You know this feeling if you're an Islander. That little shift in the air toward the end of August, basically the second Old Home Week wraps up today ;), and you suddenly realize how few weekends are actually left. This is the part of summer where we go a little bit into panic mode, in the best way. We start cramming in all the things we swore we'd get to back in June. So today I put together our own PEI bucket list, the stuff happening right here at the Preserve Company and around the corner, before the season quietly wraps up on us.
1. Dinner in the Dining Room, but only for one more week
I have to lead with this one because it's the most urgent. We only have one week left of dinner service in the Dining Room this season, so if you've been meaning to come sit down with us for an evening, now is the time. Grab a table, order something off the menu you've been eyeing all summer, and let us take care of the rest. Reservations are going fast, so don't wait until next weekend to think about it.
2. Say hi to the butterflies (and the whole barnyard crew)
Out at the Gardens of Hope, the Butterfly House is still open and it never stops being one of my favourite spots on the property. Wander through, let a butterfly land on your shoulder if you're patient enough, then go visit the animals grazing just beyond it. It's simple, it's sweet, and it's exactly the kind of slow afternoon we don't get enough of.
3. Treat yourself to afternoon tea
If you haven't sat down for afternoon tea with us yet this summer, consider this your sign. There's something so nostalgic about it, the beautifully curated tiers, the proper pot of tea, the feeling of being looked after for an afternoon. It's such a special experience, the kind that takes you back to simpler days and reminds you to just slow down. Honestly, we could all use more moments like that before the season shifts.
4. Order one of our picnics and take it into the gardens
If you haven't ordered one of our picnics yet, you are missing out on one of my favorite things we do. These aren't just a sandwich thrown in a bag, they are top shelf, really elevated, and so detail oriented, the kind of picnic that feels special the moment you open it up. Take it into the gardens, find your favourite patch of grass, and let us do the work for you.
5. Have you tried our Grab & Go this summer?
Wow. I have to brag a little here because our Grab & Go has genuinely outdone itself this season. Sandwiches, wraps, croissants with our own preserves, so much deliciousness has come out of that counter. The cheesecakes in a jar might be Adam’s favourite thing we've ever made, and did you know we even make raspberry cream cheese ice cream to go? Gosh, it's so yummy.
DID YOU KNOW? You can also grab an entire Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie to take home, and honestly, that has to be on everyone's summer bucket list. If you've been driving by all summer telling yourself you'll stop in eventually, today's the day.
6. Take the short drive up the road for pizza
Have you been to Stoked Pizza yet? Our sister company is just up the road, and if you haven't paired a wood-fired pizza with a cold pour from Bogside Brewery, you're missing out on one of the best combos on the Island right now. The Hot Stuff is my personal favorite, and if you see Skiff while you're there, tell him I say hi. It's the kind of casual, no-fuss night out that fits perfectly into these last busy weeks of summer.
7. Take a beautiful coastal drive
Some of my favourite summer moments this year have been putting the top down on my convertible and just driving the coast with no real plan. Wind in my hair, bugs on my teeth, as I always say. Pick your favourite stretch of road and make time for one more drive before the season turns on us.
8. Stop for a treat, mostly ice cream this time of year
This time of year it is all about ice cream for me. Crickers' Creamery, Harry's Dairy Bar at Mariner's Cove, and Cow's Ice Cream at Avonlea Village are all favourites of mine in the region. And if you're after something a little different, the gluten free cookies at Jane & Sue's are some of my favourite treats around, always worth the stop.
It's a bittersweet time of year for us here at the Preserve Company. Part of us is soaking up every last bit of summer, and part of us is already thinking ahead to fall. So there you have it, my PEI bucket list for these last few weeks. I dare you to cram all of that in before summer's gone.
Lots of love,
Marsha
