The Sweet Spot Before Summer
There's this particular feeling that settles in around the last week of May on PEI. The daffodils and tulips have been doing their thing, and somewhere between the grey days and the glimpses of sun, you can feel the season slowly shifting. Somewhere in the back of your head a little voice starts whispering: the cottage. If you're anything like me, that whisper gets louder every single day until you finally give in and start packing the car.
This time of year is also my favourite kind of pause. We're still smack in the middle of spring and honestly, May on PEI has been doing the absolute most this year. Last week we had a high 20 degree day and I was in full "summer is coming" mode, and this week I had the fireplace on. Classic Island. But even with the weather keeping us on our toes, there's something happening quietly in the background that I absolutely love. The traffic lights are coming back on in Cavendish one by one, seasonal operations are flipping their signs to open, and the North Shore is slowly coming back to life. And if I'm being honest, this might be my favourite time of year up there. Before the full summer rush arrives, there's this beautiful in-between where you can actually breathe, get a table without a wait, and feel like the Island is just yours for a little while longer.
Don't get me wrong, I genuinely love that people choose PEI for their vacation. Tourism is the heartbeat of so much of what makes this place thrive and I love seeing visitors experience the magic that we who call this place home never get tired of either. But there's something really sweet about watching it all come alive before the crowds arrive.
So today, instead of rushing into summer, I'm sitting with that feeling for a minute. The back roads, the small communities, the places that haven't changed much and don't need to. That's the PEI I love most.
1. Jane & Sue's Chocolates: The Ritual That Never Gets Old
Jane & Sue's is a Stanley Bridge ritual, full stop. The second we're close enough, we're stopping, and honestly it's not even a weekly trip kind of stop, it practically becomes one once we're up there. Their chocolate chip cookies and coconut macaroons are completely gluten-free and completely dangerous to have around. And if I need a little pep in my step, their coffee is always there for me too. It's one of those places that just quietly becomes part of your rhythm without you even noticing. Until you notice you've been there four times in two weeks and have zero regrets.
2. The Cannery in Rustico: The New Kid on the Block
I have been looking forward to this one all winter. The Cannery is one of the newer spots (literally) on the on the water and the buzz around it has been real. There's something so exciting about a brand new restaurant in a place you already love. Rustico has such a beautiful, unhurried energy and I have a feeling The Cannery is going to fit right in. I cannot wait to sit down, look at that menu, and see what they're all about.
3. Blue Mussel Cafe, Oyster Bed Bridge: A Favourite in a Brand New Home
The Blue Mussel Cafe has had a special place in our world for a long time. When they were in Rustico, we were regulars, somewhere between four and seven visits a season, which honestly tells you everything you need to know about the consistency of their food. That kind of track record doesn't happen by accident. They've moved to a beautiful new location in Oyster Bed Bridge, and the view there is absolutely stunning. We already love them. The new spot just gives us even more reason to show up.
4. Village Pottery: Suzanne Knows What She's Doing
Village Pottery has been a favourite stop for years and Suzanne, the woman behind it all, absolutely knows what she's doing. Ten years in and she just keeps evolving, which is exactly the kind of thing that earns a loyal following. She has this beautiful balance of styles when it comes to her mugs alone, and if you happen to be a Jillian Harris fan, you already know about the Jilly Mug because Suzanne is the talent behind it. If you're heading to visit someone or welcoming guests to the cottage, it's honestly the perfect place to pick up something that feels genuinely chosen rather than just grabbed. Apparently she added clothing last season and I somehow completely missed it, so this year I'm going in fully prepared to do some proper shopping. Suzanne has built something really special up there and it shows in every single corner of that space.
5. The Landmark Cafe, Victoria by the Sea: Where It All Comes Full Circle
This one is personal. Victoria by the Sea holds a really tender spot in my heart because my parents used to take us there as kids to visit distant relatives. We'd spend the whole day on the beach, explore the cottages, and wander the sweetest little village you've ever seen. It left an impression that has never really faded. Coming back as an adult, with my own memories layered on top of those childhood ones, feels like a gift every single time.
And at the centre of it all is the Landmark Cafe, with Marly leading the pack. I was actually there just this past week and had the absolute pleasure of sitting down to a warm lobster roll, and Marly sat with me. It was one of those moments that just fills you right up. Honestly a genius and a queen, and that afternoon was one of the highlights of my week. Her fish tacos are something else entirely and the wine list is always worth a good long look. It's the kind of place where the food is great, the setting is magic, and the person running it clearly loves what she does. That combination is rare and I never take it for granted.
Here's to the In-Between
There's a lot to love about PEI in every season, but there is something about this time of year on the Island that I will never take for granted. The rural roads, the small communities coming back to life, the feeling that another season is just getting started. It smells like salt air and possibility. And honestly, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Here's to the sweet spot before summer fully arrives. I hope you find your own version of it this weekend.
Lots of love,
Marsha
