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Of Cancun And Cape so alluring, sometimes we forget that we have a northern neighbor who is just as beautiful in her own right and reportedly safer than our amigos south of the border.
Tourism in Canada has been in a decline for a while, but at least one destination is going bad all the time records.
To our surprise it is not Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal – it’s a full-fledged beach holiday!
That’s right – Canada has beautiful beaches.
This lesser-known island in particular is not only charming, but also home to otherworldly red-sand beaches that are more reminiscent of Mars than anywhere else in North America.
With Canada’s brutal winter in the rearview mirror, now’s a good time to earn another passport stamp and see for yourself why nearly 2 million vacationers flock to Prince Edward Island by 2025.
Mars or Maine?
Prince Edward Island (aka “PEI”) may not have any little green creatures running around or any suspicious findings from the NASA rover Certainly are not ruins left behind by a long lost civilization…
But it does have incredibly unique beaches, something AI would conjure up if you asked to make Utah a beach destination.
That would give a whole new meaning to ‘weeks’, wouldn’t it?
Any way you look at it, PEI is vastly underrated as a holiday destination – a place that isn’t a copycat either.
As someone who has traveled across the US and 43 other countries, including Canada, I can’t remember ever seeing a real red sand beach.
White? Black? Gold? Or whatever you want to call Galveston?
Absolute. But even Nick Saban hasn’t seen this one crimson tides…
According to the P.E.I. official Tourist Officethese are the best places to witness some of North America’s most emblematic beaches:
“Prince Edward Island’s reddest beaches are just across the Red Sands Shore section of Central Coastal Drive. Places like Chelton Beach And Argyle Coast would be great places to see the red sand. I would also recommend driving through it Victoria-on-Seaa beautiful town along the Red Sands Shore Coastal Drive. “
But what about the island’s charm?
The truth is that Prince Edward is almost a spitting image of Maine, not Utah.
Expect phenomenal seafood restaurants, colorful fishing villages, a cityscape of colorful buildings, an open coastline and a generally slower pace of life.
Charlottetown’s census results may not come close to Portland’s population numbers, but it’s a little gem with a similar vibe that’s undeniably capturing travelers’ attention.
Connecting the connection
Despite being neighbors, there is a clear divide when it comes to Americans choosing to vacation south instead of north.
It is clear that Mexico is known for its paradise coastlines from end to end.
Although, Canada? Not so much.
It’s known more for its stereotypes of super friendly people and every maple brew under the sun.
Honestly, Canada has countless bucket list destinations that are definitely worth it.
PEI happens to be the most unique, not only because of its Mars-like beaches, but also home to the Confederation Bridge that never seems to end.
It is the longest bridge in the world to cross icy waters (seasonal of course) and the longest bridge in all of Canada overall.
No offense to Whistler, but the views along this eight-mile stretch are unparalleled as you cross from Cape Jourimain to Borden-Carleton.
Look, we get it: Comparing Mexico and Canada is like apples and oranges – or, in this case, churros and maple.
But don’t sleep in Canada for your next seaside getaway. The beaches are beautiful and the seafood is downright sinful.
The only thing missing is endless cervezas at your beachside all-inclusive, just a few Labatt Blues aren’t that shabby either, right?
‘Book now’! The secret is out
Our sources claim that ‘rumor has it that if you want to come here in high season, if you want to go to one of the great festivals or events, you need to book now’.
As spring weather gets warmer and warmer, more travelers from around the world are expected to pour in as 2026 repeats 2025’s patterns.
Here are 5 reasons why travelers are flocking from all corners of the world, including Britain, Japan, Australia and of course the US:
- Your dollar stretches further
- A packed event calendar with popular acts such as comedian Tom Green and surprises such as Picklefest
- Travelers continue to rave about the island’s natural beauty
- Seafood doesn’t get much fresher – or more reasonably priced
- PEI feels authentic, relaxed and blissfully quiet
