Shop, hike, and explore right here at home with your four-legged friends!
Summer on PEI can be short and sweet, so you gotta make the most of it. That’s easy when you have your four-legged friends by your side!
Whether you’re looking for fun things to do with your dog-loving friends around town, or you’re looking to get your pup some extra socialization, look no further than our top picks for dog-friendly summer activities on PEI!
1. Brackley Drive-In Theatre
The Brackley Drive-In Theatre is the perfect place to have fun with family, friends, and four-legged pals. (Just make sure they’re on a leash and you’re golden!)
Open 7 days a week throughout the summer, the Brackley Drive-In features new releases every night. (Gates open at 8 p.m. and shows start at 9:20 p.m.) This season, they’ve already featured movies like Top Gun: Maverick and Jurassic World: Dominion — and coming soon you can catch Thor: Love and Thunder and Minions: The Rise of Gru!
Photo courtesy: Brackley Drive-In Facebook page
While outside snacks aren’t permitted, the drive-in has a full concession stand with great options like popcorn, fries, burgers, hot dogs, nachos, pop and more!
Here are some tips from the drive-in for making the most of your visit:
- Bring bug spray and a flashlight.
- Learn how to keep your car’s headlight from coming on. Each car is a little different and in some cars you just can not turn them off. So please take a blanket or towels to cover them.
- If you have a little time, make a bug screen for your car windows so you can keep the windows open without having to deal with pesky mosquitoes. (A window screen from the dollar store and a few fridge magnets should do the trick.)
2. Shopping in Downtown Charlottetown
Downtown Charlottetown is a great place to find some of the best shopping on PEI. Find retail stores, professional service providers, beauty services, restaurants, hotels, and more all in one place.
But that’s not the best part. Look for the “Paws Downtown” signs in the windows of pet-friendly retailers and service providers who want to do their part to prevent pets from being left in hot cars in summer. Some shops even have a water bowl, poo bags and treats on hand — a dog’s gotta eat and drink too, right? Visit Downtown Charlottetown’s website for a list of Paws Downtown businesses.
Photo courtesy: Downtown Charlottetown Farmer’s Market Facebook page
To find out which businesses are pet-friendly throughout PEI, visit the PEI Humane Society’s list of pet-friendly stores.
3. Riverdale Orchard and Cidery
Located in Bonshaw, PEI, the Riverdale Orchard and Cidery is the perfect place for a simple-yet-magical adventure.
They offer adult artisan cider, but also a variety of family- and often pet-friendly events. Kite-flying. Lunching at their picnic pods. Exploring the apple orchards. Relaxing on the deck with a pint. Walking through the hills and orchards. And so much more!
Photo courtesy: Riverdale Orchard and Cidery
Several days a week, Riverdale offers experiential events that are always family-friendly and, when possible, dog-friendly too. (They just ask that you keep your dog on a leash at all times.)
Delicious comfort food, warm and cold beverages, and fun are hallmarks of each and every event they host. Their events are inspired by some of their favorite Scottish and Canadian traditions – from curry & cider nights to outdoor adventures, bonfires, live music, and more.
Check out their calendar of events for upcoming opportunities to eat, drink, and be merry at Riverdale Orchard & Cidery — with your pups in tow!
4. Dog-Friendly Hiking
When in doubt, take a hike! There’s no better way to experience the views and scenery that PEI has to offer than exploring it on foot with your doggy friends at your side. Here are some of our favourite hikes! (Just remember to bring water, bug spray, and poop bags, and to always keep your dog on a leash.)
- Confederation Trail
Starting and finishing at each tip of Prince Edward Island, this trail follows a stoney path that weaves between rich forests, rolling hills and beautiful ocean views. It’s great for all skill levels, as it’s flat and features lots of convenience points along the trail where you can stop for a break.
Photo courtesy: Tourism PEI
- Farm Lands and Bubbling Springs Trail
This 5 km trail is a great hike to take on with your dog by your side. You’ll pass mixed forests, the Stanhope Cemetery and a beautiful lake along the way where the water appears to bubble out of the ground.
Photo courtesy: All Trails
- Cape Tryon Lighthouse Trail
This 8 km trail is actually a farm path that follows some of Prince Edward Island’s tallest cliffs from Yankee Hill to Cape Tryon lighthouse. With farm fields on your left and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on your right, the views you’ll get on this hike are spectacular — especially at sunset! Just remember to stay several metres back from the cliffs as any coastline can be unpredictable.
Photo courtesy: UPEI
5. Take a Boat Ride
Did you know that many charter boat tours will allow well-behaved, friendly dogs on board? Just keep them on a leash and you and your pup can feel the gentle saltwater breeze on your faces while enjoying incredible views of the island and ocean like you’ve never seen before.
Here are some charter tours that may allow you to bring your dog on board;
Photo courtesy: DogBoat Adventures’ Facebook page
Home is wherever I’m with you
Summer is a great time to get out of town and explore — but exploring the province doesn’t mean you have to leave your pets behind.
For more ideas on what to do with your pets this summer around the province, pop in to Global Pet Foods in Charlottetown or Summerside. Their Pet Care Specialists are pet parents too, and they can provide recommendations on their favorite spots.
Have a fun, happy summer!
– Keenan Costain (@kcost27)
