nhanimator

Hello. I'll be taking a ferry from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth for a weeklong driving tour of Nova Scotia - my first visit to the province. I like to take photos, hike/explore the outdoors, but don't do a lot of shopping. My plan is likely to do the airbnb things most nights and try to balance driving times with seeing "everything." (I know that that is absolutely impossible.) I'm also picking out places to stay that are sometimes between the more popular cities to cut down on driving and costs. I realize that everyone likes to do different things, but with that foreknowledge, I wanted to share at least an overview of my itinerary and ask opinions about if what I have planned makes sense. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Day 1: Travel day into Yarmouth. Stay overnight in Pubnico.
Day 2: Exploring Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove and Halifax. Staying in Halifax.
Day 3: Exploring Halifax area a little more, then driving to Port Hawkesbury for the night.
Day 4: Doing the Cape Breton Trail, hiking Middle Head Trail and Skyline Loop and ending up in Chéticamp for the night.
Day 5: Driving to the Advocate Harbor area (or other Bay of Fundy site) and staying near Truro for the night.
Days 6 and 7: Exploring Digby and Keji
Day 8: Travel day out of Yarmouth.

Kind of a whirlwind tour, but does this all seem feasible? Thanks so much for your feedback!

Moderator1

Welcome to Fodors. Your thread has been moved from the Air Travel board to the Canada Forum and tagged for Nova Scotia.

omneestrategicsoluti

yes this correct

Daniel_Williams

Hi nhanimator—

It might be doable but seems rushed to me, even for
those who like whirlwind travel— plus, part of the fun of Maritime Canada comes in smelling the roses; it's less of a checklist kind place in my mind. Day 2 if you've actually stopped and walked around both Lunenburg & Peggy's Cove a bit, this won't leave much time for Halifax and after much has closed. And the next day with a drive to Port Hawkesbury planned will give maybe a morning in Halifax, time maybe for the Citadel and gardens. The Cape Breton part looks fast too, getting from Port Hawkesbury to your hikes might be slower than you think.

If it were me, and this is not to diminish the latter destinations but I'd cut on days 6 and 7 and spend more time in the Cape Breton and possibly Halifax part.

Best wishes, Daniel

sunbum1944

We got up early and were the first bus at Peggy's Cove. There is a restaurant with a big parking lot at the restaurant. The food was nothing to rave about but gave us easy access to to exploring and taking pictures. We were there in Sept and tourist season was winding down. Another option is to go there later in the day after tourist buses have left.

I would go to Hopewell Rocks for sure. Its amazing! There was going to be high tide that night and water was going to rise 50'.

Halifax was interesting, At the waterfront there is a kiosk where you can book different city adventures. We spent time at Pier 21- where immigrants passed through when immigrating to Canada. Its a museum now and very interesting.

Ft St Lous is very interesting. Its about a 3 hour drive from Halifax

nhanimator

Thank you for the feedback, Daniel.

I agree it is a lot to try to take on. Trying to keep my travel time to a maximum of 3 hours per day (not including time on the Cabot Trail). I'm less interested in Halifax - not much for exploring cities - and so I think I'll do what you and others have suggested and extend my stay in the Cape Breton area for an extra day. Maybe hike and stay around Ingonish and then continue on the next day, finishing maybe in Cheticamp (with the option to explore that side of the Highlands the next morning as well). Specifically on the way back, the Bay of Fundy is the only must-see, so maybe just a night in Digby or someplace close to that. I have the White Mountains here in NH, so while nice, I could drop Keji.

Thanks again.
- nhanimator

nhanimator

Thank you for the feedback. Won't be spending much time in Halifax, but will look into the other places you recommended.