Try as we might, we just can’t figure out how to change the weather! When the rain clouds ruin your beach plans, it’s time to find some rainy day fun and PEI is jammed full of things to do when the sun takes a break! The next time your beach day is a wash, keep this list in your back pocket to make every minute count on your island vacation.

1. It’s Raining, Let’s Eat!

This is a food-lover’s paradise and a rainy day is an opportunity to make the most of the island’s food scene!  There’s nothing like a rainy day to make you yearn for everything comfy-cozy, and Samuel’s Coffee House in Summerside or their seasonal Avonlea Village location in Cavendish is the perfect place to sit with a book, a hot cup of coffee, and a delicious treat! And don’t let the rain stop your seafood dreams from coming true – New Glasgow Lobster Suppers offers the feast of a lifetime, or warm up at FiN Folk Food with a big bowl of creamy seafood chowder while you watch the rain fall down over Tracadie Harbour. Looking for a cozy corner somewhere in the city? The Gahan House Pub & Brewery not only offers a delicious meal and their craft beer, but you’ll find yourself wrapped up in the history and character of the building itself.

 

2. Let Your Imagination Soar

Brighten up your day by stepping into the whimsical and wonderful world of The Toy Factory in New Glasgow! From skillful board games and DIY 3D models to pirate ships and warrior princesses, there is no limit to what your imagination and creativity can conjure on a visit. If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch one of the toy makers tinkering in the workshop!

3. Brush Up on Your Kitchen Skills

Whether you’re a pro, a foodie, or totally terrified of the kitchen, there’s fun to be had and skills to acquire when you join a Culinary Bootcamp. In the state-of-the-art kitchen at the Culinary Institute of Canada, you can learn to work the kitchen with the confidence of a chef! In classes that range from half to full days, for all ages and skill level, you will learn to plan and prepare delicious meals, with flavour pairings to take a meal from good to great. Pick from any number of classes depending on your preference, and experience a memorable day as a chef!

4. Treat Yourself

A rainy day is the perfect opportunity to lean into some much needed relaxation! Stretch, strengthen, and let loose with a rejuvenating hot yoga sesh at Modo Yoga. Conveniently located right next door and fully equipped for a wide range of professional spa and aesthetic services, Pure Spa has all you need for a cozy afternoon of blissful pampering. Nothing like a post-workout massage for a majorly euphoric experience!

5. Get Creative

There’s nothing like losing yourself in some arts and crafts to make the most of a day indoors. Brush up on your skills with a paint night for you and your friends through East Coast Art Party. Both spots allow you to purchase take-home kits for a fun activity to do at home! Ever wanted to learn how to needle felt, weave macrame, or dye yarn? Sign up for a class at Silver and Sage or Green Gable Alpacas.

6. Get to Know a Musical Legend

The Stompin’ Tom Centre hails tribute to the life and music of local music legend, Stompin’ Tom Connors. Come for a clappin’, boot stompin’ good time with a concert or the dinner theatre. And don’t forget to take your turn with the singing and try your hand at the recording booth, where you can sing along with Stompin’ Tom’s songs!

7. A Tasty Tour, Tip to Tip

Spend a rainy day exploring the Island Ale Trail and you’re sure to be rewarded with a perfectly balanced pint. PEI’s craft beer scene is booming, with breweries all across the island. Take a tour of the PEI Brewing Company to taste and see the work that goes into their hand crafted ales. Moth Lane Brewing serves a brew with a view overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence from their spot on the shore in Tyne Valley. Dig into great food and bold, new flavours at Bogside Brewing in Montague. Most taprooms also have community events, trivia nights, and live entertainment all throughout the week!

8. Cue Up the Fun

Lean into the classic comforts of the good old days at PonyBoat Social Club! Newly launched this summer as the first of its kind on PEI, here you’ll find 12,000 square feet of fun. Gather your friends and play the day away with arcade games, pool, ping pong, bocce ball, board games and more while enjoying casual food, local beer, milkshakes, and craft cocktails.

9. Discover All Things Whimsical, Weird and Wonderful

The odd, the absurd, the amazing, and the truly weird await you at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium. From shrunken heads to unbelievable artifacts, this is a must-see spot, especially on a rainy day. And if the sun peeks through, pop outside for some mini golf at Mariner’s Cove!

10. Set Yourself Up for a Scare

Check in for a true fright at the Haunted Mansion in Kensington. While the outside of the mansion has beautiful gardens and fun-filled attractions, those brave enough to step inside are in for a real heart-pounding experience! You’ll love the spinning vortex hallways, you will be screaming as startling surprises pop out of the woodwork, or if you’re a little more faint of heart, the by-pass hallways to the lighter rooms will calm your nerves. There’s fun for all ages at The Haunted Mansion!

11. Step Into the History of the Spud

There are treasures galore along the North Cape Coastal Drive and the Canadian Potato Museum is one of them. Keep an eye out for the giant spud during your drive through the town of O’Leary! PEI may be Canada’s smallest province, but with the largest potato crop in Canada, taters and the farmers who grow them are the pride of the island. Take a tour through time and see how farmers have turned the spud into a deliciously successful industry – and stop for some fresh and crispy fries before you leave!

12. Immerse Yourself in Local Talent

If there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that Prince Edward Island is chock-full of incredible talent! Be blown away by the acoustics at the Under The Spire Music Festival concert, or feast, laugh, and toe-tap along with the kitchen party at the Village Musicale Acadien dinner theatre in the Evangeline Region. Is a city vibe more your speed? Experience rhythm and soul and incredible local talent at the Trailside Music Hall. And of course, a summer just isn’t complete without heading to the Confederation Centre of the Arts for a show that will blow you out of the water. Before the show, don’t forget to roam through the exhibits at the Confederation Centre of the Arts Gallery!

 

13. Pump up the Adrenaline

Looking for fun ways to burn off some energy on a rainy day?  Off the Wallz trampoline park is what childhood dreams are made of! Challenge each other to a slam dunk basketball competition, a frisky game of dodgeball, or get nimble on the ninja obstacle courses. Or if you really want to up the ante, strap on a vest and set your phaser to stun with some lazer tag at the Cavendish Beach Adventure Zone. This giant airplane hangar is black-lit, fog-filled, and packed with obstacles a specific mission you must accomplish! What better way to spend a rainy day than trying to get your friends and family, before they tag you!

14. Visit the Land of Anne

Take a trip into history and see life through the eyes of the author of Anne of Green Gables herself by walking through Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Birthplace in the beautiful village of “Clifton”, New London. See scrapbooks depicting her life, and replicas of her accessories and even her wedding dress! At the Anne of Green Gables Museum  you can explore the 110-acre property full of literary inspirations such as the Lake of Shining Waters. And you’d be remiss to skip the Green Gables Heritage Place which is a part of Lucy Maud’s Cavendish National Historic Site where you can wander down Lover’s Lane or the Haunted Wood, or take part in the bilingual interactive activities!

15. Lighthouse Road Tripping

A little rain never stopped a lighthouse keeper from keeping the light on, don’t let it stop you from exploring some of the 63 lighthouses that still stand proud across the island. Covehead Lighthouse is known as the most photographed lighthouse in PEI, West Point is PEI’s tallest, and East Point‘s lighthouse overlooks the clashing tides of the St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait. Some have gift shops filled with Island treasures like the one on Panmure Island and some are now complimented by a restaurant (the Point Prim Chowder House is a must!) Each one is unique and well worth a visit, rain or shine!

For more summer fun in PEI, check out Your Go-To Event Guide for a PEI Summer, Unforgettable PEI Experiences Up West, 49 Travel Tips from PEI Locals, or An Islander’s Guide to Eastern PEI.