5 Best Sights in Central Coastal Drive, Prince Edward Island

Close to—but far enough from—the tourist hot spots of Cavendish, and protected within the Prince Edward Island National Park, this wonderful beach has a long stretch of clean, soft sand backed by dunes, low cliffs, a boardwalk, and a bike trail. Various access points (with boardwalks and stairs in place mid-May through September 30) add to its popularity, but it's big enough to provide plenty of space for all, and beach wheelchairs are available for those with mobility issues. Organized activities include lessons in sand sculpting on Wednesday afternoons and there are trails through the dunes with interpretive panels along the way. Don't head for home when the sun starts to set—the glow of its final rays on the rich red cliffs is an unforgettable sight. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; sunset; swimming; walking.

Seclusion and stunning scenery is your reward for taking the walk to the beach here, and there are various access points involving varying amounts of walking (the shortest is from the parking lot at the end of Wild Rose Road). But take a longer hike along one of the Greenwich Dune Trail loops and along the way you'll enjoy wonderful views across the parabolic dune system (a rare occurrence in North America) and ponds, including sightings of the rich birdlife. Once there, the beach is an unspoiled expanse of fine pink sand that makes a curious sound beneath your feet. It's well worth stopping in at the Interpretation Centre at the entrance, too. Note: the dunes are extremely fragile, so keep to the beach, boardwalks, and marked trails. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

Less crowded than Cavendish, Brackley Beach, within Prince Edward Island National Park, stretches for miles along the north shore, so it's easy to find a secluded spot to enjoy the fine sands and clear water. It's a great place for beach walks, and there's also a cycle track a little way back from the shore. It can get very windy here, which is good news for windsurfers. A boardwalk leads from the parking lot to the beach, and there's access to the Gulf Shore Way East trail, with four-wheel pedal-powered Coastal Cruisers for rent from the Stanhope campground. In summer, a Discovery Dome tent has interactive activities, and you can learn sand-sculpting techniques on Monday afternoons. To access the beach you have to pay the entrance fee to the national park. Pets are not allowed on the beach from April through mid-October. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

In addition to a popular campground, 360-acre Cabot Beach Provincial Park has fine day-use facilities—particularly for families. In summer, the sandy beach is supervised, plus there's a playground and children's programming. Naturalist-led walks are also available. Surf conditions can sometimes deter swimmers, and alerts are issued if it becomes dangerous, but when it's calm, it's very calm. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

Just north of Darnley (on Route 20, about halfway between Park Corner and Malpeque), this long stretch of sands includes Thunder Cove Beach, weather-sculpted sea stacks, and a number of sandstone caves. There are no developed facilities here, other than a campground, and the beach is often almost entirely deserted except for the seabirds—so it’s perfect for those seeking a "castaway" experience. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunset; walking.