How Long Was Charlottetown Under Prohibition?

…and other things you can learn on one of our city’s unique tours.

From our rum-running antics to the city’s role in Confederation to quirky stories about some of Charlottetown’s most infamous residents, there’s a tour for every sort of  ‘buff’ and then some. And if you’d rather drink or eat your way around our coastal capital, you’ll find expert tour guides ready to serve you up a pint or show you the ropes of hauling a lobster trap too. Ready to discover our city with help from passionate locals? Great, because they’re ready to show you a great time!

Have a Pint and a Side of Colorful History with Experience PEI

History is best paired with a happy pint or two is it not? Well, that’s how the folks at Experience PEI roll with their new Shots & Pints tour. Guests get to experience Charlottetown’s craft brews cocktails, and a salty shot of something a bit stronger, while learning all about the city’s colourful period of prohibition from a local guide. Hint: not everyone followed the laws!

Stroll into 1864 with the Confederation Players

We may not have time machines yet, but you can still travel back to 1864 with the Confederation Players, a troupe of costumed young Canadians, trained as the Fathers and Ladies of Confederation.  Stroll historic downtown with the likes of Canada’s first prime minister,  Sir John A. Macdonald, PEI’s first premier, George Coles, and other Fathers and let them regale you with tales of the Charlottetown Conference, which would go down in history as the first gathering to discuss the formation of the nation we now call Canada.

Explore By Land and By Sea

Traveling with kids and still want to fill up on Charlottetown history? The Habour Hippo may just be the ticket to keep everyone happy! Hop on this amphibious vehicle for a guided tour the historic downtown, then splash into the Charlottetown harbour for a cool cruise on the water.

Unearth Charlottetown’s Best-Kept Secrets While Exploring by Foot

If there’s one thing Islanders love, it’s telling a good yarn to visitors and watching their reaction. On the one-hour Secrets of Charlottetown Walking Tour, it’ll be up to you to decide which stories your guide shares are folklore and which are the real deal. In the end, you might decide it’s better not to know which are which!

Go Green with a Unique ‘Bus’ Tour of Charlottetown

In search of an eco-friendly tour? Want to make new friends? Searching for a light sweat session? A first in Atlantic Canada, Ride Solar’s pedal bus offers a unique tour for up to 18 passengers (including one wheelchair!) that want to pedal their way to the city’s various pubs, restaurants, and historic locations throughout the birthplace of Canada. Choose between their Hop On/Hop Off tour or their Sips, Sites & Bites tour, which combines a bit of everything – food, drink, history, energy + more!

Haul Your Dinner Out of the Water with Top Notch Lobster Tours

There’s nothing that says ‘PEI’ quite like having a lobster dinner on a bonafide fishing boat while soaking up the day’s rays. Captain Mark Jenkins of Top Notch Lobster Tours sails out of the Charlottetown Harbour daily on his 45-foot lobster boat, the Top Notch and teaches you the ins and outs of lobster fishing. You’ll get to catch a buoy, haul a trap, band a claw, take a turn at the wheel and, of course, learn how to deshell the cooked crustacean!

Sit Back, Relax and Get the Inside Scoop on Charlottetown 

Traveling with a group of 6 or less? Treat yourself to a private van tour with Target Tours Atlantic and get the scoop on the city’s fascinating architecture and historical sites from a private guide during a two-hour tour.

Alternatively, if you’re traveling as a solo or couple, or have a very short window of time, check out the city highlights tour offered daily by Prince Edward Tours.