When an insurance company client asked for our recommendations regarding a unique destination for their top executives who have all “been there, done that,” we had to scratch our heads. While there are extraordinary incentive destinations throughout the world, we were asked to stay in North America—which made our job slightly easier. But on a continent with so many unique destinations, the task was not that easy until we had a brainwave—"how about Prince Edward Island” we asked our client? Lights went on our collective heads. “What a great idea!”
Off we went to prepare an action-packed itinerary. What follows is an introduction to the Canadian province as well as the highlights of what went into our proposal—that, incidentally, was received with excitement by our client.
Time to Learn
Prince Edward Island (PEI) seems to be on many travelers’ bucket list—and for good reason. A pristine island of rolling farmland, red cliffs, white lighthouses, golden sand dunes and shining lakes, PEI is one of eastern Canada's ‘maritime provinces,’ off New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. PEI may be Canada's smallest province, but it offers large doses of fun. Stunning beaches, hiking trails, and delectable seafood are just some of the treats that await a visitor to this fascinating island. PEI is famous for its red sand beaches and red soil—not to mention the eternal Anne of Green Gables.
The Charlottetown soil is the main soil of Prince Edward Island, accounting for roughly 470,000 acres of land. It has a sandy texture, is well drained and is very suitable for farming. The redness of the soil is due to its high iron-oxide (rust) content.
The first indigenous people to inhabit the island were Mi'kmaqs. They called the island Epekwik—meaning resting on the waves. The island was named Prince Edward in 1799 in honor of Queen Victoria's father–Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. The capital, Charlottetown, takes its name from Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III.
At just 139 miles long and 40 miles wide, PEI occupies an area of approximately 2,185 square miles. From end to end, it takes about three hours to drive across the Island. The Island is connected to the mainland by the 8-mile-long Confederation Bridge, which begins in Bordon-Carleton, PEI, and ends in Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick.
In PEI, the summers are pleasant; the winters are freezing, snowy, and windy; and the island is partly cloudy year-round. Over the course of the year, the temperatures typically vary from 14°F to 76°F and are rarely below -5°F or above 82°F. The best weather in Prince Edward Island usually happens between June and September. During this time, the island experiences warm sunny days, and cloudless skies. Winters, however, are a different matter: PEI receives an average total yearly snowfall of over 110 inches. During the winter, temperatures range between 26°F to 11°F degrees, but chilly winds can make it feel much colder.
Prince Edward Islanders are some of the friendliest and most socially connected people in North America. In PEI, average families can afford a comfortable life thanks to the relatively low costs of living, as compared to elsewhere in Canada. Housing and heating costs, as well as the general cost of living, are among the lowest in Canada.
Time to Discover
A discovery journey to PEI must inevitably start with finding Anne at Green Gables. For over 100 years, children around the world have grown with stories of red-haired Anne of Green Gables, the 11-year-old orphan girl who is sent to live with a middle-aged brother and sister by accident. Visiting Green Gables Heritage Place on PEI’s north shore is like walking into a chapter of the book, with its white clapboard house, green shutters and an old carriage parked outside.
From Green Gables, we set off to locate as many lighthouses as we could. Classic white and red lighthouses dot eastern Canada’s coastlines making for nostalgic scenery everywhere. PEI’s 63 lighthouses in all shapes and forms made for perfect “lighthouse spotting”—an activity on everyone’s to-do list.
As we started to travel around the island, we could see flashes of its unusual bright red soil. In addition to being great for farming, the red sandstone makes for stunning views, especially when contrasted with PEI’s green fields or blue waters. Along the north shore of the island, in Prince Edward Island National Park and Cape Tryon area, we could see red sandstone cliffs with unusual and wonderful formations glowing at sunset.
Our discovery takes us next to a charming small town. PEI is full of delightful small towns all over the island, each packed with character. We set off to explore artist studios and shops selling handmade jewelry, pottery, and fabrics in a town called Victoria-by-the-Sea, where we learned about the town’s seafaring history, and where we were able to take a stroll along the dreamy red sand beach.
Time to Devour
PEI enjoys rich farmlands. The Island’s organic farmers produce potatoes, carrots, beets, soybeans, forages, hemp, grains, small fruits, diversified mixed produce (market gardens), beef and a range of value-added products (including animal feed rations, cold-pressed canola oil, fries and hashbrowns, flour, baking mixes, ferments, and preserves).
However, Prince Edward Island’s claim to fame is its seafood, which is available all over the island—from high-end restaurants to simple waterfront stalls. In addition to silkiest lobster, visitors can look forward to the tastiest crab, scallops, clams, mussels, and the freshest fish such as trout, haddock, and salmon. But nothing tops PEI's oysters. They're world famous, and justifiably so.
As part of our food exploration, we got to feast on Malpeque oysters at the Malpeque Oyster Barn in Malpeque Bay. For clams we found ourselves at the Clam Diggers Beach House and Restaurant in Georgetown. No seafood feasting is complete without an authentic fish and chips that we got to try on the deck at Richard’s Fresh Seafood in Covehead. To help down all that food, we were treated to some of the best spirits from Myriad View Distillery and craft beer from the famed PEI Brewing Company.
When in PEI, you can only top a sumptuous meal with a cone of mouthwatering Cows ice cream—a must here. Cows has been voted the best in all of Canada since 1983 when it all began. Cows ice cream is extra creamy, made using a secret recipe with milk from PEI cows and served in handmade waffle cones. Of all the 30 different flavors, the group’s favorites were Wowie Cowie (vanilla ice cream with toffee, chocolate flakes and moo crunch) and PEI Apple Crisp (apple ice cream with apple crumble).
As the proverb goes, “all good things must come to an end.” After three action-packed days of discovery and what seemed to be endless feasts of food and refreshments, it was time to bid farewell to this magical land. Judging by the sentiments of the majority of the group, this was one of the most authentic places to visit with lasting fond memories to boot…and off we went.
To plan a once-in-a-lifetime incentive program for your top performers, let the Maxxus Group offer destinations with broad appeal for your attendees.