Souris is a small, friendly town at the eastern tip of Prince Edward Island, about 60 km from Charlottetown. The town has clean sandy beaches along the Northumberland Strait, and the nearby Basin Head Provincial Park — known for its "singing sands" — is a popular summer destination. Drag your foot across dry sand here and it squeaks and sings; the high quartz content makes Basin Head one of the finest examples of this phenomenon in Canada.
Souris is also the departure point for the ferry to the Magdalen Islands (Îles-de-la-Madeleine) in Quebec. The crossing takes five hours and the islands — remote red-sandstone archipelago in the Gulf of St Lawrence — are one of eastern Canada's most distinctive destinations. Souris Beach Gateway Park, just west of town, has the characteristic red-tinged sand and warm Northumberland Strait swimming that eastern PEI is known for.
The local fishing economy is reflected in a good selection of seafood restaurants in town. East PEI is quieter and less developed than the western part of the island — visiting Souris means experiencing a PEI that hasn't much changed since the lobster boats have been working these waters.