If you're planning to travel to a Canadian vacation destination this summer, take a break from every day, and book passage for Prince Edward Island. The smallest of Canada's provinces and the birthplace of Confederation, this gentle island is big on hospitality. Very, very big.

If camping is your inclination, with a land area of 280 km from tip to tip you are never more than 20 minutes from the water's edge. And with a network of national and provincial parks, the outdoor enthusiast has both the opportunity and the ability to take advantage of all the island has to offer. Nature abounds high atop the red cliffs. Shoreline dunes support their own fragile ecosystems. And at the water's edge, you will discover miles and miles of sand in a variety of colors as soft as the sand itself.

For the cyclist, a network of paths and routes can transport you from one end of the island to the other. Confederation Trail, Prince Edward Island's contribution to the Trans Canada Trail winds its way across the island, having been developed on abandoned railway lines. As the Trail itself is relatively flat, making it an ideal way to discover the many jewels the Island has to offer. It winds it way into wetlands, along sparkling rivers and through quaint Island villages.

It is in these villages that the foodie can indulge their fresh culinary passions. Completely surrounded by the clear ocean waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Prince Edward Island necessarily offers a collective menu teeming with delights. Lobster is fresh, farmed and available year round. PEI mussels are world renowned and served in 5 star restaurants. And of course, the perfect bowl of clam chowder is thickened naturally by PEI potatoes and made that much richer with dairy products from surrounding farmlands.

Between lunch and dinner, take the time to visit the Island shops. From hand-stitched quilts, to pottery and woodworking, maritime life, culture and history intersect with rural traditional and indigenous icons to create a unique shopping environment. And where there is a storied history, there is also the opportunity to hone your antiquing skills, another requisite of a Prince Edward Island, Canada vacation.

There is much to do and much to see on this gentle island. From camping to shopping to hiking or cycling. From golfing to simply relaxing at the water's edge, letting your eyes drift to the tops of the cliffs or beyond. Fall in love on Prince Edward Island. Fall in love with Prince Edward Island. The perfect Canada travel vacation destination this summer.