By the sea - artists & fishermen in Victoria-by-the-Sea

Victoria-by-the-Sea: an insider tip by the sea

Admittedly, I hadn't heard of Victoria-by-the-Sea before, even though I've been to Prince Edward Island many times. I was all the more surprised when we visited this pretty little seaside village on the south coast of the island province in eastern Canada this summer. There are no large signposts, and even our guidebook mentions the place only in passing.

So nothing prepares us for the galleries with their imaginative carvings, nautical souvenirs, and cute cottage-style decor that I would love to use to decorate my home.

The village's lovingly maintained houses, with their verandas, invite you to spend a lazy afternoon with a good book in one of the rocking chairs or hammocks. For the more active visitors, boats bob in the small harbor, waiting for anglers.

For photographers like me, this seaside town offers so many motifs that we could spend days here without discovering every nook and cranny, offering ever-new insights into the exuberant imaginations of Victoria-by-the-Sea's residents. Every house seems to be home to someone whose creativity contributes to making the seaside village, its houses, cafes, shops, and gardens, more beautiful.

By the sea The harbor of Victoria-by-the-Sea — The harbor of Victoria-by-the-Sea

Village idyll by the sea in Victoria-by-the-Sea

Perhaps it's because you have to take your time to explore the town's galleries, restaurants, cafés, and shops. At first glance, all we see is the small harbor, the fishermen's sheds, and the squat lighthouse, which is pretty to look at but not particularly impressive. We park our car on a side street and set off on foot to explore the seaside village.

Meanwhile, the wind is picking up over the Northumberland Strait, and increasingly threatening clouds are gathering above us. These do not bode well for the coming hours and days.

So we grab our raincoats and head down to the buildings by the harbor. On the way, we see the red soil along the coastline for which Prince Edward Island is so famous. It's the reason why this island is so fertile.

A lobster boat is moored in the harbor basin, which probably can't go out today to retrieve its cages due to the rising waves. But lobster is available here, as the Lobster Barn Pub Eatery boastfully proclaims on its wall. Anyone who wants to can feast on it at a lobster lunch or lobster dinner.

The Lobster Barn Pub Eatery is located in Victoria-by-the-Sea

The Anne of Green Gables straw hat must not be missed

Souvenirs the Prince Edward Island way

Although I never say no to a delicious lobster meal, on this afternoon the neighboring shops tempt us more with their pretty signs advertising their own “cottage,” “garden shed,” or “beach house.”

There are also wooden lobster buoys, like those used in the past on these coasts. They're nicer than the brightly colored plastic buoys that now mark the spots where lobstermen sink their cages in the waters around Prince Edward Island.

Alternatively, there are old wooden chairs that have been imaginatively restored and transformed into true works of art with lots of paint. Of course, as a concession to the international visitors, the bright red braids and straw hat from Anne of Green Gables are a must. However, we're much more drawn to the beautiful amber bowls or the metal jewelry in the colorful display cases.

The wind drives away visitors to the sea — The wind dispels the visitors

The storm drives us into the souvenir shops

At the end of the jetty, the now gale-force wind whips the first raindrops into our faces. The terrace of the Beachcombers Restaurant by the sea, from which, in sunshine, you're sure to have a great view of the Northumberland Strait and—on a clear day—of Nova Scotia, is deserted.

Anyone who was enjoying their coffee here just minutes ago has now fled from the force of the wind. We, too, only let it blow around our noses for a short time, as the drops now falling from the sky are getting larger and larger.

Since, as usual, we don't have an umbrella with us, which is useless in these gusts anyway, we run from one shop to the next, creeping back to our car. We explore the rest of Victoria-by-the-Sea from the dryness of our car.

Pretty, isn't it? This lovingly tended garden in Victoria-by-the-Sea, Prince Edward Island — Nice, is not it? This lovingly tended garden in Victoria-by-the-Sea at Prince Edward Island

A seaside village full of arts and crafts

The seaside village isn't particularly large. It actually consists of just a crossroads, with side streets connected by a road that runs around the village.

But as we drive through the town, we discover new signs on every street inviting us into art galleries, boutiques, a chocolate shop, or a café reminiscent of a dollhouse.

It's just a shame that the pouring rain is putting a damper on our plans. Next time, we'll take more time to explore this place. Maybe we'll even stay overnight in one of the lovely bed and breakfasts in the village.

Our quick visit to Victoria-by-the-Sea has made us curious about the people of this village. And who knows what surprises await us?

Further information about the village by the sea.

Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

Arrival:

Air Canada, Condor and Icelandair fly from Germany to various airports in eastern Canada.

Car Rentals:

Cheap car hire - book quickly and easily!

Hotels:

Hotels in Prince Edward Island * (advertisement) can be booked through our partner booking.com.

Do you know this?

Source: own on-site research. We would like to thank Tourism Prince Edward Island for supporting this oceanfront trip. However, our opinions remain, as always, our own.

By the sea - Victoria-by-the-Sea

Victoria-by-the-Sea: an insider tip by the sea

Village idyll by the sea in Victoria-by-the-Sea

Souvenirs the Prince Edward Island way

The storm drives us into the souvenir shops

A seaside village full of arts and crafts