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Prince Edward Island is divided into three counties. In the middle is Queens County , which incorporates the province's most popular tourist attractions and has some of its prettiest scenery. It also boasts the island's finest beaches, stretching along the northern shore and protected within the Prince Edward Island National Park . To the east of Queens lies Kings County comprising two broad geographical areas, with the tree-dotted farmland and estuary townships of the south giving way to wilder scenery further north, and to the west is Prince County , which makes up the flattest part of PEI, its broad-brimmed, sparsely populated landscapes curving round a handful of deep bays. The provincial government has worked out three scenic drives covering each of the counties: Lady Slipper Drive (287km) to the west, Blue Heron Drive (191km) in the centre, and the Kings Byway Drive (367km) to the east. However, although these drives visit everything of interest, they are frequently dreary, so unless you really love driving it's better to be more selective. PEI's public transport system is rudimentary, but from early June to September there is a shuttle (2-4 daily; $16 return; tel 566-3243) linking Charlottetown's visitors centre with Cavendish visitors centre, at the junction of Hwy 6 and Hwy 13. Alternatively, several Charlottetown companies operate sightseeing tours , with the busiest being Abegweit, 157 Nassau St (tel 894-9966), who offer tours of the southern and northern shores ($60 each) as well as Charlottetown ($9). The island is also good for all manner of outdoor sports, with specialist companies offering everything from diving and deep-sea fishing to canoeing and sailing, and is strong on cycling . There are several cycle-tour operators , though it's a good deal cheaper (and entirely straightforward) to plan your own route: in Charlottetown, both Smooth Cycle, 172 Prince St at Kent (tel 566-5530), and MacQueen's, 430 Queen St (tel 368-2453), rent out all the necessary gear and will advise on routes. The most popular is the Confederation Trail , a combined hiking and cycling trail that weaves its way right across the island, partly following the route of PEI's old railway, which was closed in the 1980s.
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