Points East and Summerside Guide
How to Get There
Northumberland Ferries
The ferry departing Wood Islands, PEI for Caribou, Nova Scotia has to be one of the most scenic in Canada. Aboard its newest fleet member, the MV Northumberland, a roll-on roll-off passenger and vehicle vessel from Norway, we explore its main interior passenger deck and two outside decks with access for passengers (it’s also equipped with two accessibility elevators). The modern design features all-new seating and tables, new flooring, new washroom facilities and new galley and food preparation area. But if you’re like us, you’ll be glued to the large viewing windows – perfect for watching the red cliffs recede as forest takes their place on the opposite shore.
Eat, Drink & Music
Double Hill Cidery
In rural Caledonia, there’s a wild-apple-cider revolution happening. After falling in love with French cider while studying abroad, German-Italian owner and operator Sebastian Manago realized his dream of making cider, ‘with French origin but Canadian character,’ when he purchased his 365-acre orchard in 1993.
The range includes both French-tradition and new world styles. The latter uses wild PEI apples from 16 varieties grown on-site with quirky names like Yarlington Mill, Petit Jaune, and Douce Coëtligné. “We do a lot of analysis, because PEI has a huge resource of wild apples. There are millions of trees and it’s an incredible repository of genetic diversity, because apples are an organism that have a very complex genetic makeup – actually, on par with humans, if not more complex,” Manago tells us as we walk through the orchard.
Double Hill’s signature cider, Nomad, is slow-fermented, and aged at cool temperatures, producing a crisp, fresh sipper that was made for pairing with Prince Edward Island’s seafood bounty. Visitors can enjoy tours and sip cider on The Terrace, enjoying stunning orchard views during the May to October season.
146 Billy MacDonald Rd., Caledonia.
Copper Bottom Brewing
In 2017, musician Ashley Condon, and husband slash brewmaster Ken Spears lovingly restored a former newspaper building, and turned it into a multi award-winning craft brewery. “I had a passion for home brewing, and there was a hole in the market. We began with three beers and really focused on the quality of our ingredients,” adds Spears.
He fine-tuned his skills over the years, including a stint in the birthplace of Pilsner, the Czech Republic. Today, an ever rotating, well-finessed selection of beer includes hops-forward IPAs, crisp lagers, Czech-style Pilsner, and big-bodied stouts, with the occasional barrel-aged project. Each reflect the skill of the brewmaster.
The on-site restaurant offers a concise menu that shows a clear understanding of what guests want while reserving the spotlight for the craft brews. Case in point, shattering-crisp fish and chips with creamy house made tartar sauce flecked with pickles and dill and washed down with a choose-your-own-adventure flight of beers. We scooped up hummus dip with naan and devoured golden hot wings glazed in just the right amount of sauce while sitting at a table overlooking the waterway, under a canopy of red maples. With a community-focused ethos, live music and welcoming atmosphere, it’s destined for return visits.
567 Main Street, Montague;
Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour
The smell of freshly made caramelized waffle cones permeates the air, with a steady queue of customers trailing behind. It’s hard to imagine that nearly a decade ago the historic building was to be demolished, when, what was once a thriving business in small Summerside, fell into disrepair.
Initially purchased by his family, Daniel Meister took over the business two years ago. At first, without previous ice cream making experience, he began experimenting with a stand mixer. Today, the same five-ingredient base is the foundation for a far-reaching range of flavours from ‘baklava experience’ to salted caramel brownie. Ultra creamy and unctuous, it’s exactly the treat road trips were made for. Since then, Daniel has added live music throughout the year, cementing a community feel. “I just want to make people happy,” he adds while wearing socks featuring ice cream cones.
286 Fitzroy St, Summerside;
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