In the Footsteps of Anne: A Journey Through Avonlea

In the Footsteps of Anne: A Journey Through Avonlea is book by Eliza Westfield that was published in February 2025. It's a travel guide that introduces readers and travelers to Prince Edward Island, Canada, the setting of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. Published by Boat Nook Press, the book is 118 pages long.

The book is part of Westfield's three-book series called "HerStory Travels: In the Footsteps of Literary Heroines." The other two books in the series are: Little Houses: A Journey Through the Homesites of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little Women at Home: A Journey Through Orchard House, Concord, and the Legacy of Louisa May Alcott.

I took a look at the book's reading sample at Amazon and was excited to notice that the author cites my webpage. 


Here is the description of the book:

Whether you grew up reading the Anne of Green Gables book series, which has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, or you loved the popular Canadian Anne of Green Gables movies from the 80s or the more recent Japanese pop hit Anne of Green Gables anime TV series, you have probably dreamed of seeing Lucy Maud Montgomery’s enchanting world of Avonlea and idyllic 19th century farmhouse with your own eyes!

Well, let’s take a trip to beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada! You will explore the rolling fields, charming farming villages, and iconic historic sites near Cavendish that the endearing little red-haired girl Anne Shirley called home.

Join veteran literary homesite traveler Eliza Westfield In the Footsteps of Anne, as you wander through Green Gables Heritage Place, stroll beneath the whispering trees of Lover’s Lane, and gaze across the shimmering Lake of Shining Waters. Plus, you will learn all the fun and exciting activities that PEI has to offer, including world-class seafood restaurants, hiking, kayaking, fishing and several of the best golf courses in Canada!

In this illustrated Anne of Green Gables and Prince Edward Island travel guide, you will love:

• Enthralling looks behind the scenes of the writing of Anne of Green Gables and where author Lucy Maud Montgomery drew inspiration from, with many fascinating facts about the area that became the world of Avonlea - and places you can visit now near Cavendish, PEI
• Insider information on each tourist attraction from the perfect time of the year to visit each site, to when the very popular festivals happen, to ticketing information and what you MUST do at each stop
• The vital locations that every Anne of Green Gables fan has to experience, from the period-accurate 1890s Avonlea schoolhouse to the Lake of Shining Waters, a once-in-a-lifetime place for reflection and romance!
• Other fun family vacation activity ideas near each attraction, so you can plan an entire weekend vacation or build a whole week’s itinerary

Whether you’re planning on joining the 125,000 tourists that flock to PEI each year to relive the magical tale of Anne of Green Gables, or you will explore them from the comfort of your home, you will love In the Footsteps of Anne. The book highlights Anne’s indomitable spirit and love for kindred spirits that continue to shine like a bright beacon of inspiration in the pages of Montgomery’s first bestseller and in the landscapes and historical sites of Prince Edward Island.

Will you embark on an unforgettable trip to modern-day Avonlea and discover the true inspiration for the Anne of Green Gables story that still exists in fabulous Prince Edward Island? Enjoy the adventure!

Here is the write-up describing the book on its back cover:

Step into the enchanting world of Avonlea and follow in the footsteps of Anne Shirley and Canada's beloved author, L.M. Montgomery.

In The Footsteps of Anne brings to life the cherished landscapes that inspired Montgomery's timeless Anne books, inviting readers and travelers alike to explore the rolling fields, charming villages, and iconic sites that Anne called home.

Whether you're a lifelong admirer of Anne or an eager explorer, this book is your ideal guide to discovering the enchanting beauty of Prince Edward Island-a place where storybook charm and real-life wonder seamlessly blend throughout every season.

The rich heritage of Prince Edward Island beckons and invites travelers on a journey to Avonlea to follow in the footsteps of Anne and relive its magic.

Welcome to Anne's world!

ISBN-13: 978-1069118554


Image credit:
Book cover of In the Footsteps of Anne: A Journey Through Avonlea.

Purchase and read In the Footsteps of Anne: A Journey Through Avonlea:


Created October 6, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Food & Wine on Prince Edward Island and Lobster

In July, Wendy Pramik wrote an article for Food & Wine entitled "On This Canadian Island, Lobster Is More Than a Meal – It’s a Way of Life." It's all about Prince Edward Island and lobster. She writes, "I haven’t come to relive storybook memories. I want to see how lobster, once considered poor people’s food, has become a regional symbol – and how it still connects people across the island."

Wendy Pramik visits several restaurants, including Dalvay-by-the-Sea, known to Anne of Green Gables fans as the White Sands Hotel, where executive chef Jamie Power serves lobster pho (yum!). She enjoyed a lobster roll sampler plate at Fin Folk Food (pictured above), the Lobster Thermidor at Sea Rocket, a seafood bake at Peake’s Quay in Charlottetown, and a meal at New Glasgow Lobster Suppers.

It's the kind of article that makes your stomach grumble and your heart miss Prince Edward Island. I remember when I visited years ago, my husband and I ate freshly caught lobster on the beach, prepared by a local lobster fisherman. It was such a special meal. I'd love to go back one day and try out some of the restaurants mentioned in Pramik's article.

Link:
On This Canadian Island, Lobster Is More Than a Meal – It’s a Way of Life by Wendy Pramik, Food & Wine, July 22, 2025.

Image credit:
Photograph of a Prince Edward Island Lobster Roll Sampler Plate from "On This Canadian Island, Lobster Is More Than a Meal – It’s a Way of Life" by Wendy Pramik, Food and Wine.

Created October 1, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Becoming Green Gables Podcast

The latest episode in the Witness to Yesterday podcast series by The Champlain Society is called Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse. In this episode, host Nicole O'Byrne speaks with author Alan MacEachern about his book Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse, which was published in 2024. It's the history of Green Gables, the farm and home that inspired the setting of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.

Here are details on the podcast from The Champlain Society's website.

Episode Details:

Nicole O'Byrne speaks with Alan MacEachern about his book Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse. In 1909 Myrtle and Ernest Webb took possession of a Cavendish, Prince Edward Island farm—ordinary except that it was already known as the inspiration for Anne of Green Gables, written by Myrtle’s cousin, L. M. Montgomery. The Webbs welcomed visitors to “Green Gables” and took in summer boarders, making their home central to PEI’s growing tourist trade. In the 1930s the farm became the centerpiece of a new national park, though the family remained its caretakers for another decade.

During these years Myrtle kept a diary. When she began in 1924, she was a forty-year-old homemaker managing a household of eight; by 1954, she was a seventy-year-old widow, no longer resident in what had become the most famous house in Canada. In Becoming Green Gables, Alan MacEachern reproduces a selection of her diary entries, using them to explore topics from modern conveniences to wartime hosting and visits from “Aunt Maud” herself.

Alan MacEachern is professor of history at the University of Western Ontario and has written widely on Canadian environmental history.

Series Description:

Witness to Yesterday

This series of podcasts furthers the Champlain Society's mission of deepening awareness of Canada’s documentary past and of the people who created it. Hosted by Greg Marchildon, Nicole O’Byrne, Larry Ostola, and Simon Nantais, each podcast examines a particular document, the people behind it, its significance, and its relevance to today.

This podcast is made possible by the members of the Champlain Society who work hard to bring to life original documents in Canadian history. We want to thank a number of Canadian scholarly book publishers including the University of Toronto Press, UBC Press and McGill-Queen’s University Press for their financial support.

Credits:

Podcast series: Witness to Yesterday
Episode 330: Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse
Date: 19 September 2025
Host: Nicole O'Byrne
Special Guest: Alan MacEachern
Published by The Champlain Society


Official website:

Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse at The Champlain Society

Image credit:

Screencapture from The Champlain Society's website.


Created September 19, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Cavendish Literary Festival

The first-ever Cavendish Literary Festival is taking place on September 26–28, 2025. The event aims to gather readers, writers, and storytellers "to connect over books, share their big ideas, and let their imagination wander in the very place that inspired the iconic works of L.M. Montgomery."

The three-day festival includes a literary walk through Cavendish, as well as workshops on bringing a novel to life, getting published, and journaling. There are talks by several authors, including one on Jane Austen and L.M. Montgomery and another on food writing. The festival also includes sessions on mindful movement for creative writers and flow yoga. There will be an open mic stage for writers, poets, and storytellers.

Here is the event description, according to the Festival's official website:

"Readers, writers, and storytellers are invited to join us for the first-ever Cavendish Literary Festival.

The festival features three delightful days of intimate events, including workshops, author talks, and wellness retreats, all set within Cavendish’s charming countryside, with venues no more than ten minutes apart.

In this inaugural year, we are proud to celebrate local, regional, and national voices who shaped our cultural identity and inspire and support new writers just beginning their journey.

Come find kindred spirits, feed your creativity, and celebrate the transformative power of literature."

You can purchase a festival weekend pass, which includes several events, or purchase individual tickets on the Festival's website. Tickets for the "Secret Paths: A Literary Walk through Cavendish," an activity of interest to Anne of Green Gables fans, must be purchased separately.

The Festival Weekend Pass (CA$149.00 + CA$7.45 fees + CA$23.47 taxes) includes:
- Access to three Featured Events with spotlight authors Donna Jones Alward, Antonio Michael Downing and Linden MacIntyre
- Your choice of five curated sessions
(*Secret Paths: A Literary Walk through Cavendish and Oven Mitts and Oyster Rakes: Sensual Storytelling in Food Writing with Stuart Hickox are not included in the Festival Ticket Package and must be purchased separately.)

Secret Paths: A Literary Walk through Cavendish (CA$65.00 + CA$3.25 fees + CA$10.24 taxes)
- A guided 7 km stroll through L. M. Montgomery’s favourite spots in Cavendish, followed by a lunch


The event sounds like great fun for readers and writers to connect in the same special setting that once inspired L.M. Montgomery to create Anne Shirley. 


Official Websites:
Cavendish Literary Festival

Image Credit:
Screencapture of the Cavendish Literary Festival website.

Created September 19, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Kindred Spirits Book Arts Exhibit

Kindred Spirits: The Lucy Maud Montgomery Legacy as Interpreted by Contemporary Book Artists is a touring book arts exhibition. The pieces in the exhibit were created by members of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild and were inspired by the work and life of Lucy Maud Montgomery. The exhibit celebrates the 150th anniversary of Montgomery's birth.

The Kindred Spirits Book Arts Exhibition includes 37 original works from contributors from across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The exhibition launched on Friday June 21, 2024 at the Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and will tour nationally throughout Canada through 2026.

Here is the exhibit tour schedule:

June 21, 2024 to August 23, 2024
Confederation Court Mall
134 Kent Street
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 8R8
Official launch reception - Friday, June 21, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

September 16, 2024 to December 7, 2024
Carleton University: MacOdrum Library
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6

January 10, 2025 to mid-end March 2025
Western University: Weldon Library Building
Schweitzer Gallery, Archives and Special Collections Research Centre
1151 Richmond Street
London, ON N6A 3K7

April 15, 2025 to May 15, 2025
Massey College - Robertson Davies Library
4 Devonshire Place
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E1
Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Check-in at the Porter Gate and let them know you are there to see the Kindred Spirits Exhibit.

May 31, 2025 to July 5, 2025
Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery
8 McCain Street
Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick E7L 3H6

August 6, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Helson Gallery
9 Church Street
Halton Hills, Ontario L7G 2A3
Official Launch - Sunday, August 10, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

January 5, 2026 to May 1, 2026
University of Guelph - McLaughlin Library
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1

June 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026
Calgary Public Library - Central Library
800 3 St SE
Calgary, Alberta T2G 2E7

July 15, 2026 to August 20, 2026
Regina Public Library - George Bothwell Branch
2965 Gordon Road
Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 6H7

Coming at the end of 2026
Victoria, BC Exhibition
Specific venue and firm dates TBD


Official Websites:
Kindred Spirits Book Arts
Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild

Image Credit:
Handcrafted book art in the Kindred Spirits Book Arts Exhibit by Loralee Butler of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild.

References:
Collington, Christian. (July 19, 2025). Unique touring exhibition honouring Anne of Green Gables author coming to Georgetown. Independent Free Press. Retrieved from: https://www.theifp.ca/things-to-do/unique-touring-exhibition-honouring-anne/article_1555692e-c7ff-51dd-a1c9-16ac7c852a6f.html.

Oakville News Staff. (July 20, 2025). Canadian book artists honour L.M. Montgomery in touring show. Oakville News. Retrieved from: https://www.oakvillenews.org/local-news/canadian-book-artists-honour-lm-montgomery-in-touring-show-10955683.

Created August 2, 2025. Last updated September 25, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Green Gables Gets a New Roof

Green Gables, the home that inspired L.M. Montgomery to write Anne of Green Gables, is in the process of getting a new roof this month. The $50,000 renovations will replace the roof and repair the eaves and gutters on the historic building. The work will be done by the end of this year, so Green Gables will be ready for next season's visitors.

Learn more by watching this video by CBC News.

Image credit:
Screencapture of the story from CBC News.

Reference:
A new roof for Green Gables. (December 20, 2024). CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6564840.

Created December 23, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Apply to be the Anne of Green Gables Imitator for Parks Canada

There are several student and youth jobs available at Parks Canada for summer 2025, including the Anne-Imitator position. The Anne-Imitator plays the role of Anne of Green Gables and engages with visitors at the Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, P.E.I.

Here's the job description from the Prince Edward Island Employment Journey website:

The Anne-Imitator portrays the character “Anne of Green Gables” at Green Gables Heritage place in full costume. “Anne” will engage visitors, pose for photo opportunities, and participate in interpretive activities such as old-fashioned games and races, ice-cream making and other potential demonstrations.

Skills required: the ability to deliver presentations as the character “Anne Shirley” using effective dramatic techniques, to work with the public, and to work as a team. This is a bilingual (English and French) position.

There are also student positions open for Park Communicators, Janitorial Students, and Heritage Communicators. To learn more about these opportunities, Parks Canada is holding a recruitment visit at UPEI that is taking place on January 28, 2025.

Image credits:
Image highlighting job opportunities from Parks Canada.

Reference:
Riley, Heidi. (December 12, 2024). Student and youth positions available at Parks Canada. Prince Edward Island Employment Journey. Retrieved from: https://employmentjourney.com/student-and-youth-positions-available-at-parks-canada/.

Created December 23, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables Manuscript Added to Canada Memory of the World Register

L.M. Montgomery's handwritten manuscript for Anne of Green Gables was added to the Canada Memory of the World Register in honor of the 150th anniversary of the author's birth. The registry is administered by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and spotlights the most significant pieces of Canada’s collective history and heritage.

The Canada Memory of the World Register describes the manuscript as follows:

The manuscript includes 475 pages on which the story is handwritten, and an additional 96 pages of L.M. Montgomery’s notes where she recorded additions and insertions to the text. These provide unique insights into the reflections and creative process of this influential voice in Canadian literature. Confederation Centre of the Arts, in partnership with the L.M. Montgomery Institute and the Robertson Library at the University of Prince Edward Island, launched a bilingual online exhibit in 2023 that allows readers around the world to access the fully digitized manuscript.

This special honor reflects L.M. Montgomery's contributions to Canadian culture.

Image Credit:
Scanned image of the first page of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery from The Anne of Green Gables Manuscript website.

References:
Anne of Green Gables manuscript added to the Canada Memory of the World Register. Canadian Commission for UNESCO. Retrieved from: https://en.ccunesco.ca/about-ccunesco/press/2024/11/anne-of-green-gables-manuscript-memory-of-the-world.

McMackon, Cassidy. (November 29, 2024). 'Anne of Green Gables' recognized as heritage document in UN agency's registry. The Canadian Press. Retrieved from: https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/entertainment/anne-of-green-gables-recognized-as-heritage-document-in-un-agencys-registry/article_fd3d79d5-1667-5f6e-8fb1-66d8d649d12d.html.

Created November 29, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

A Green Gables Christmas

This weekend, the Green Gables Heritage Place is holding a festive event called "A Green Gables Christmas." It is their third annual Christmas event, and this year they are also celebrating L.M. Montgomery’s 150th birthday.

Visitors will have the chance to meet with Anne Shirley and view the beautifully decorated Green Gables House. The event will also feature cookie decorating, carolers, a snow globe light display, food and drinks, and a group dance.

A Green Gables Christmas takes place on November 30 to December 1, 2024 at the Green Gables Heritage Place on 8619 Route 6 in Cavendish, PEI. Adult tickets cost $18.75 CAD, and admission is free for children under 17 (accompanied by an adult). Visitors can also purchase a Green Gables Christmas mini photo session and have special holiday photos taken in the Green Gables house for $120 CAD.

Event details:

Families and friends are invited to the third annual Christmas event at Green Gables! It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore Anne’s house, beautifully decorated for the holidays, while enjoying a variety of fun activities together.

Throughout the day, guests will have the chance to meet Anne, who will be greeting visitors and adding a special touch to the festivities!

Children can get creative by decorating Christmas cookies, listening to cheerful carolers, and capturing memories at the enchanting snow globe light display. There’s plenty of entertainment for everyone—kids will love the Tunes and Tall Tales read-and-sing holiday story, along with a special performance by The Nest, a multilingual children's music studio, happening on both Saturday and Sunday!

All attendees can indulge in yummy sweets and warm drinks provided throughout the event. And they won’t want to miss the chance to celebrate L.M. Montgomery’s 150th birthday with a festive birthday celebration and a fun guided group dance to cap off the day!

10:30 am - 11:00 am: Tunes & Tall Tales
11:00 am - 11:45 am: Live Music
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: TBD
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: UPEI Carolers
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Tunes & Tall Tales
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm: Montgomery's Birthday Celebration
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm: The Nest with Madame Abbey
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Group Dance with Historical Dance Society

It looks like such a fun way to start off the holiday season!

Official Websites:
A Green Gables Christmas - Celebrating Montgomery’s 150th Birthday - learn about the event at the Tourism PEI website
A Green Gables Christmas - Book tickets for the event at the Tourism Cavendish Beach website
A Green Gables Christmas – Celebrating Montgomery’s 150th Birthday at the Inspiring World of L.M. Montgomery: A Literary Tour website

Image Credit:
Photograph of Anne Shirley decorating the Christmas tree at Green Gables Heritage Place from A Green Gables Christmas – Celebrating Montgomery’s 150th Birthday.

Created November 25, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Behind the Veil: A Lucy Maud Concert Experience

Behind the Veil: A Lucy Maud Concert Experience is a new show produced in celebration of L.M. Montgomery's 150th birthday. The show was created by Alicia Toner and Mike Ross as a "song cycle," a collection of songs performed in sequence. Behind the Veil is made up of songs that blend Lucy Maud Montgomery's journal entries, letters, and poetry with original songwriting. Produced by Harmony House, the concert aims to pull back the veil to reveal L.M. Montgomery's true spirit and to celebrate her life and love of Prince Edward Island.

The show premieres today on November 15, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. The ensemble cast features Julain Molnar, Brielle Ansems, Carlie Howell, Alicia Toner, Mike Ross, and Garrett Sherwood. Five additional performances will take place on November 16th at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., on November 22nd at 8:00 p.m., and on November 23rd at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Tickets for the 2-hour concert cost $40.00. Harmony House is located at 19814 Route 2, Hunter River, PE C0A 1N0.

You can listen to Alicia Toner and Mike Ross discuss the show in an interview by Matt Rainnie on CBC Mainstreet. It sounds like such a special event!

Official Website
Harmony House

Image Credit:
Image advertising Behind the Veil: A Lucy Maud Concert Experience from Harmony House.

Created November 15, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Cornelius Leard House for Sale in Lower Bedeque, Prince Edward Island

For a period of six months in 1897 and 1898, L.M. Montgomery boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Leard while she taught school in in Lower Bedeque, Prince Edward Island. During the time, Montgomery was secretly engaged to Edwin Simpson, but she found herself attracted to the Leard family’s oldest son Herman, according to her journals.

The Cornelius Leard House was formally recognized as a historic place in 2010. At different points in time, the house was run as a museum, a bed and breakfast, and a restaurant. It is currently for sale for $99,000 CAD and in need of care and major repairs. You can learn more about the home in this video by CBC News.

Image credit:
Screen capture from the CBC News website.

References:
Cornelius Leard House. Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=19168.

Home where 'Anne' author L.M. Montgomery had a forbidden romance is up for sale. (October 25, 2024). CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6546552.

Created October 25, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Why People Still Love Anne of Green Gables on The Current Podcast

On September 3, The Current with Matt Galloway on CBC Radio released a podcast episode with a segment on "Why People Still Love Anne of Green Gables." The episode's synopsis reads: "This year would have been the 150th birthday of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the famed P.E.I. author of Anne of Green Gables. We talk to some islanders and 'Anne fangirls' who are excited to celebrate both the author and her creations."

On his visit to Prince Edward Island, Galloway interviews Judith Graves and Linda Lowther. Judith Graves compiled and edited The Annethology, a collection of short stories inspired by Anne of Green Gables. Linda Lowther is on the committee responsible for Anne of Green Gables tourism in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, and she helped create The Inspiring World of L.M. Montgomery: A Literary Tour.

The interview covers a variety of topics relating to why Anne of Green Gables is timeless and why they love Anne. They also discuss adaptations of the story on screen and the economic importance of Anne of Green Gables-related tourism on Prince Edward Island. Lowther talks about The Literary Tour and things people might not know about L.M. Montgomery, such as her love of photography, scrapbooking, fashion, and nature. Graves discusses the concept behind The Annethology and the inventive short stories in the volume that take Anne on new journeys. This leads to a conversation about "Anne purists," "woke Anne" and "Anne fatigue."

It's a fun interview. Give it a listen!

Websites:
The Current with Matt Galloway on YouTube
The Current with Matt Galloway podcast at CBC

Image Credit:
Screencapture of The Current Podcast on YouTube.

Created October 4, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com