Atlantic Canada is undeniably one of Canada's finest road trip destinations, offering an incredible and diverse range of things to see and do. While not as popular to visit as the Canadian Rockies, an East Coast Canada road trip should not be overlooked!
As a family passionate about exploring new places, we share our adventures on this blog, offering tips, lessons learned, and practical itineraries to help other families plan their own unforgettable trips. We hope you find this post useful!
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT EAST COAST CANADA
There are lots of reasons to visit eastern Canada, starting with the wonderfully vibrant cities of Halifax in Nova Scotia and Charlottetown in PEI. You also get the opportunity to witness the world’s largest tides at the Bay of Fundy, explore the iconic red sand beaches of PEI, and soak up the charm of fishing villages along the breathtaking Cabot Trail. Plus, despite its many amazing attractions, it is much quieter compared to popular attractions in Alberta and British Columbia.
It’s an easy place to road trip around, and by doing so you can truly feel the warm hospitality of the locals. And the seafood is probably the freshest I’ve ever tasted—it’s simply stunning!
To help you make the most of your time in Atlantic Canada, we’ve put together a 2-week road trip itinerary that highlights the best of Nova Scotia, PEI, and New Brunswick. This guide is inspired by our own July 2023 trip and has been refined with insights from our travels.
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ROAD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
This itinerary begins and concludes in Halifax, taking you through Southwest Nova Scotia, then North to New Brunswick and the Bay of Fundy, experiencing the red beaches of Prince Edward Island, and finally, driving the renowned Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia. It is a lot of driving! On this road trip you will drive around 2,000 km and this does not include any additional kilometers for detours. You may want to cut out New Brunswick all together if you are travelling with kids and they don't do well in the car.
During this incredible road trip through Atlantic Canada, you'll have the chance to explore and experience a variety of amazing sights and activities, including:
Halifax
Peggy's Cove
Lunenburg UNESCO World Heritage Site
Kejimkujik National Park
Digby, Annapolis Royal and Wolfville
Joggins Fossil Cliffs
The Bay of Fundy and Fundy National Park
The Hopewell Rocks
Charlottetown
PEI's beautiful beaches
The Cabot Trail
Wonderful camping, as well as unique stays in yurts and domes
Fantastic hiking and kayaking opportunities
Some of the best seafood in the world!
This itinerary has been written with those travelling with kids in mind, although this Eastern Canada road trip is great for all ages, and is perfect for families that want to experience the outdoors in this wonderful part of Canada.
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ROAD TRIP OVERVIEW
Table of Contents
Map of Atlantic Canada 2 Week Itinerary
Day 3: Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg
Day 4: Kejimkujik National Park
Day 5 & 6: The Annapolis Valley - Digby, Annapolis Royal and Wolfville
Day 7: Joggins and Fundy National Park
Day 8, 9 & 10: Prince Edward Island
Day 11, 12 & 13: The Cabot Trail - Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay
Day 14: Dartmouth and Fisherman's Cove
So without further ado, here is our two week itinerary for visiting Eastern Canada, starting with a map to show where everything is located.
MAP OF ATLANTIC CANADA 2 WEEK ITINERARY
Whenever we plan a trip, we always start with Google Maps. It helps us visualize locations and create efficient itineraries. We’ve added all the sights and attractions to the map below to help you see where everything is and plan your own itinerary.
To use this map, click the tab in the top left corner to toggle between layers and for more details about each attraction. To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to “Your Places,” and find it under “Maps.”
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 1 and 2
Explore Downtown Halifax
To kick off your first day in Halifax, the famous Halifax Harbourfront is the perfect starting point, with 4km of boardwalk filled with charming restaurants, shops, museums, and lovely ice cream spots.
Also located right on the boardwalk, a must-visit destination is the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, where you can learn about Halifax's port history, including its connection to the Titanic disaster. Right outside the museum the kids can clamber all over the wave monument and play on the submarine inspired play structure while you sample some delicious fish and chips lunch or a lobster roll from the nearby food stalls.
Next, head up to the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, which offers beautiful views of the harbor from its hilltop location. The citadel is still guarded by the 78th Highlanders in their traditional uniforms, and they regularly perform marching and band drills on the parade grounds. Be ready for the "noon gun" cannon blast, that is still fired every day at noon.
The Halifax Public Gardens is a short walk from the Citadel and is a beautiful park and makes for a perfect spot for a picnic, or to watch the world go by.
As evening approaches, why not try something different at Sushi Jet, where cute robot "servers" bring the food to your table. If you are looking for something more traditional, check out the Bicycle Thief restaurant, known for fantastic seafood, and while you are there, don't miss the "drunken lamp posts" located across the pier from the restaurant.
On the second day in Halifax, we recommend visiting the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, where you can learn all about the journeys of over one million new Canadians who arrived between 1928 and 1971. It might not sound like the most interesting of museums, but it ended up being our kids favourite from our entire trip.
After the museum, why not go for a short hike and picnic lunch at Point Pleasant Park, a tranquil park, just south of the museum. There is a rocky beach called Blackrock Beach and you can even swim there, although be warned, it's not Maui (it’s cold)! Next on the agenda is a visit to the Discovery Centre, which is a short distance from the Immigration Museum and also accessible from the boardwalk. The Discovery centre is huge and there is so much to do there - our kids spent hours in the the 'RBC Someday Street' section alone.
In the evening, why not take the Alderney Ferry to Dartmouth for dinner, to get some fantastic scenic views of the harbor? Or perhaps for older kids, you could take a candlelit Ghost Tour around the Halifax Citadel? Or for EVEN older kids, an Alexander Keith's Brewery Tour is a fun experience!.
Read further on things to do in Halifax:
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 3
Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg
While there’s plenty to see in Halifax, you’ll probably want to explore the surrounding area as well! The coastline is full of charming fishing villages, breathtaking scenery, and numerous lighthouses. Among them, the iconic Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse stands out as it is the most photographed lighthouse in all of Canada. Due to its fame and relative proximity to Halifax, Peggy’s Cove is often the top choice for a day trip..... so it can get busy!
Peggy's Cove is around a 50 minute drive from Halifax, so if you are an avid photographer then I would recommend setting off early so that you arrive before the crowds get there (as we were leaving we saw two tour buses turning up and it was already fairly busy).
The kids really enjoyed clambering all over the granite rocks around the lighthouse, under our watchful eye of course (during heavy seas and storms, the waves can crash up over the rocks). The village itself is quite picturesque and nice to walk around, and I was actually impressed with how 'under developed' it seemed to be considering the number of visitors that flock there in the summer.
After a few hours exploring Peggy's Cove, we set off on the approx. 2 hour drive to the Lunenburg, stopping for a few short leg stretchers and scenic spots along the way. If the kids need some quick playtime, there are plenty of beaches to stop at. Queensland Beach Provincial Park and Hubbard's Beach are conveniently located along the road to Lunenburg, while Baywater Beach and Bachman's Beach are both excellent options, although slightly farther from the main road.
One of the best places to stop along the way is Mahone Bay, which is a delightful village situated on the South Shore, renowned for its trio of churches and picturesque downtown district. There is a little viewpoint just before you arrive where you can take some photographs and grab an ice cream.
Then continue along the South Shore to the historic town of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the prettiest towns in Nova Scotia. Built in the 1700s, Lunenburg is a charming town with colourful historical buildings, a gorgeous waterfront and interesting local shops to browse through. Lunenburg is also home to the renowned racing schooner, The Bluenose, featured on the Canadian 10-cent coin.
In Lunenburg, you can take a visit to St. John’s Anglican Church, or tour the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, where you can learn about the history of this charming fishing village. If you are looking to snap that classic view of Lunenburg, or to watch the sun go down, head over to the other side of Lunenburg Harbor on Cove Road leading up to the Bluenose Golf Course for the best viewpoint. Unfortunately when we were there the fog was so bad you couldn't see Lunenburg at all, but hopefully you will have better luck!
If you are looking to explore the surrounding area, there is a beautiful picturesque fishing village called Blue Rocks. Often called 'Little Peggy's Cove' you get a similar experience without all the crowds! It's also a great place to do some kayaking if the weather is calm.
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 4
Kejimkujik National Park
Kejimkujik National Park is a great place to stop on a road trip around southern Nova Scotia, as it offers a very different type of scenery to the coastal towns and villages that dominate the island. Taking a day to relax in the tranquility of the forest is a great change of scenery. It is also instantly apparent the cultural significance of this land to the Mi’kmaw People and we gained a valuable insight into the history of this land and the people who first occupied it.
You want to make the most of your day here, so wake up bright and early from Lunenburg and aim to get to the National Park gates no later than 10am (it's an hour drive). Kejimkujik, as well as being a National Historic Site is also a National Park, so you will need to purchase a park pass at the entry gate ($6.25 adults, youths free).
Note: if you have already purchased an annual park pass elsewhere in Canada, remember to bring it with you as they can be used across all National Parks in Canada.
We started our day with a nice short 2km loop hike to see the beautiful Mill Falls. The trailhead is conveniently located right at the visitor information centre, so it makes for a perfect start (or end) to your time in the park. There are some lovely boardwalks where you can watch the power of the falls, and see all sorts of weird and wonderful lichen growing in the shady forest. Once at Mill Falls, you can hike or bike across the pedestrian bridge to reach Ukme'k and more trails. There are many other great hikes throughout the park, and most being easy to moderate and generally under 3km in duration, so suitable for kids of all ages. You can find the list of all the trails in the park here:
After a morning hike, we got to learn all about the Mi'kmaw peoples culture and traditions as we were treated to a live demonstration of birch bark canoe-building by Todd Labrador who is a seventh-generation Mi'kmaq from the Kejimkujik region. It was great for the kids to see first hand a tradition going back thousands of years. The girls liked the fact that Kejimkujik's name was derived from the Mi'kmaw word Kejimkuji'jk, which means 'little fairies' apparently! Aside from canoo building, there are other cultural activities that are sporadically offered, and you can see more information about them at the Parks Canada website here. If you would like to learn more about the people of Mi'kmaw, there is an excellent article by Parks Canada here.
After learning about canoe building, what better activity than to get out on the water yourself? If you've not kayaked before, kayaking the Mersey River is the best place to start as it isn't too challenging, but you'll have plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife (if you try an evening canoe you have a good chance of spotting a beaver)! There are also many sandy beaches that you can kayak to and even stop for a picnic lunch. Assuming you don't have your own, you you can easily rent canoes and kayaks from Whynot Adventure at Jake's Landing on an hourly basis, so you can try it out.
As night falls, Kejimkujik is one of the best place to star gaze in the Sky Circle, where you are only allowed to use 'red' light to ensure that flashlights won't ruin the view for others. This is one of 26 Dark-Sky Preserves across Canada and the only one in Nova Scotia. If you don't have a red light, you can hire kits from the information centre.
We didn't have time to do this, but you can also go on a Petroglyphs tour, where you can view some of the engravings left by the early Mi’kmaq at several locations around lakeshores.
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 5 & 6
The Annapolis Valley - Digby, Annapolis Royal and Wolfville
Next morning take the 40 minute drive up to the Annapolis Valley on the coast, where you can find the wonderful towns of Digby, Annapolis Royal and Wolfville.
Digby, a charming maritime town, is the gateway to Digby Neck, which is a long peninsula that stretches' 30 kilometers into the Bay of Fundy. Digby and the islands are renowned for some of the best whale watching on the Atlantic coast, and I would consider this a must-do activity in Digby! Digby Neck comprises Long Island and the Brier Island, and both offer breathtaking coastlines with an abundance of hiking trails:
Balancing Rock Trail
Fundy View Trail
Central Grove Provincial Park
Gullivers Cove Trails
Digby is also renowned for some of the best scallops in the world, so it makes for a fantastic place to stop and grab some lunch. Trust me when I say these were the best scallops that I have tasted anywhere!
In the afternoon, travel 30 minutes to the town of Annapolis Royal, home to the Fort Anne National Historic Site. Fort Anne has a small (but very good) museum and beautiful grounds that have breathtaking views over the bay. The grounds also house the oldest building under Parks Canada control across the whole of Canada, which was built in 1708!
If it's a hot day, try the watermelon sorbet (with chocolate chip 'seeds') from 1 Scoop 2 Scoop ice cream shop, or try a ceasefire IPA from the Annapolis Brewing Company.... you won't be disappointed!
Next, drive to Wolfville which is a charming, yet vibrant little town that is home to Acadia University, as well as being Nova Scotia's main wine growing region. There are many wineries all within a short distance of the town centre.
Without doubt one of the best things to do in Wolfville is to go wine tasting! Our favourite was Lightfoot & Wolfville. They have a wonderful restaurant with a gorgeous view over their vineyards, paired with great wine and a great selection of salads, sandwiches and wood-fired pizzas. It sounds a little strange but if you like seafood (and garlic) the clam pizza was amazing!
Wolfville is also home to the Grand-Pre National Historic Site. It was great to learn about the Acadian people and how they were deported by the British, as they chose not to conform to the British requests and swear allegiance to the flag.
Be sure to check out the viewpoint of Grand-Pre from the Old Post Road lookout just a few minutes away, or around 20 minutes drive away is the Look Off viewpoint that gives great views of the entire Annapolis Valley.
If you enjoy hiking, the hike to Cape Split ends with some spectacular views, with the rugged tip of land dropping off into the Bay of Fundy. Its a 16km hike so might be a little too long for younger children.
In the evening grab some dinner and some craft beer at the Church Brewing Co, which is located right on the main street in downtown. There is a playground just one block away as well if you want a quick post dinner play for the kids.
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 7
Joggins Fossil Cliffs and Fundy National Park
This is a part of the itinerary where the driving starts to increase, so its best to set off as early as possible. Fundy National Park in New Brunswick is a 4 hour drive, so a quick detour to the Joggins Fossil Cliffs is conveniently about half way, plus its loads of fun! The kids loved searching for (and finding) fossils along the rocky beach, with some of our finds probably dating back more than 300 million years - pretty cool! Just remember to check the tide times before arriving. They also do guided tours as well.
Just before the entrance to the Fundy National Park are the Hopewell Rocks, which is top on most peoples list of things to do in New Brunswick. The Hopewell Rocks and the adjacent Bay of Fundy boast the most extreme tides globally, making for an extraordinary sight. Go at low tide and explore the rocks up close..... but be warned, it is muddy! We also returned later in the day (or the next day as your ticket covers two days) to view the stark contrast in water levels from where you stood mere hours before.
Once inside Fundy National Park, there are lots of things to do with kids. Hiking, beaches, kayaking on lakes, and there's even an outdoor swimming pool! Hiking is the most popular activity in the park, with over 100km of trails, so your favorite beach, river, or waterfall is just waiting to be discovered. For the kids, Dickson Falls Loop is a nice easy 1.5km boardwalk loop through the forest, with nice views of the waterfall at the end. There is a full listing of all the hikes at this link.
After a hike, why not visit Point Wolfe Beach, Alma Beach, or Herring Cove Beach to explore the sea floor and discover the tides in action. Bennett and Wolfe Lake are a great spot to go for a paddle or a refreshing swim, although there is also a heated saltwater pool that opens between June to September.
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 9 & 10
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada's smallest province, and it's only link to mainland Canada is via the Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick (which is an experience to drive over in itself). PEI is home to Anne of Green Gables, dramatic red cliffs, as well as beautiful beaches, with one side of the island being mostly 'red' sand and the other a more regular sandy colour. Driving around the island is easy (it's a small island so everywhere is accessible in a day), and its a great way to see the cute little houses with pristine lawns as well as farmers crops growing through the red earth.... it really is so different to the rest of Canada!
As everything is relatively close together, rather than give a day by day itinerary for PEI, I am just going to list the best things to do in PEI with kids, and you can pick and choose based on your interests and timeframe on the island.
PEI is a small island, but it's well worth staying at least one night in the provinces capital city, Charlottetown. There is a lovely laid back vibe there, with some fantastic quaint coffee shops and restaurants. We enjoyed visiting Victoria Park and walked along the seafront. The kids spent time playing at the playground and outdoor swimming pool (which is free).
While in Charlottetown you simply must visit COWS ice cream, the home of Canada's famous ice cream, although give Truckin' Roll ice cream a try as well for a unique rolled ice cream experience.
Of all the things to do in PEI, Anne of Green Gables is one of the most popular. Many of you may have grown up reading (or being read) the stories, and PEI is the setting that inspired the beloved books. The iconic green-roofed farmhouse is set amongst some beautiful gardens, along with the 'haunted wood' where you can take a short hike (1.2km) and relive the novels yourself!
Anne of Green Gables is just minutes away from Cavendish Beach, which also happens to be one of the most beautiful, and certainly popular beaches in the whole of PEI. The beach is a beautiful white sand beach, plus there is the stunning backdrop of sand dunes that makes it such a picturesque spot to laze around for a few hours! Cavendish Beach is part of the National Park so it costs $8.50 per adult to enter if you don't already have a National Park pass. Just across from the entrance to the park is Mariners Cove boardwalk, which is a nice spot to grab a souvenir or some lunch before moving on.
Cavendish is also home to Sandspit amusement park, which has more than 15 carnival favourites, including the longest roller coaster in Atlantic Canada, a huge Ferris wheel, and many more classic rides. If it's a hot day, there is also Shining Waters waterpark which is a fun park that has some huge water slides!
To experience a different kind of beach, why not go and investigate the rocks at Thunder Cove Beach or the kids can have fun exploring the tidal pools at Chelton Beach. Basin Head Provincial Park is also famous for its “singing sands” as the mineral content in the sand means that you hear a 'singing' sound as you walk!
To mix things up a bit you could always visit the Canadian Potato Museum to learn more about potato farming industry on the island, or any take a trip to any number of lighthouses, as there are over 60 on the island!
If time allows, I highly recommend spending a few nights at some of the smaller coastal towns dotted around the island, a B&B, home stay, or why not try something a little different. We stayed at the Nature Space Resort, which is a glamping experience in authentic Mongolian yurts, complete with private hot tub! We enjoyed our stay so much that we wrote a more detailed review of our 2 night stay here.
The Nature Space Resort is conveniently located to explore Greenwich, which is part of the Prince Edward Island National Park, and just a few minutes drive away. The Greenwich Dunes hike is a wonderful 4.8km hike where you travel through a forest and then over Bowley Pond on a floating boardwalk and finally to the Greenwich dunes.
There are plenty of amazing biking trails too, including the Confederation trail, and you can hire bikes in many places around the island, including Saint Peters Bay. If you happen to stop there, there is a great little café called Black and White Café and Bistro which is a great spot for lunch.
If you are looking to sample some amazing seafood and experience one of PEI's long standing food traditions (since 1958), try a Lobster supper in New Glasgow. You order and pay for your lobster upon entry and then it is 'all you can eat' for the side dishes, and desserts, including bread rolls, seafood chowder, mussels, potato salad, lemon meringue pie, and non alcoholic beverages. It's definitely an experience worth trying (and there are non lobster options too)!
In the morning, we recommend catching the early morning ferry from Wood Islands to Caribou in Pictou County to save on the driving time. It's worth noting that there is no charge to drive on to the island over the confederation bridge, but there is a charge to leave the island via the bridge ($50), so the ferry is pretty good value, plus you get more chance to see some incredible views, and possibly even a whale!
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 11 & 12
The Cabot Trail - Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay
Cape Breton is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of Canada, and the Cabot Trail in particular, is Cape Breton's crowning jewel. The Cabot Trail is often voted one of the most scenic drives in the world, and for good reason - it's definitely not a road to rush! A road trip along the Cabot Trail winds its way around the northern tip of Nova Scotia and offers some of the most dramatic coastal views on the planet. The Cabot Trail also offers some great hiking opportunities, gorgeous waterfalls, some of the best whale watching in Nova Scotia, as well as the opportunity to stroll around quaint coastal towns and eat (more) amazing seafood!
Prior to entering the National Park, I would recommend a quick stop in Inverness for some great coastal scenery. If you have time for some beach time, then Inverness Beach is a lovely sandy beach that the kids will enjoy, plus consider the short drive to Egypt Falls. It is just a short 15-minute hike from the road, and although it's a little steep, there are some ropes to help get down to it - our kids managed it with no problems, just take your time.
Next on the list is the Gypsum Mine Trail which is a short 2.5km hike near Chéticamp. It's around a 20 minutes hike that leads to a beautiful, secret swimming spot. Make sure to spend 5 minutes or so climbing up to the viewpoint - it's a fun climb and there are some ropes to help as the footing is a little loose. We didn't spend much time in Chéticamp itself, but it is a charming Acadian town to stroll around, that feels very much like a French village, with plenty of places to stay and eat.
Once inside the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, you'll have plenty of opportunities for hiking or just to pull over and appreciate the varied landscape of dense woodland, tundra and sea views. Le Buttereau Loop hike is a short 1.6k loop hike that is easy for the kids, with just a short climb at the start of the trail. The trail winds through mixed Acadian forest, and gives some great views of the Chéticamp River and Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The Bog hike is only 0.5km and the entire walk is on a boardwalk, but don't skip this one out! The kids had great fun trying to find frogs, fly catching plants and pretty orchids. As it's a boardwalk, the trail is wheelchair accessible and ideal for baby strollers. Also surprisingly, no flies or bugs, so don't let that put you off!
Then there is the Skyline Trail which is undoubtedly the Cabot Trail's most famous hike, and you've probably seen photos of the view all over Instagram. It's an easy hike that can be done as either a 6.5 km 'out and back', or as an 8.2 km loop. Even if the kids aren't the strongest hikers, trust me, it's worth it. It will likely take 2-3 hours to complete the hike so take plenty of snacks, and it's best to get there early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
After a tiring hike, you can sample one of the many beaches, including Broad Cove Beach which is a fairly quiet sandy beach, or La Bloc Beach which is pebble beach which is a great spot to view the sunset.
Further up the trail is Pleasant Bay, which is presumably named after how calm and 'pleasant' the water can be, and is situated in a sheltered cove. Honestly, we sat just staring at the water from our dome and couldn't believe how calm it looked. Pleasant Bay is also one of the best places to try some Whale watching, and Captain Mark Whale & Seal Cruises is one of the most popular. If you are looking for a bite to eat, then the Rusty Anchor restaurant is a great restaurant that serves great seafood.
North of Pleasant Bay there are even more kid friendly hikes that are worth exploring. MacIntosh Brook is an easy 1.7km hike past a small brook and that ends with a nice waterfall. Lone Shieling is a really short 0.6km walk through 350 year old sugar maple trees and has replica of a Scottish crofter's hut to look inside at the beginning of the trail.
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 13
The Cabot Trail - Ingonish and Baddeck
Ingonish is a popular coastal town on the eastern coast of Cape Breton and is famous for it's stunning scenery, beaches, great hiking and being the start (or end) of the Cabot Trail. Ingonish Beach is a beautiful and unique beach as a 'barachois' (yes I had to look up this word) has formed a stretch of land that’s flanked by a freshwater lake on one side and the ocean on the other, meaning you can actually experience salt water and freshwater just meters away from each other.
There are some great short hikes that are suitable for kids close by. The Coastal Hike near Neil's Harbour is a 2.1km trail that offers lovely views of the cobblestone beaches (most of the viewpoints are at the South end of the trail so I would recommend starting there).
Middle Head Trail was one of our favourites, and it is a relatively easy 3.8km trail loop that follows a narrow peninsula between two ocean bays and culminates view some great views overlooking Cape Smokey and Ingonish Island. Franey Trail is the one hike that we wished we could have done but would have just been too difficult for the kids - it's a 7.8km hike with significant elevation, but if you have older kids that could manage it, you're rewarded with 360º views of the Clyburn Brook canyon and the Atlantic coastline from Cape Smokey to Ingonish.
Green Cove, while technically considered one of the 26 hikes in the National Park, is only 0.2km and really just a boardwalk out to the rocky peninsula... however it's worth stopping for a leg stretcher and it's a fun one for the kids.
If you are looking for a place to grab a coffee, stop by the Salty Rose’s Periwinkle Café, which is a cute café that serves delicious food and coffee, plus has an artisan gift shop to browse while you are waiting. Another great option is the Bean Barn Café in Ingonish - the homemade bread was delicious.
Next venture down to Baddeck which is another common stopping point on the Cabot Trail and home to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site where there is a great museum and is well worth a visit.
Uisge Ban Falls is a nice hike that is a short drive from Baddeck and is definitely worth doing. The hike winds through forest and there are some really interesting trees with roots growing over large boulders, and you are rewarded with a nice view of the water fall after scrambling over some rocks at the end. Even in the rain, it was a fun one for the kids!
2 WEEK ATLANTIC CANADA ITINERARY - DAY 14
Dartmouth and Fisherman's Cove
There are two routes that you can take on the way back to Halifax. If you are short on time, then the main road direct to Halifax is about 3 hour 30 minutes. If you have a little more time, you can take the scenic route and travel along the coast stopping at Shelburne and Clam Harbour along the way.
One stop I would recommend is Fisherman's Cove, which is a charming 200 year old working fishing village that is just a 15 minute drive from Halifax, making it a perfect place to stop, even if you are on a tight schedule.
There is a lovely boardwalk with colourful shops, and it is a great place to pick up some souvenirs - our kids spent quite a bit of their holiday spending money here!
Just along the boardwalk there is MacCormack’s Beach, which is a great shallow and sandy beach that is perfect for little ones. You can often wade right out and there were quite a few parents sitting their babies down in the water as in some places the water is only an inch deep with no waves. It is well worth a visit, especially on a sunny day.
If you didn't get a chance to visit Dartmouth on the first part of the trip, now is a good time to make a quick stop for dinner. We ate our last meal of our trip at Canteen on Portland, and the food was some of the best that we ate on our trip and we would highly recommend it.
OPTIONS FOR LESS DAYS
If you don't have 14 days then here are some areas we would recommend cutting out of this itinerary for a 10 day visit:
Skip New Brunswick all together (saves 1 night), or;
Just stay for 1 night in Halifax (saves 1 night), or;
Cut 1 night from the Wolfville / Annapolis Royal part of the trip (saves 1 night), or;
Visit Keijimujik National Park for the day (but don't stay there, or skip the park all together (saves 1 night)
For a 7 day trip we would consider:
Cut out PEI all together. (saves 3 nights and a lot of driving), or;
Cut out Kejimkujik National Park and the Annapolis Valley (saves 3 nights)
OPTIONS FOR MORE DAYS
If you have more than 14 days to spend travelling around this beautiful part of the world.... lucky you! Here are some of the additions we would suggest if time permits:
Spend an extra 3 days travelling around the Southwest coast of Nova Scotia, calling at Liverpool, Shelbourne and Yarmouth (3 days)
Spend an extra day visiting the town of Sydney in Cape Breton, and take a visit to the Louisbourg Historical Site (1 day)
Continue further into New Brunswick and spend a night in Saint John, or continue up the coast to Kouchibouguac National Park (1-2 days)
For a truly epic addition, fly to Newfoundland and explore the Viking Trail, which is supposed to be similarly impressive to the Cabot Trail (7 days)
WHERE TO STAY ON THIS ITINERARY
HALIFAX
The Muir Hotel - If you are looking for a luxury hotel stay, that is perfectly located right on the waterfront, look no further than the Muir Hotel. The hotel is part of the Marriott hotel chain so we were able to use 'points' to stay there for free. We stayed here for our daughters birthday and we loved our stay here so much that we wrote a full review here. Another high end option is the Sutton Place Hotel, which is located mid way up the hill towards the citadel.
The Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel is another Marriott hotel that is conveniently located along the waterfront (near the Historic Properties), but at a more reasonable price. Susie stayed here last year as part of a conference she was attending and was impressed with the rooms and facilities. If you are considering a stay on the Dartmouth side of the harbour, the Courtyard by Marriott is a fairly new hotel, that is clean and has a fantastic slide that the kids loved.
LUNENBURG
In terms of places to stay, Lunenburg is a great place to try out a traditional b&b as there aren't any large hotels here (which is a part of its charm)! While we didn't manage to find any availability in Lunenburg (so ended up staying in Bridgewater nearby), we have heard great things about the Smugglers Cove Inn and the Rum Runner so we would suggest checking them out!
KEJIMKUJIK
When staying in Kejimkujik National Park, it's all about camping! Jeremy's Bay Campground is the main area to stay, and they allow all types of tents, trailers, and RVs. However they also have four types of roofed accommodations, to make for a unique experience: Ôasis, oTENTik, rustic cabins and a yurt! The Oasis 'tear drop' shaped cabins in particular look incredible (they were unfortunately sold out when we visited).
Below is a screenshot of the options available at the Parks Canada website: link also here:
If camping isn't your thing there are a number of vacation rentals located close by (outside the park), or you can find lots of hotels in Bridgewater (50 mins away) or Digby / Annapolis Royal (40 mins away).
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY
There are some wonderful inns and B&B's spotted across the entire valley, with its abundance of charming heritage homes. In Annapolis Royal, the Garrison House Inn is a wonderful old inn that was build in 1854 that also has a fabulous restaurant (the seafood chowder was one of the best we ate).
We also stayed at a lovely B&B called the Farmhouse Inn, that is located in a small town called Canning (a 5 minute drive from Wolfville). The hosts are so lovely - we had a rainy day and she even brought out her own rock painting set for our kids to use while in the room. They also serve up the most wonderful breakfast, so if you and the little ones have a big appetite, enjoy eating local homemade food, then I highly recommend a stay here!
FUNDY NATIONAL PARK
When staying in Fundy National Park, I would highly recommend camping, as the park has five front country campgrounds, each providing a unique camping experience. If camping isn't usually your thing, or you don't have a tent, why not try one of the four types of roofed accommodations, to make for a unique experience: Ôasis, oTENTik, rustic cabins and a yurt!
Below is a link to the Parks Canada website, that details all of the options available here:
If you are looking for a regular hotel stay, the cities of Moncton and Saint John are both around 1 hour away and have lots of options.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
We only stayed in two places on the island, but both were excellent (but very different). In Charlottetown we stayed at the Delta Marriott which is one of the largest hotels in the city and located right by the harbour. We also stayed at the Nature Space Resort in the yurt that we mentioned above and it was a highlight of our trip. We'd recommend both, as our kids enjoyed the novelty of staying in a yurt (a new experience) and the comfort of staying in a hotel with a swimming pool, wifi and Netflix!
THE CABOT TRAIL
We knew that this part of the trip was going to offer some incredible views, so we wanted an experience where we could really appreciate those views. It wasn't cheap, but our stay in a True North Destinations dome overlooking Pleasant Bay was one of the best experiences that we had. Million dollar views whilst soaking in the hot tub was a once in a lifetime experience.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?
The busiest period is undoubtedly the summer period of July and August. However, we travelled during the month of July and with the exception of a few places, really wouldn't consider it 'busy' per se. That said, if you are looking to avoid the crowds, travelling in June and September would be great options as the weather should still be largely dry. It will also be easier to find accommodation options and dinner reservations. The fall colours driving the Cabot trail look incredible and would be a photographers dream!
HOW TO GET AROUND?
In general, you are going to need to hire a car to complete this road trip (unless you have your own obviously). There are some places like Halifax and Charlottetown where you don't need a car, plus you can get tours from there to nearby attractions (e.g Peggy's Cove). We managed to book a car with Avis for around $50 Canadian per day and there is no need to get a 4X4 type vehicle, any regular car will do.
WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO BRING?
Bring bug spray. I can't stress this enough. While most of the time during the day it really isn't a problem, especially in some areas near water, there can be quite a few mosquitos.
Entertainment for the kids! There is quite a lot of driving on this road trip, so something to keep them occupied is a must. We generally like to steer away from the ipad in the car, but did allow it on a few of the longer journeys. We also have a Yoto player which the kids listen to which helps to pass the time.
Parks Canada Pass - if you have one, bring one. This gets you in for free to all the National Parks (which you are definitely going to want to visit), along with some National Historic Sites as well.
A rain jacket! We travelled in July and we had at least 2 days out of the 14 were complete wash outs! A good rain jacket that is packable is a must, plus some rain boots if you can fit them in. You'll likely be hiring a car so you can store most of this stuff in your car when it's not needed.
We hope you enjoy your trip to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI! If you have any questions feel free to reach out to us in the comments!
Comments