driving, Charlottetown

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To get to Prince Edward Island, you can drive across from New Brunswick via the Confederation Bridge. It takes about 9 minutes one-way, if you're driving at the posted speed limit. You don't pay the toll driving east to the island, but have your credit card or cash ready when you're leaving. For 2007, the toll is $40.75 for a 2-axle vehicle, $6.75 for each additional axle, and $16.25 for a motorcycle.

If you're walking, there's a shuttle bus available.

Remember to smile while you're driving across the bridge. It's not uncommon to see people in cars approaching from the opposite direction, with their cameras out, snapping pics. And remember, there's no stopping on the bridge.

The bridge is 116 kms from Moncton, N.B., or 56 kms from Charlottetown, PEI.

The Confederation Bridge connects PEI to New Brunswick. Driving on the bridge towards PEI is free (as long as you don't get caught going over the speed limit of 80kph. The bridge is video monitored and there is a police officer on the PEI end). But driving off of it towards New Brunswick will cost you a toll of $40.50CDN (2006). Not much to see along this 13km trip because the concrete barriers are so high. Maybe if you're in a van or truck you can see more but I was in a car. Pay attention to seagulls that are flying along the highway. They use the lift created by the air deflecting off the bridge to glide their way effortlessly to PEI or New Brunswick (aka ridge running by gliders).

If you're coming by car, you can get on the Island by driving on the Confederation Bridge. It's the longest bridge over ice-covered waters in the world, and it takes about 10-15 minutes to drive from one end to the other. To get off the Island, you have to pay (I think it's around $40 but I'm not sure). It goes from New Brunswick to Borden, and from Borden, you can drive on the Trans-Canada highway to Charlottetown (it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to drive to Charlottetown). During the drive from Borden to Charlottetown, you'll see a lot of potato fields, farms, wooden churches, and other charming countryside scenes.