cabot Beach offers the perfect blend of history, scenery, and seaside fun, and here are the top ways to make the best of your trip to the provincial park.
The Supervised Cabot Beach
As the park’s name suggests, a highlight of a visit to Cabot Beach Provincial Park is the beach! The red sand beach on PEI’s Green Gables Shore and Gulf of St. Lawrence is a gorgeous place to be on a warm summer day, a cooler fall afternoon, or as the sun goes down and the stars come out. During the summer days (early June to early September) Cabot Beach is supervised with a lifeguard on duty.
- Cabot Beach’s scenery changes with the tides and will offer more sand to explore or hike during the low tide. The gorgeous ocean waters and the ability to take a swim are huge reasons to visit the beach, but the surrounding scenery, from the sand to the small cliffs, is all worthy of some extra time on the beach.
- There are more features around the day-use area to help add more fun to a beach day, like a playground, interpretive centre, ample parking, and open picnic areas.
- There are two beautifully restored buildings on the site of the Cabot Beach day use area that add some historical context to what you’ll learn about the area while you’re here. The first is the brightly painted red and white lighthouse and a schoolhouse that was built in 1794! The Fanning School was unique for its time as a two-storey schoolhouse and served as a school until 1969. It was fully restored in 1993 and brought to add to the seaside scenery of Cabot Beach, where it remains protected.
Explore Malpeque & the Bay
Those staying in Malpeque, whether at Cabot Beach or the other accommodation options, have several ways to fill a day on top of time at the beautiful beaches. The local activities include time at other nearby beaches, touring the historical attractions and scenery of the Green Gables Shore, walking the waterfront trails, or touring the other local attractions.
- Get some of the best views around Malpeque and get those views from on the water with Malpeque Bay Kayak Tours, which offer guided trips as well as boat rentals.
- Head south across Malpeque for a fantastic family-friendly and thrilling attraction all in one at the Burlington Go Karts and Amusement Park.
- Alternatively, the route to the east along PE-20 will bring your travels to both natural attractions and the famous Green Gables Shore history. Learn about Malpeque with a stop at the Keir Memorial Museum and view the natural beauty around Thunder Cove Beach.
- This route also takes visitors to the Anne of Green Gables Museum in a preserved building that was part of the Montgomery family. The Museum is open from May to October with a gift shop, and a chance to take a private carriage ride.
Green Gables History & Natural Attractions
As a Provincial Park on the Green Gables Shores of PEI, it is no surprise that Cabot Beach Park has its own L.M. Montgomery connection. If you recognize parts of the park, it may be because Cabot Beach was the location of five Emily of New Moon TV sets, a show based on Montgomery’s popular novel that came after her Anne of Green Gables rose in popularity. Green Gables’ history is not, however, the only type of history on display at Cabot Beach. The Provincial Park is also home to an original schoolhouse from the late 1700s and is within a short drive from the local Malpeque Museum.
The beautiful sandy stretches and greenery of Cabot Beach provide the perfect backdrop for a movie or TV production, your weekend, or your next day trip to the beach. Keep in mind as well that the green hills around the beach are also home to a large campground for an extended stay at the beautiful Cabot Beach.
Places for Picnic Foods in Malpeque
All of Cabot Beach’s gorgeous scenery from spring to fall makes it an ideal destination for a picnic. Plus, Malpeque is home to a great deal of local seasonal eateries that offer tasty treats for dining in or taking to go on a picnic.
- The closest town to Cabot Beach Provincial Park with numerous dining options is Kensington about 15km south. Stop by the local pub for a patio drink, the sweet shop for ice cream, or take your pick among a handful of great local takeout options.
- Find more restaurant options closer to Cabot Beach with those that surround Malpeque Bay like Malpeque Oyster Barn, Ship to Shore, or the Twin Treats Dairy Bar.
Camping at Cabot Beach & Nearby Accommodations
Get a campsite near the beach with your choice of service level! The Cabot Beach campground has over 170 campsites, some of which have no services, some which have power and water, and those which have all three: power, water, and sewer hookups. This offers every type of camper their perfect setup and site with all campsites including a firepit and picnic table as well.
- Campers also get access to more comforting amenities like showers, laundry, washrooms, drinking water, and firewood sales.
- Malpeque is part of PEI’s cottage country with numerous cabin villages and resorts set up around the community. The area also has small motels, seaside hotels, or private rental options.
Planning your trip – Cabot Beach Provincial Park
What: Cabot Beach Provincial Park is the largest Provincial Park in western PEI and is among the many beaches which line the Green Gables Shore. The park is one of the many locations within this tourism hub of PEI that offers Montgomery and Green Gables history, including an Anne of Green Gables Museum outside of the Provincial Park.
Along with the Green Gables connection to Malpeque and Cabot Beach Provincial Park, the park also draws in crowds each summer for its incredible stretch of beach on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The beach provides picnic areas and a supervised swimming area with a lifeguard on duty. Cabot Beach Provincial Park also boasts a large campground for tents, trailers, or RVs, while many other inns and cottage rentals are near the park around Malpeque.
Location: 449 King Street, Malpeque
Cabot Beach Provincial Park is located about 63 km (60-minute drive) from downtown Charlottetown.
Best time to go: June-September end
How much: camping $37 $48 per night
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