ICE COLD OYSTERS/FERNWOOD (Monday to Friday, by appointment)
Head out onto the ice at Salutation Cove on a snowmobile and learn to catch oysters from the bottom of the cove. While most fishermen use chainsaws to cut through the ice, visitors taking part in a guided tour are able to plunge their own tongs into the ice and eat a few oysters right out of the water. Participants learn the difference between standard and choice oysters, as well as how they’re farmed, harvested, and shucked.
BROOKVALE WINTER ACTIVITY PARK/QUEEN’S COUNTY
Centrally located, Queen’s County is where many cross-country, snowboarding and alpine enthusiasts come to play when visiting the Island. For downhill skiers, the park offers a 76-m drop and 10 alpine trails. Nordic skiers can enjoy 24.5 km of recreational trails and another 7.5 km of competitive lanes. If skiing isn’t your thing, pull on a pair of snowshoes or jump on a toboggan and race down the hills—all before enjoying a warm cider in one of the two lodges on the property.
OWNER FOR AN EVENING/CHARLOTTETOWN (until the end of December)
Harness racing has a rich history in P.E.I. (home of the Gold Cup and Saucer Race) and there’s nothing like the thrill of watching “your” horse make its move in the final stretch. The Owner for an Evening experience includes a tour of the grandstand at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Entertainment Centre and a visit to the paddock to meet the horse. Participants discuss race strategy with trainers before a buffet dinner of steamed mussels, seafood chowder and P.E.I. potatoes. Though you won’t collect a cut if your horse is victorious, expect to be whisked to the winner’s circle where your photo will be taken alongside your horse and driver.
JACK FROST CHILDREN’S WINTERFEST/CHARLOTTETOWN (Feb. 12 to 14)
About 70 tonnes of snow is used to make Jack Frost’s “home,” a whimsical castle that delights children during the largest winter festival east of Quebec City. Frost’s snow kingdom is an interactive playground bursting with slides, jungle gyms, an igloo village and ice carvings. And though the festival is primarily geared toward children, adults can enjoy the live music, fireworks displays, and a 3,600-sq.-foot snow maze.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.tourismpei.com