Cradled in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Prince Edward Island is famous for its rolling red hills, sandy beaches and tranquil lifestyle. Hundreds of thousands of visitors each year attest to the attraction of Canada’s smallest province, 140 miles long and 40 miles wide.

So where do the islanders go on vacation? Straight to the island’s best-kept secret: its provincial parks.

Eighty-five percent of the users are from the island. Whether it be for day trips, overnight camping or winter fun, the provincial parks offer a wide range of opportunities for relaxation and recreation.

The 31 parks scattered around the island’s shoreline are all free for day use. There are a variety of beaches to choose from: the sand dunes at Chelton, ocean and bay swimming at Panmure Island, or the magnificent ocean frontage at Cabot. All the parks have well-maintained picnic sites, and many have shower facilities and supervision for the swimming areas.

Each park has its own charms. Pinette, a wayside park on the southeast shore, is popular for those hunting for clams. The newest provincial park, Fisherman’s Haven, is located near a village that beckons visitors to experience life as it is shaped by the sea. Children and adults enjoy the opportunity to watch herds of buffalo and white-tailed deer at Buffaloland. Belmont was a landing site for the “rum-runners” in the days of prohibition. A visit to Cedar Dunes means a closeup look at a century-old lighthouse and a snack in the Chowder Kitchen.

There are three marked highway drives: Lady Slipper Drive in the west, Kings Byway Drive in the east, and Blue Heron Drive in central Prince Edward Island. These routes encompass most of the provincial parks so that visitors may stop at a park to enjoy day-use facilities or stay at one of the parks offering a range of activites and make day trips to other parks or places. The 180-mile Lady Slipper Drive, for example, provides access to nine provincial parks, each of which is within an hour’s drive of the Mill River resort park. The short distances make cycling on the island an ideal way to get around, also.

All the overnight camping areas have serviced and unserviced campsites, free firewood, dumping stations, kitchen shelters, playgrounds, laundromats and full washroom facilities.

The bigger parks of Brudenell River, Mill River and Cabot have activities scheduled each day, including guided nature walks, craft demonstrations, children’s activities and programs developed to complement themes in the park or on the island. In 1991, parks will celebrate Prince Edward Island’s Scottish heritage with evening campfires and heritage walks through the parks.

The resort parks of Brudenell River and Mill River offer the widest range of amenities. In addition to camping, Mill River has an 80-unit resort hotel, championship golf course, swimming pool, marina, equipment rental and a new aquatics complex. Brudenell River has one of the top-rated golf courses in the country and is the home of the Atlantic Classic competition on the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association tour. Chalets are available, as well as a swimming pool, trail rides, board sailing and a marina.

For more information on Prince Edward Island, call 1-800-565-0267 or write Visitors Services, P.O. Box 940E, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada, C1A 7M5.