What Are the Best Places to Visit in Charlottetown?

Charlottetown is the birthplace of the nation of Canada. Situated on the southeastern coast of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown is the provincial capital and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. With its abundance of parks, museums, restaurants, and other attractions, there is much to do and explore in this wonderful city. Here are some of the best places to visit in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Province House National Historic Site

One of the most famous landmarks in Charlottetown is the Province House National Historic Site. This neoclassical building was once the site of the Charlottetown Conference in 1864, where Canada’s Fathers of Confederation gathered to discuss the plan for Canada’s formation. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of this important piece of Canada’s history, and there is a museum on the grounds that contains artifacts relating to the founding of Canada.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park is a beautiful open space in Charlottetown that offers plenty of activities for visitors. It is a great place to go for a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk, take a dip in the public swimming pool, or enjoy a picnic in one of the many grassy areas. The park also contains a children’s playground, a pond, several sports fields, and the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Throughout the summer months, visitors will have plenty to see and do in this bustling park.

Confederation Centre of the Arts

The Confederation Centre of the Arts is both an artistic venue and a cultural centre. Each summer, it hosts a wide variety of stage performances including ballets, musicals, and dramas. The Centre also features an art gallery that displays the works of numerous Canadian artists. During fall and winter, the Centre presents concerts that feature classical, jazz, country and folk musicians from both Canada and abroad.

The Confederation Centre Public Library

The Confederation Centre Public Library is one of the oldest public libraries in Canada and contains an extensive collection of over 300,000 books and documents. It is an interesting place to explore as it houses old books and manuscripts dating back to Confederation times. Visitors can browse these collections or consult knowledgeable librarians to find out more about Charlottetown’s past. There is also a research library on premises where visitors can research information on their ancestors who may have been part of Canada’s formation during 1864.

St Dunstan’s Basilica

The St Dunstan’s Basilica Church is located in downtown Charlottetown and is a popular attraction among tourists and locals alike. Built in 1829, it is one of the oldest churches in Prince Edward Island and considered to be among the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada. Visiting this splendid structure will provide insight into Charlottetown’s past and present history as well as its culture.

The Founders’ Hall

The Founders’ Hall is an interactive historic experience located on the corner of Great George Street and Richmond Street in Charlottetown. Here visitors can explore many aspects of Canada’s history from pre-Confederation times to today’s modern era. Guests will enjoy interactive activities and exhibits that will transport visitors back to 1864 when the Founders of Confederation gathered in Charlottetown for their famous conference.

Beaconsfield Historic House

Situated just a few blocks away from Province House National Historic Site, Beaconsfield Historic House takes guests on an interactive journey back through time. The house was built in 1877 and is representative of 19th century life in Charlottetown before Confederation. Visitors will enjoy finding out more about life during pre-Confederation times while exploring several rooms throughout the house that are decorated with period furniture, artifacts, and artwork collected since then that bring back stories from the past.

Charlottetown Farmers’ Market

The Charlottetown Farmers’ Market is located on Queen Street in downtown Charlottetown and provides visitors with an up-close look at local farms produce and merchandise. When visiting here, shoppers can find fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, cheese and other dairy products, seafood, jewellery, artworks and crafts made by local artisans. The atmosphere at this open-air market is vibrant with music playing in the background as people browse various products from local producers with friendly smiles.

Conclusion

Charlottetown offers an interesting mix of attractions for all ages to enjoy. There are great places to explore such as Province House National Historic Site to get insight into Canada’s past or Victoria Park for relaxing activities such as picnicking. The great variety of attractions means that there are plenty of things to do in Charlottetown for all tastes and budgets. Whether you’re looking for top-notch entertainment or a leisurely day outdoors, there is something here for everyone to enjoy in this historic city. For more information on all there is to do in Charlottetown, visit tourismpei.com.