Charlottetown has a ton of history. Thanks to access to the ocean and abundant timber 4,500 tall ships were built there in the mid 1800’s. It has way more 100+ year old homes than Charlotte NC, in part because ship building skills were used for many of them, and they are still in great shape.

It also benefits from the gulf stream. We were amazed to learn that water temps at their pretty beaches reach 79 degrees in early September. The sun warms the sand, then the tide comes in and the water is warmed by the sand. That is much warmer than waters in California, and is due to the warm gulf stream reaching all the way up here. It keeps the waters navigable in winter.

Unfortunately that same gulf stream can bring big storms here as well. Our plan for the day was a horse drawn trolley ride — to appreciate the city and learn the history. We did it — yet a little less bucolic than this photo. Thanks to the remnants of hurricane Isaias it was 46 degrees and raining. Still big fun and very entertaining — just cold!

Another thing we loved is their deep respect for their First Nation heritage. Mi’kmaq in the Quebec Maritime provinces is one example. Their native language is again taught and spoken, and even appears as a third language (along with French and English) on some traffic signs. One of the 1st nation chiefs organized the conference of some 35 tribes that formulated the pact that united a huge swath from Canada to Louisiana. That pact ultimately led to the Louisiana purchase, which shaped the United States.

Charlottetown would actually be a fun place to spend a week, particularly to beat the summer heat. Nonstop flights from the Toronto airport.