Cavendish Travel Guide

Green Gables, part of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site, has become famous around the world as the inspiration for the setting in Ms. Montgomery's classic tale of fiction, Anne of Green Gables. In real life, this farm was the home of David Jr. and Margaret Macneill, who were cousins of Montgomery's grandfather. Shortly after her death in 1942, Lucy Maud Montgomery was recognized by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada as being a person of national historic significance, and a monument and plaque were erected at Green Gables in 1948. Designated in 2005, Lucy Maud Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site includes the Site of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Cavendish Home and Green Gables.

This is the original site that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery to write Anne of Green Gables. If you're a big fan of the book, you should definitely go for a visit. On the site, there is the info centre/little museum, a barn, Green Gables and a gift shop. On the day that we went, there was a tour bus on location so we were paraded through Green Gables in a bit of a rush. The house has narrow hallways and we were caught right in the middle of their tour group so we couldn't just step aside and let them go through. Next time we'll be smart enough to go either before or after the tour group.

Sandspit is a small amusement park in Cavendish. It has rides such as a ferris wheel, bumper cars, a roller-coaster, etc, and also mini-golf. It's not as kid-oriented as Rainbow Valley, but still fun for the whole family.

In June, this is the place where most of the high school graduates have their "chem-free night" (an all-night alcohol/drug-free party organized by the schools) after the graduation ceremonies. But I don't think the park is open at night, and even when it is for the chem-free night, it's only for the grads.

Rainbow Valley is an amusement park for the kids. There are waterslides, rides (roller-coaster, ferris wheel, etc), a little train that goes through the woods, farm animals, games, etc. It's perfect for a family outing.

Avonlea Village is right next to the Green Gables house, and it's a replica of the village called Avonlea portrayed in L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. There are also actors in costumes playing each character in the book.

The house that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery to write Anne of Green Gables is in Cavendish, and while it's one of the biggest tourist traps on the Island, it's definitely worth a visit. This is the original house, and while the objects, furniture, etc are not from that house, they are original antiques from that era (late 19th Century) and region. Aside from the house there is also a barn (it is not the original barn - it was built quite recently, but the farm equipment is authentic), 2 trails in the woods, a cafe, souvenir shop, and activities for the whole family.

On Sundays, there is the Sunday Picknick - where you can taste home-made ice cream and raspberry cordial just like in the book. Anne and Diana from the book often make an appearance at the picknick (in the summer of 2002, I usually played Diana, though once I was one of the Ladies of Avonlea). Depending on the day of the week, there are also skits, kids games, special tours through the woods, etc.