Hello,
We are planning a trip in late June & looking for a place to stay for a few nights. Really prefer the no TV no internet places from the 50s/60s, on the south side, close to kiteboarding Looking for any 1st hand recommendations.
2nd half of the trip will be more upscale - Stanhope resort. Bonus is it looks like it is close to good kiteboarding spots for the bay. Again would love to get some feedback about both the Stanhope and places to ride near there given what looks like a prevailing south wind.

June is a great time to come to the Island! You may even get the earliest shorts days, at least in Malpeque Bay, although ocean kiting will still require a full wetsuit. Here is a link to a website that should help you find suitable accommodations. All the best and enjoy your time here!
Ken
http://www.pei-cottages.com

Thanks dobiewan!

I wonder if you or other locals could give me a little insight on whether there are still 60s mom & pop owned and run motels/cottages (and which ones are well run)? We live down on the gulf coast of florida and they are harder and harder to find, but for a beach vacation they are the best!!

Sorry - I don't know! What I would suggest is that June is still low season, and that if there is mom and pops, they will have availability when you arrive! All the best - enjoy your trip!
Ken

Here is where I like to stay when I go to PEI.

http://www.shawshotel.ca/

It used to be such a bargain when the USD$ was strong and the CAD$ was weak. You can kite right at Shaws in Covehead Bay or a short drive to some other spots.

Ed

Any hardy souls riding up there yet? Looks pretty damn frigid to me so I am hoping for a heat wave over the next few weeks

Trip is finally getting close - going to be a shock to the system since it is now consistently in the low 90s & water is above 80 here! I plan on bringing full wetsuit, booties & gloves.

I am hoping water at least makes it to the high 50s, which is our normal winter low temps! I found an old google map with riding spots, but wondered if I can pm one of y'all once we are there to find out where people are riding.

Are there pretty consistent winds through out the summer and fall up there? Average wind speed? A few of my friends have been talking about doing a trip up there this summer to kite. I haven't been since I was a kid. Is there a local forum or store/school up there worth contacting for the info?

Hi - the kiteboarding is great on the Island! David and Janeen are the local instructors and their website and contact information can be found at www.peikiteboarding.ca
Have fun!
Ken

I'm from Florida and I'm used to a 2 foot tide swing. Depending on where you are at PEI, you'll see much bigger swings, some places 8 feet or more. For beach spots, probably no big deal, for a bay spot with shallow flats, you might have a long walk at low tide. Currents can be nasty with such huge tidal swings. Probably a good idea to ask the locals at kiting spots about tide related hazards. Leave extra gear on beach well above the high water line.

Oh, and take warm booties. I once kited cold water with my un-insulated "Florida friendly" Skeletoes and my feet got so cold that it became my limiting factor and I had to quit kiting.

my $0.02

I think the tide typically swings about 3 or 4 feet from what I've seen. Here's a link to PEI tide predictions.

http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/cgi-bin/tide-shc.cgi?queryType=showZone&language=english&region=4&zone=4

In the bays the tide has a big affect on windsurfers but not so much on kiteboarders.

Swimmers have to be very aware of tides in the gulf and NH straight. If you're ripping on a board you shouldn't notice them.

My 2c