https://lmmontgomeryliterarytour.com
Going to Prince Edward Island is a dream come true for anyone who fell in love with L.M. Montgomery’s books as a child. From Anne of Green Gables to Emily of New Moon, the island was the setting for almost all of her classic works of literature. It is just as beautiful today as it was 120 years ago when she was writing her fanciful novels that still capture our hearts, and as 2024 is the 150th anniversary of her birthday, this is the perfect year to visit.
It was a bucket list dream of mine to go to Prince Edward Island, but I didn’t know how I was going to convince my family to join me. Thank goodness I found kindred spirits through the Enchanted Book Club whose lovely leader, Hayley, put together a literary tour so we could travel to PEI and walk in Montgomery’s footsteps. I highly encourage going with a group like this as they will oooh and ahhh over the same things as you! It was the most amazing trip!
If you want to bring your children, I recommend waiting until they are at least 10 years old, so they can appreciate all of the charm. It is a very kid-friendly place!
Here are the must-see sites that take you through the often sad and lonely life of one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, Maud Montgomery. Check out this vlog of our group’s tour to visualize many of the sites.
Cavendish
Cavendish is the small town where Maud lived with her grandparents after her mother died when Maud was two years old and her father left for the west. She visited her cousins at what would become Green Gables and assisted her grandmother in her postmistress duties. While sitting in her room, she could look out at the PEI landscape which inspired her to write Anne of Green Gables. This is truly the place to walk in her shoes!
This is the house that Montgomery based Green Gables on, and it is just as charming as you’d expect! The former home of her Macneill cousins, it is set up as if Anne, Matthew, and Marilla are expected home any minute.
You’ll enter the site at the visitor’s center which has a wonderful museum all about Maud and her life and work. I could have spent hours here looking at her typewriter and other personal artifacts! Be sure to ask for an Xplorers booklet for your kids and check out the Lego Green Gables.
Walk through the center and by the cafe (stop there for a raspberry cordial and a flat donut called a beavertail). Kids will love the interpretive barn where there are activities and costumes for them to try on.
As you walk through the barn doors, you will see your first glimpse of Green Gables.
Enter through the front door in the garden and imagine Anne’s wonder as she gazed on this lovely home for the first time. From the quaint parlor to “Anne’s room,” it is a dream to walk through. You can almost hear Marilla’s voice in the simple kitchen or Matthew’s quiet presence in the parlor.
This is also the location of the famous “Lover’s Lane” and “Haunted Wood.” Check out the trails here. This is where you’ll feel Maud’s presence the most as she wrote so beautifully about her joy in walking along these very paths. I especially loved the signs with her famous quotes along the way.
Before leaving, don’t miss the amazing gift shop in the visitor’s center. It has a wonderful selection of Anne goodies!
If you can’t make it to this site, be sure to walk through its rooms on the virtual tour.
You can walk on the Haunted Wood trail or drive 5 minutes to the following destinations.
Cavendish Cemetery
Within sight of Green Gables is Maud’s final resting place. Now located at a busy intersection, you can imagine that this was once a peaceful spot overlooking her beloved Cavendish and the sea. Knowing her sad life, this spot is one of remembrance and reflection.
Across the street from the cemetery, this beautiful park has a statue of Maud and her beloved cats. It also has a cherry tree planted by the Japanese imperial princess at the official opening of the park. We learned about the Japanese people’s special connection to Anne of Green Gables which surprised me!
Don’t miss the other entrance to the Haunted Wood trail across the street.
Take the path at the back of the park or drive 5 minutes to the next destination.
L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site
This is the actual site where Maud wrote Anne of Green Gables. The home is no longer there, but you can see the foundations and gaze out onto the scenery she saw while writing. Plus the bookstore there is adorable and will stamp your books with her signature.
Walk or drive towards the main road to see two additional Montgomery sites.
Cavendish United Church
This is the church where Maud served as the organist from 1903-1911 and was the site of her funeral. There is a stained glass here in her honor (we visited on a Sunday evening so couldn’t see it from the inside!).
Cavendish Post Office
Right beside the church is the Cavendish post office with a museum about Maud who served as the assistant postmistress with her grandmother. You can even see the hatbox where Maud kept her Anne of Green Gables manuscript after she had given up on getting it published. Thankfully she found it and tried one more time. That’s so inspiring for me as an aspiring author who feels like giving up almost daily!
You can buy postcards here and have them stamped with a Cavendish postmark which makes a great souvenir to send home to friends and family.
Just past Green Gables, this is an adorable collection of buildings from Maud’s past that have now been turned into shops and restaurants. You can see the original schoolhouse where Maud taught for one year along with a church where she worshiped with her cousins (now a burger restaurant).
There is also an adorable gift shop and candy store along with other restaurants. Note that the village closes for the season by mid-September so plan accordingly.
Cavendish Beach, Prince Edward Island National Park
You have to visit the beach while on PEI! It is some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen. Park or walk here to access the gorgeous coast and don’t miss the dune walk!
Helpful hints:
- Cost: Most sites are free; Green Gables Heritage Site, the Cavendish home site, and the beach are all part of the Canada Parks network with varying costs. Be sure to buy the combo pass for Green Gables and the home site or the Anne and Gilbert package for access to 5 different Montgomery sites.
- Recommended: ages 6 and up
- Tour time: 1-2 days
- Gift shops located at Green Gables, homesite, and Avonlea Village. Shop online here.
- Dining options: Avonlea Village has many great restaurants including La Rose Bistro and Cows ice creamery (so many good, local flavors!). Just across from the cemetery is a great local restaurant, The Lost Anchor. Note that many Cavendish restaurants close by September for the season, reopening in June.
- Nearby attractions: Cavendish is a summer family vacation destination with its theme parks. I wonder what Maud would have thought about the roller coasters now in her little town! Biking is a huge industry here with protected bike lanes in the park. It would be a fun family outing! You can also go deep sea fishing or kayaking.
West of Cavendish
Just a short drive west of Cavendish will take you to the place where Maud was born and was inspired to write some of her favorite novels. The scenery is just breathtaking!
L.M. Montgomery Birthplace, New London
See where Maud was born in 1874 in this little cottage on a busy road. The rooms are tiny and the staircase is steep! While she only lived here until she was two years old, it is where Maud began her extraordinary life. I especially loved the replica of her wedding dress!
Anne of Green Gables Museum, Park Corner
This was one of my favorite stops! This is the house where Maud would visit her Campbell cousins, and this parlor is where she got married! She was inspired by the home and the landscape here (including the Lake of Shining Waters) to write some of her favorite books, including The Story Girl and the Pat of Silver Bush series.
The rooms are beautiful and include so many delights – like the actual bookcase that inspired Anne’s enchanted bookcase and the trunk of wedding clothes from The Story Girl.
You can tour the home and visit the store and tea room.
The neatest thing to do is take one of Matthew’s carriage rides along the Lake of Shining Waters. It is truly spectacular!!
The Montgomery Inn at Ingleside, Park Corner
As you drive to the museum, be sure to look for this inn which was the home of Maud’s grandfather who was a Canadian senator. She spent much time here, and it was the inspiration for Ingleside, Anne and Gilbert’s home. You can even stay in Maud’s former bedroom!
Other Maud sites west of Cavendish include the Kensington Train Station where she departed to visit her dad in the west and Bideford Parsonage Museum where Maud boarded during her two year teaching job. It looks lovely!
Helpful hints:
- Cost: Both sites charge admission; the museum is $9; carriage rides begin at $110/6 people
- Recommended: ages 6 and up
- Tour time: 3-4 hours
- Gift shops located at both sites
- Dining options: We ate at Carr’s at the Stanley Bridge which was really good. Due to delayed flights, I missed our welcome dinner at The Mill in New Glasgow, and everyone said it was good!
East of Cavendish
Just east of Cavendish is the most beautiful shoreline with dramatic cliffs and quaint lighthouses as you drive along Gulf Shores Parkway. Fans of the Anne CBA movies will want to visit Dalvay by the Sea, which was built in 1895. The hotel doesn’t allow tours, but you can drive by it or eat in its beautiful dining room. It would also make a great place to stay if you’re looking for a more relaxing vacation. This is where Prince William and Princess Kate stayed for one night during their Canadian honeymoon!
Helpful hints:
- Cost: You need a Canada Parks pass to enter the Dalvay area.
- Recommended: ages 10 and up
- Tour time: 1-2 hours
- Dining options: Eat at the Dalvay’s beautiful restaurant or stop in New Glasgow at the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company. It also has beautiful gardens and a great gift shop! I highly recommend Blue Mussel Cafe in North Rustico for an unforgettable meal on the water. We saw the most amazing sunset from its deck!
Charlottetown
The main town on PEI, this is where you’ll find the airport, so it makes a great end to any trip. It also has many sites related to Maud.
The Confederation Centre of the Arts
This arts facility houses Maud’s original manuscripts. They are not displayed for the public, but our group was able to see them. Her scribbles and edits made a huge impact on me, especially as a writer. To see her actual handwriting, the place where she first wrote, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” and her edits of Anne’s bosom friend’s name (from Laura to Gertrude to Diana!) was just thrilling. Hopefully they will find a way to both preserve them while displaying these national treasures soon!
The centre hosts the Anne & Gilbert musical which was delightful! It also hosts an annual summer festival with the Anne of Green Gables musical.
Robertson Library and the L.M. Montgomery Institute at UPEI
The L.M. Montgomery Institute hosts an annual conference on her work and also has many important artifacts from her life. Check out the project which is recreating her bookshelves!
Charlottetown is a delightful place to eat and shop. Don’t miss the amazing Bookmark bookstore just a few blocks from the Confederation Centre. It has an amazing selection of Maud’s work!
Helpful hints:
- Cost: Buy your musical tickets in advance (add on as part of the Anne and Gilbert package for the best value).
- Recommended: ages 10 and up
- Tour time: 3-4 hours
- Dining options: Charlottetown has many great restaurants. We ate at Founders Food Market and Hall which is right on the water. We also heard that Water Prince Lobster was the place to go for lobster.
- Nearby attractions: Charlottetown is a quaint place to walk around, especially near the Confederation Centre on Richmond Street. The PEI Museum and Heritage Site and the Beaconsfield Historic House look great too. I’d love to spend more time here!
General Tips
- Timing: Summer is when PEI shines but it gets very crowded. We went in early September which was perfect as the weather was still good, crowds were low, and most places were still open. Before planning a trip out of season, make sure the places you want to visit are open. Most seasonal sites are open June – September only.
- Planning help: Be sure to consult this map and sample itinerary from the L.M. Montgomery Literary Tour website to plan your trip. I also recommend hiring a private tour guide who knows the island and Montgomery. We absolutely loved Jack from Jack’s Tours PEI. He was so informative on the history of the island along with all of the Montgomery history.
- Transportation: Charlottetown’s airport is serviced by Air Canada (a United partner) with several daily flights from Toronto and Montreal. You do need a car to get around, or alternatively, hire a tour guide and driver so you can be sure to take in the beautiful scenery. There are many different tour routes you can take and you can fit in several sites in the same day as most are located within a 15-minute drive in Cavendish.
- Lodging: We stayed at the adorable Kindred Spirits Inn which had a walking path to the Green Gables site! Highly recommended! Some of our group also stayed at the next door Cavendish Breeze Inn. You won’t find large chain hotels here, just quaint bed and breakfast inns with friendly people and a beautiful setting. Outside of Cavendish, you have many options including The Montgomery Inn at Ingleside and Dalvay by the Sea. Charlottetown does have many chain hotels but is a 45 minute drive to most of the Montgomery sites.
- Cultural activities: One of the most immersive experiences we had was attending a Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee). It is a folk music show with many different locations. I highly recommend attending one!
- Before your trip, I highly recommend watching the Anne of Green Gables movies from the CBA through GazeboTV. I didn’t watch until after my trip, but it would have been neat to recognize the sites from the show while there!
- Be sure to check your change while there. In 2024, Canada issued a special L.M. Montgomery commemorative coin which can be hard to find. We were so thrilled when we were given them on our visit! You can order them here.
It was a dream to be part of this group of kindred spirits and walk in the footsteps of my favorite author. The Enchanted Book Club just announced its tour to England next year, so if you’re a Jane Austen or Beatrix Potter fan, you’ll want to attend. I highly recommend taking a tour with people who love what you love. It makes it so much more meaningful!
L.M. Montgomery’s Prince Edward Island is a special place and one that is now part of my heart. If you grew up wanting to be Anne or to find your own Gilbert, you must visit!
Books to Read:
All links are Amazon affiliate links. You can visit my Bookshop.org shop to support independent bookstores and creators. You can also visit the Anne of Green Gables official store to purchase books.
Adult/Young Adult
- Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings
- The Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery: The PEI Years, 1889-1900
- L.M. Montgomery and War
- The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables: The Enchanting Island that Inspired L. M. Montgomery
- Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse
- The Blue Castle (Hayley and Plumleaf Press gifted us this edition!)
- The Blue Castle: The Original Manuscript
- Anne of Green Gables: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters’ Letters and Mementos, Written and Folded by Hand (Hayley gave us this edition as a gift!)
- Anne of Green Gables : The Original Manuscript
- The Blythes Are Quoted
- Maud: A Novel Inspired by the Life of L.M. Montgomery
- After Anne: A Novel of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Life
- Marilla of Green Gables: A Novel
Middle Grade
- House of Dreams: The Life of L. M. Montgomery
- Anne of Green Gables series
- Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel
- Anne Arrives: Inspired by Anne of Green Gables (An Anne Chapter Book)
- Emily of New Moon series
- Jane of Lantern Hill
- The Story Girl
- The Golden Road
- Pat of Silver Bush series
Picture Books
So many wonderful places to visit connected to L.M. Montgomery! My grandparents visited the Green Gables Heritage site decades ago, and it has been a place I want to visit ever since. Thank you for sharing so many pictures and information!
Thank you for sharing!