A potato museum? We didn’t know there was such a place, but then sometimes the best part of traveling is finding the unexpected. That’s just what happened while we were exploring Prince Edward Island. We discovered the Canadian Potato Museum. Who knew? Can you guess what’s on the lunch menu?

Canadian Potato Museum

We were on our way to North Cape, PEI when we decided to take in the unknown wonders of visiting a potato museum. The museum is located in O’Leary, Prince Edward Island, home of the annual PEI Potato Blossom Festival. One might think there’s not much to see at a potato museum, but then again sometimes the unplanned is the most fun and informative.

For example. We had zero knowledge of the fact that potatoes are a major source of agriculture on Prince Edward Island. I’m betting you didn’t know that little fun fact either, and I’m betting you didn’t know PEI potato farmers grow approximately 100 different kinds of potatoes. Raise your hand if you already knew there are more than 100 different kinds of potatoes in the world.

“If Prince Edward Island was ranked as a country, it would rank in the top 30 potato producers in the world.” Source: Canadian Potato Museum

A Fun Place to Visit

Aside from the potato statistics, the museum was actually quite a fun place to visit. It’s home to a warehouse full of antique farming machinery and to all of the modern techniques of farming.

What’s For Lunch?

Maybe best of all there is a full-service restaurant inside the museum. Guess what’s on the menu? Yep. Potatoes. And, guess what’s served on the side with your meal. Freshly fried potato chips, of course.

North Cape

As I mentioned above, we were on our way to North Cape when we decided to visit the museum. North Cape, as you may have already guessed, is the northern most point on PEI. It takes a bit over one hour to drive, due North, from Summerside to North Cape. Summerside is where we based ourselves for our ten day stay on PEI.

Standing on the red cliffs of North Cape looking out to sea, while the gentle breezes washed through the grasses, was a scene right out of the pages of Anne of Green Gables. It is somewhat difficult to paint a picture with words while trying to describe the island. Author Lucy Maud Montgomery did so brilliantly through the eyes of Anne.

The Dividing Point

North Cape is the dividing point between the Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Did I mention how far north it is? We were so fortunate to enjoy gloriously warm and clear days while visiting the island.

Island Trails

While exploring North Cape, we took the time to hike the Black Marsh Trail. It turned out to be another unplanned triumph. The trail is well-maintained and leads hikers out to, and among, the powerful windmills that harness the island wind blowing in from the sea. Or, does it blow out to sea? I have no idea. I do know, however, the trail is not to be missed.

Do you know how to harvest Irish Moss? No, well neither did we, but we saw first hand how it’s harvested as we hiked the Black Marsh Trail. If you’d like to watch our six-minute Black Marsh Trail video, click over to our YouTube Channel and see what I’ve been talking about. I think you’ll enjoy it. If you haven’t done so already, please subscribe to our channel. It is absolutely free and it will help us reach our goal of 1,000 subscribers by the end of 2023.

If You Go

• Canadian Potato Museum: 1 Dewar Lane, O’Leary, PEI
• 9:30 – 5:30 Sunday to Saturday (closed during winter season)
• Admission ranges $5 – $10
• Ample surface parking
• Restrooms
• Restaurant
• Gift shop
• Picnic tables

• North Cape: Tignish, PEI
• Visitors center
• Ample surface parking
• Restrooms
• Gift shop
• Restaurant
• Nature trail
• Wind farm