18 Nov Warm Up in Western PEI: A One-Day Hot Chocolate Trail Itinerary

Looking for a cozy winter day trip? Take your family and friends along for a one-day tasting tour on the Western PEI Hot Chocolate Trail! The more the merrier – and to make the most of your stops, try sharing. Instead of everyone getting their own drink at each café (that’s a lot of hot chocolate in one day!), order one or two per stop so you can sample all the flavours without drinking your weight in hot chocolate!
 

Morning – Tignish & North Cape

Start your day in the town of Tignish. Try the Caramel by the Salty Sea hot chocolate from Eugene’s General Store or the Santa’s Suit red velvet hot chocolate from Broderick’s & Flowers, then take your drink on the road to the North Cape Lookout. This is the northwestern tip of PEI, where the Gulf of St. Lawrence meets the Northumberland Strait. The dramatic red cliffs, powerful tides, and crisp ocean air make it a breathtaking stop. Just don’t forget your winter jacket, as it’s often windy this time of year!
 

Midday – Lunch in O’Leary

Next, head to O’Leary for a sandwich and soup for lunch. Both Revilo Cakes & Coffee Shop and Maple House Bakery & Cafe are cozy spots featuring special hot chocolates for the season. Revilo’s Dark Chocolate Raspberry Swirl is rich and velvety, topped with house-made raspberry marshmallows for a tangy-sweet finish. At Maple House Bakery, the Sweet Treat Hot Chocolate comes topped with an adorable cake pop. Pair either with a warm sandwich or bowl of soup to recharge before hitting the road again.

Afternoon – Tyne Valley and Local Markets

If you aren’t too full from your previous hot chocolate stops, Backwoods Burger in Tyne Valley is serving a Brown Butter and Biscoff Hot Chocolate with cookie crumble and caramel drizzle. From there, spend your afternoon exploring one of the Christmas markets or craft fairs in the area to shop for locally made Christmas gifts – perfect for checking off your holiday shopping list while supporting local makers.

Evening – Summerside

End your day in the city of Summerside. You can take your pick of a couple of delicious hot chocolate options to close off your hot chocolate tour! Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour is serving a Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate Float, and PEI Roti Fusion Cuisine has a Dirty Hot Cocoa Sorrel with the option to add a shot of espresso for a caffeine kick. Knead a Brake has a hot chocolate you are guaranteed to have never tried before – liquid brownie kruffin kup with a liquid brownie shot. That’s right – they are serving the brownie shot inside the kruffin! At Kool Breeze Farms, the local favourite garden centre, you can grab a peppermint mocha to go in pre-made packages. Grab some now to save for Christmas Day!