Nellie’s Landing, Prince Edward Island, Canada
I’m stretched out on my bed, gently bobbing in the harbor. Turning to look out the window behind my head, I can see other boats docked in the marina. The slowly darkening summer sky is beginning to sparkle with stars. Although I’m on the water, at Nellie’s Landing on Canada’s Prince Edward Island, I’m not bedding down in a boat.
I’m sleeping in a floating wine barrel.
Here’s the scoop:
Floating wine barrels in the harbor at Nellie’s Landing
About Nellie’s Landing
The Atlantic Ocean surrounds Prince Edward Island, where the eight-mile Confederation Bridge connects the region to the rest of mainland Canada. There are plenty of accommodations where you can stay within sight of the water, but at Nellie’s Landing, you can stay on the water.
After Nellie’s Landing owners Jen Smith and Cal Fraser bought a marina at Murray Harbour in eastern PEI, they thought they might get a boat that they could rent out to overnight guests. Cal is a lobster fisher, and Jen had had a long career at the CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and they were looking for ways to earn more income from their marina. Jen came across a couple in Ontario who were selling several large wine barrels, and the idea for a new type of accommodation was born.
A Nellie’s Landing wine barrel looking almost tropical
Sleeping in a Wine Barrel
Set on docks in the marina, Nellie’s Landing features wine barrels with a door and two windows at the front, as well as a large window overlooking the water at the back. Inside, there’s room for a bed, a small table, a mini-fridge, and not much else. It’s a fun spot for solo travelers and a romantic location for couples, but it’s definitely cozy inside.
While the wine barrels are securely mounted on the deck, you do feel the gentle motion of the sea. I found it extremely peaceful.
The wine barrels are air-conditioned, a welcome amenity on a hot summer night. If you want a show other than the night sky, three of the units have a wall-mounted TV.
All of the wine barrels have deck chairs outside, and some have a bar-height counter as well.
Outside some of the wine barrels are deck chairs, a bar counter, and a sink.
Facilities and Services
Staying at Nellie’s Landing is essentially glamping. You’ll need to take a short walk along the dock (which is well-lit during the night) to a nearby modern bathhouse with individual toilets, sinks, and showers. Jen and Cal provide baskets of towels for guests.
The couple operates a dockside oyster bar, The Dirty Sail Oyster Bar, offering drinks and seafood. If Cal is making lobster rolls, you should definitely try one! The bar hosts trivia nights, music nights, and periodic special events; check their website for details.
Watching the sun set from a Nellie’s Landing wine barrel
Nellie’s Landing rents e-bikes that enable guests to explore the area by bike, and the town has a grocery and a couple of restaurants nearby.
Welcoming hosts Jen and Cal are a wealth of information about things to do and places to go. Don’t hesitate to ask them for recommendations before you settle into your cozy wine barrel for the night.
Rates
Nightly rates for accommodations in a wine barrel at Nellie’s Landing start at about CAD$225 (currently about US$165). If a wine barrel doesn’t sound like fun to you, ask about a stay on one of their two houseboats.
Tip: Thinking about summer travel? Book ahead. Like many PEI businesses, Nellie’s Landing is open only from early summer into the fall, and it’s a good idea to reserve well in advance.
Looking for more unique lodgings on Prince Edward Island? Consider sleeping in a snug sea shanty at ShantyStay, bedding down in a high-end inn after a grand, locally sourced feast at the Inn at Bay Fortune, or coming for the music at Charlottetown’s Arts Hotel.
Check rates online at the official site.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. I booked my own accommodations on Prince Edward Island while doing research for several assignments.
