A little winter weather shouldn’t stop Islanders in their tracks — especially since trails are groomed across Prince Edward Island to accommodate the vast number of outdoor activities.
Sara Roach-Lewis of Cable Head East is discovering fascinating places that may not be on people’s radars in winter, but should be.
“My husband cruised along a portion of the Confederation Trail from Charlottetown to Tignish on a snowmobile. He says the scenery along the trail is nothing short of breathtaking while encountering local wildlife and tranquil, pristine pastoral landscapes,” says Roach-Lewis, who refuelled her wanderlust with a wintertime road trip.
While her husband zoomed along the North Cape Coastal Drive on his snowmobile, Roach-Lewis travelled in her truck and they reconnected for the weekend at the relaxing Island’s End Motel in Seacow Pond (halfway between Tignish and North Cape).
“My husband and his friends are all fishermen, so during the summer, they are swamped — but in winter, they have time to get out exploring,” she says. “They often weave on snowmobiles through the little rural routes found along the Confederation Trail, as well as stop to explore the charming communities on the way.”
Roach-Lewis stopped in Summerside for a bit of consignment shopping at the Little Black Dress, and then popped into the Alberton Bakery & Café for freshly-baked goodies before arriving in Tignish to explore the snowy coastal scenes.
From tip to tip on the Island, she says there is no shortage of thrilling activities to enjoy — like snowmobiling, hiking through the woods, and stepping lightly over the glittering snow on snowshoes. Cradled in the snowy stillness, she often tackles the mecca of trails found in the province’s northeastern tip — providing the colder weather is best embraced, not escaped.
On the road trip home from Tignish, she strolled along the Summerside boardwalk and ate the best lentil soup of her life at Samuel’s Coffee House, rounding out a perfect winter getaway.
Closer to home, one of Roach-Lewis’s favourite wintertime spots is the Souris Striders Ski Lodge. Snowshoes and skis are available to rent, and she recently took her children and niece crunching along the beautiful groomed trails.
“We need to reframe how we picture the Island this season because there are many great activities available,” she says. “Instead of looking to escape south or to another province at this time of year, we should be discovering the hidden gems in our backyard and making the most of them.”
Learn more at ActivateOurIsland.ca and connect on social media using #ActivateOurIsland.
