Prince Edward Island - Charlottetown

Shediac to Charlottetown Travel Distance: 200 km
AirBnB accommodations: $474.22 for 4 nights (taxes, fees and cleaning fee inclusive)

We had a nice leisurely drive from Shediac to Charlottetown and to our suite in Stratford. Stratford is just across the bay and only 10 mins to downtown. We are staying in a cute suite in the basement of

a historical home. The space has been completely renovated and is a perfect space. Our hosts are exceptional and have thought of everything; right down to a bottle of wine, home made banana bread and breakfast essentials in the fridge for our use. Oh did I mention.. swiss chocolates beside our pillows? The house is situated on about 1-2 acre lot in the country setting. The back yard is lined with trees and is a perfect place for Roxy to roam freely. I think that we are going to enjoy our time here.

Our AirBnB is called "Fox Farm Suite" after the house's history. The house was relocated to this location in 1999 through the fields if Stratford. It is then that the current family took possession of the house. The house was built in 1928 and was on a homestead with a barn and fox cages - being a fox farm. It was a well known house in the area. The first family to live in this house was the Reymond's.

The original family was from Switzerland and settled here to participate in the fox farming industry. In 1936, it was the largest fox farm on the island, being able to accommodate 4000 foxes. Pretty fascinating history.

After a stroll through downtown Charlottetown we came back to get Roxy settled as we went out for dinner at a well known place - New Glascow Lobster Suppers. Lobster suppers, which are held roughly from mid-June through mid-October, are an island tradition, offered at 10 locations on the 225-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped island. Some are sponsored by churches and non-profit community organizations, and some by private enterprise. They are no-frills affairs that perfectly showcase unadorned, local seafood and the friendly service that characterizes even the most touristy attractions on the island. While you are more likely to rub elbows at the table with someone from the mainland than with a PEI native, islanders

make up the kitchen and wait staff and are adept at making visitors feel relaxed and welcome. A lobster supper is a place to gorge on chowders, lobster, salads and pies; non-alcoholic beverages are included in the price of the meal, and wine and beer are available for an additional cost in some locations.

The granddaddy of all lobster suppers is the New Glasgow Lobster Supper in the town of New Glasgow, smack in the centre of the island. New Glasgow served the first lobster supper on the island in 1958, as a fundraising project for the Junior Farmers organization. The price was $1.50. The price has risen since then and the enterprise is now privately owned by two of the founding families, but New Glasgow -- with an estimated 60,000 diners each season -- is arguably the most popular lobster supper on the island. Dinner includes fish chowder, mussels, lobster, rolls, potato salad, coleslaw,

pickles, cake and five different pies served with Elmer's ice cream, a local brand.

There are two lobster seasons on the island: The first runs on the eastern end during May and June and the second runs on the western end from Aug. 10 to Oct. 10. During the off-season, lobsters are kept alive, in a nearly dormant state, in huge lobster pounds dotting the island. New Glasgow Lobster Suppers has its own pound, housing 20,000 pounds of live lobster and ensuring a season-long supply of fresh crustaceans.

Luckily we made it to PEI just in time for the end of the lobster season here. The dinner out was an experience that anyone coming to PEI should attend - even John Catuchi from You Gotta Eat Here stopped by. It was an old styled dinner with the bibs to boot. What an amazing time!