This past weekend, Lynn and I got to enjoy Sunrise Retreat and while celebrating our anniversary at the same time. Where a normal weekend would often include housework, yard work and also office time managing our businesses, we decided to book some activities in the area to experience what our guests get to enjoy, and we sometimes take for granted.
Our first stop was The Fiddling Fisherman Lobster Lovers boat cruise. We sailed out from Souris Harbour on the Chaisson a Dream with Captain JJ Chaisson, his wife Julie, and their son McGuire. Truly a family business like ours. We were entertained by JJ with some fiddle music and an explanation of his fishing industry (being from here and in tourism, we knew this already, but it is great hearing it again).
We sailed out along the coast and pulled up a trap full of lobster! These were caught in May/June and are stored in a holding tank before being carefully placed in the trap earlier in the day. You could go up and pick out your own lobster for dinner if you wanted. It was the freshest lobster you will ever taste. Not going to give away his secrets of how he cooked them. This can only be experienced firsthand.
In true PEI/Maritimer style, we met another group at our table who lived away but always came home to PEI in the summer. After a few discovery questions like where you lived on the Island, we made a connection to another local and low and behold, we figured out we were cousins. I met my second cousin, Dan and his family. How wild is that!
My next check-off on my “to do” list was viewing a sunrise at the beach. I have seen many sunrises at sea on my travels on cruise ships, but I don’t think I have witnessed a sunrise at a PEI beach. It was worth getting up early for.
Our last experience was a Sunset Cruise with Fortune River Charters. Captain Aaron took our group out on a pontoon boat where we got to see some wildlife and of course some jaw dropping scenery along the Fortune River. There was a thunder and lightning storm blow through when we were having dinner at the cottage, and we thought we would be rained out. But the clouds disappeared, and it turned out to be one of the best evenings of the summer. Pictures were amazing as you can see!
We really have a beautiful province, and I may be biased, but I think Eastern PEI is a hidden gem of our tourism industry. So, what are you waiting for? Book your stay at www.sunriseproperties.ca, and you can live like a local in Eastern PEI.
