Is a trip to PEI really complete without a visit to Cavendish to see the place that inspired the stories of Anne of Green Gables? I’ll be totally honest, I didn’t care much for visiting the Green Gables Heritage Place. I didn’t grow up fascinated with the story. Heck, I’m not even sure I read any of the books. We ended up visiting the site because my friend was a big fan and wanted to go (travelling with someone else is all about compromise, right?). Basically, the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place consists of a (relatively small) outdoor area where you can take a tour through her house, view original work by L.M Montgomery and what inspired her stories, and go on a little stroll through the “Balsam Hollow” trails.
The Grounds
I’ll be honest; I thought it was going to be a lot bigger than it actually was. That being said, as you walk around the small area after the entranceway, you might be lucky enough to catch an “Anne Impersonator” walking around – perfect for a photo op. The red barn area on your right side is where you’ll find the personal drawings and primary sources from L.M Montgomery. There was also a video playing in the adjacent room, but the sitting area was full so we decided to continue walking around.
Green Gables House
Just beyond the outdoor entrance area is where you’ll find the main attraction: the Green Gables House. Having not read the stories, I didn’t recognise the rooms from the books, but my friend said they were accurately represented. It did look like a lot of thought went into the construction of each room to ensure authenticity. While it was busy with other tourists going through the rooms, you could definitely go at a slower pace in most areas of the home if you wanted to.
The “Balsam Hollow” Trail
The last thing we did here was a forest walk through the “Balsam Hollow” trail. Again, I hadn’t read the book so I had no idea what this was, but my friend tells me it wasn’t quite how she remembered it. Essentially, it was a very short (maybe 15 minutes) circular walk through the forest with little to see. They did have a few information stands scattered throughout, which provided a bit more detail on the history behind the trail and how it related to the book.
Was it worth it?
Overall, I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it, but I did find it fairly underwhelming. Even my friend who was really looking forward to this part of our visit to PEI was a bit disappointed. I believe the entrance ticket was around CAD$12 for an adult, so if you’re a big fan and it isn’t too far out of the way, go for it. Otherwise, I’d probably sit this one out.
