Prince Edward Island pulls in roughly two million visitors a year, yet most of them cluster around Charlottetown and the famous beaches. Push 45 minutes east, though, and you'll hit Montague — a community of barely 90 permanent residents straddling the Montague River in Kings County, the island's easternmost corner. It started as a scatter of farms in the early 1800s, and it hasn't grown much since. That's the appeal.

The town sits slightly inland from the Northumberland Strait, split across the river with a bridge linking the two banks and grassy parks on either side. Perched above the water is the Garden of the Gulf Museum, housed in a brick building from 1888 that once served as the post office and customs house. Its collection of around 5,000 artifacts covers local history, and the restored third floor gives you a good look over the river.

Cyclists get the most out of Montague. A trailhead for the Confederation Trail — a converted-rail path network stretching nearly 280 miles across the island — sits right beside the Waterfront Marina, so you can join the long-distance route here or just cruise through town. Prefer something shorter? The Montague Trail loops about 1.5 miles through the woods, with a decent 121 feet of climbing packed into that little route.

Beer lovers do well here too. Copper Bottom Brewing, founded by local couple Ashley Condon and Ken Spears, pours Kölsch and IPA alongside hard seltzers, with fish tacos, smashburgers and live music on the schedule. A few blocks away, Bogside Brewing — which runs three spots on PEI — adds pulled-pork sandwiches, lobster rolls and wood-fired pizza to the mix. Classic island fare, in other words.

Getting there is part of the fun. Charlottetown's small airport has limited flights and no direct US connections, so most people road-trip it, crossing the 8-mile Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick before a 90-minute drive to town. For a stay, The Riverhouse Inn offers affordable rooms and standalone cottages with river views, while Dewars Montague Bed & Breakfast rents out vintage-styled rooms for week-long summer stays. Day-trippers coming from Charlottetown or Summerside should just allow time for the drive back.

Montague suits travellers who want small-town PEI without the crowds — walkers, cyclists and anyone who thinks a holiday should involve a lobster roll by the water.