Hi! My husband and I are considering going to PEI for a week at the end of August. I was in PEI years ago for an Anne tour (note my screen name, those of you who are familiar with the Anne books) and found the Island to be incredibly lovely, so I'm looking forward to going back. That said, our interests are more with biking, going to the beach and kayaking than with Anne. It is clear from the Island's website that there is PLENTY to do on the island that has nothing to do with Anne tourism. My question is whether it is possible to do 5-6 days of beach, kayaking or cycling on various trails (non-duplicative) while staying in a central location or whether we will need a car. If there is a particular part of the Island where these activities are available and easier to get to without a car, I would appreciate tips on that. Another question is whether it is possible to rent a car to drive from one part of the Island to another, turn it in and then rent a car a few days later to drive back to Charlottetown for our flight out. We would really like to be sans car as much as possible and get around by our feet! Thanks much!

I don't know if you're up for this, but here's a suggestion. Go to this site: http://www.macqueens.com/rentals.html and check the cost of renting a bike and panniers. From Charlottetown, you could easily bike to Brudenell Resort (about 50 kms via shortest route; longer if you choose less busy roads). Brudenell has top quality accommodation. Here you can do quite a bit more cycling in a less touristy part of the Island (I've biked this area on several occasions and enjoy it very much), including part of the Confederation trail, if you so desire. I'm pretty sure it's possible to rent kayaks, too, and explore the rivers and coast. It's a beautiful area. You could also easily cycle from Charlottetown to, say, Stanhope, where you can spend time on a great stretch of beach. MacQueen's bike shop is quite reputable. (I ruined a rear wheel on an independent bike tour years ago; they drove out, picked me up, took me to the shop and built me a replacement wheel.) PEI is a great cycling venue. There are very hilly sections in the central part of the province, but the coastal areas are mostly flat and the only impediment is a healthy wind that blows most days. There's nothing like cycling to give you a great sense of a place. How's that sound? (No car needed.)

That is exactly the kind of information I was seeking. Sounds about perfect. Thank you so much!