BY JOHN SUTTON
With a diverse landscape ranging from the wooded hills of the
interior interspersed by acres of rolling farmland to the
breathtaking scenery of our coastline, P.E.I. is an ideal destination
for those who harbor a zest for the great outdoors. From cycling to
kayaking, fishing to camping, visitors are offered countless
opportunities to explore and delight in the natural splendor of our
fair province.
Open to hikers and cyclists (and snowmobilers during the winter
months), P.E.I's Confederation Trail affords all lovers of the
outdoors the chance to survey the gentle terrain of the Island
countryside. Built on an old railway bed which once served the
Island's main trans-provincial link, the trail provides an ideal way
for people of all ages to get a little closer to the diversity of
life which thrives in the various Island environments. Passing by
open fields and quiet woodlands as well as saltwater bogs and various
bodies of water, the bountiful variety of life which people can fully
appreciate by traveling the Confederation Trail reflects the
timelessness and peaceful lifestyle so often associated with life on
P.E.I.
For those who possess a more adventurous spirit and wish to view
the Island from a different perspective sea-kayaking allows people to
explore the diversity of our province's shoreline environment.
Offering a chance to get up close with marine mammals such as seals
and porpoises, kayaking trips range in length from a couple hours on
the water to excursions lasting several days and include beach-side
camping and bonfire.
Our Island's surrounding seas and countless inland rivers have
remained a haven for anglers of all ages. Whether it be a family
oriented deep-sea adventure of casting for trout in a quiet woodland
stream, fishing allows us to obtain a closer, more introspective
grasp on the wonder and beauty of the Island. To walk the banks of
one of our many picturesque rivers and cast a line amidst such
splendid surroundings is truly a divine experience for all nature-lovers.
As well, our waterways boast a wide array of sport fish
ranging from trout and salmon to the striped bass which inhabit the
larger Island rivers, making our province a veritable paradise for
the avid angler. Deep-sea charters provide the opportunity to fish
for Cod and Mackerel while Giant Bluefin Tuna are still landed
throughout Island coastal waters, providing a tantalizing challenge
for big-game fishermen.
Winter also offers numerous activities for those hearty enough to
brave our Island's occasionally inclement weather conditions.
Throngs of avid snowmobilers use the Confederation Trail to explore
the icy landscape while many locations throughout offer groomed
trails for cross-country skiers. As well, the province's only
downhill-skiing venue in Brookvale is open to all skiers and snow-boarders.
Brookvale in also home to a number of cross-country trails
which criss-cross through the quiet hills of central Queens County.
The trails also remain open during summer months for mountain bikers.
There is certainly no shortage of outdoor action here on P.E.I.
Be it bird-watching, hiking, fishing or a day spent relaxing on the
beach, a wide array of activities are available to be enjoyed by all
lovers of outdoor life. The only trouble with such a myriad of
options may lie in trying to decide what to do.
