Nova Scotia Coast & Cabot Trail

Destination 01

Halifax

10 places

Stay 2–3 nights for the waterfront, museums and a half-day to Peggy's Cove.

• Photo: Jordan Carter · Google

  Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk

  Four-kilometre harbourside walk past ferries, tall ships and food kiosks.

  Tip Ride the Dartmouth ferry for cheap harbour views.

  SeeDowntownFree1.5 hrEvening
• Photo: Corey W · Google

  Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

  Star-shaped hilltop fort with costumed soldiers and the noon gun.

  Tip Be there by noon for the daily cannon firing.

  SeeCitadel Hill$$1.5 hrLate morning
• Photo: Skeezix1000 · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

  Former ocean-liner terminal where a million immigrants landed, now a national museum.

  SeeSeaport$$2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

  Halifax Public Gardens

  Victorian formal gardens with ponds, a bandstand and old trees, open spring to fall.

  OutdoorsSouth EndFree45 minMorning
• Photo: The Singing Badger at English Wikipedia · Public domain

  Point Pleasant Park

  Wooded park at the peninsula's tip with trails, fort ruins and harbour mouth views.

  OutdoorsSouth EndFree1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Peggy's Cove

  Fishing village on bare granite with a 1915 lighthouse, 45 minutes from downtown.

  Tip Stay well back from the black rocks; waves sweep people off.

  SeeFree2 hrEarly morning
• Photo: Don MacKenzie · Google

  Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market

  Waterfront market with local cheese, seafood, baked goods and crafts.

  Tip Saturday mornings are busiest and best.

  ShopSeaport$60 minSaturday morning
• Photo: The Bicycle Thief · Google

  The Bicycle Thief

  North American-Italian waterfront restaurant with a big patio on the boardwalk.

  Tip Reserve patio seats in summer.

  EatWaterfront$$$1.5 hrDinner
• Photo: The Five Fishermen · Google

  The Five Fishermen

  Seafood restaurant in an 1817 building, known for lobster and its mussel bar.

  EatDowntown$$$$2 hrDinner
• Photo: Discovering Destinations · Google

  Alexander Keith's Brewery

  1820 brewery with costumed tours, songs and beer tasting.

  DrinkWaterfront$$75 minEvening

Destination 02

Lunenburg & Mahone Bay

9 places

One to two nights covers Lunenburg's old town, the harbour and Mahone Bay's churches.

• Photo: gragan1000 · Google

  Old Town Lunenburg

  UNESCO-listed 1753 grid of brightly painted wooden houses climbing from the harbour.

  Tip Shoot the waterfront from across the harbour on Tannery Road.

  SeeOld TownFree2 hrMorning
• Photo: Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic · Google

  Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

  Harbourfront museum with vessels, an aquarium and stories of the Grand Banks fishery.

  SeeWaterfront$$1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Yodaman Solo · Google

  Bluenose II

  Replica of Canada's famous racing schooner, offering harbour sails when in port.

  Tip Check the sailing schedule; it travels some summers.

  DoWaterfront$$$2 hrSummer
• Photo: Lynne LeBlanc · Google

  Blue Rocks

  Tiny fishing hamlet of fish shacks on grey slate, great for kayaking and photos.

  OutdoorsFree60 minEarly morning
• Photo: Shawn M. Kent · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Mahone Bay

  Harbour town known for three churches lined up along the water and craft shops.

  SeeFree1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Ironworks Distillery · Google

  Ironworks Distillery

  Small-batch distillery in an 1893 blacksmith shop making rum, gin and fruit spirits.

  DrinkWaterfront$$45 minAfternoon
• Photo: The South Shore Fish Shack · Google

  The South Shore Fish Shack

  Casual waterfront spot for fish and chips and lobster rolls with harbour views.

  EatWaterfront$$60 minLunch
• Photo: Salt Shaker Deli & Inn · Google

  Salt Shaker Deli

  Bright harbour-view restaurant known for mussels, thin-crust pizza and chowder.

  EatWaterfront$$75 minDinner
• Photo: The Ovens Park · Google

  Ovens Natural Park

  Clifftop trail to sea caves that boom with the surf, plus a seasonal campground.

  Outdoors$1.5 hrSummer

Destination 03

Cape Breton Highlands & Cabot Trail

10 places

Allow 2–3 nights between Chéticamp and Ingonish to drive the trail slowly and hike.

• Photo: Tony Webster from San Francisco, California · CC BY-SA 2.0

  Skyline Trail

  Boardwalk hike to a headland above the Gulf of St. Lawrence; moose and whales are common.

  Tip Go for sunset and bring a headlamp for the walk out.

  Outdoors$2.5 hrSunset
• Photo: Elviroyage · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Cabot Trail

  298 km loop road of switchbacks and sea cliffs; the park section is the dramatic core.

  Tip Drive counterclockwise for ocean-side pullouts.

  DoFree8 hrFall colour
• Photo: Shannon Andrus · Google

  Chéticamp

  Acadian fishing town known for hooked rugs, music and the Les Trois Pignons museum.

  SeeChéticamp$1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Rachel Clark · Google

  Pleasant Bay Whale Watching

  Boat trips from Pleasant Bay spot pilot whales, minke and dolphins in summer.

  DoPleasant Bay$$$2.5 hrJul – Sep
• Photo: Glenn Tremblett · Google

  Franey Trail

  Steep climb to a fire-tower lookout over Clyburn Valley and the Atlantic.

  OutdoorsIngonishFree3.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Julien Gourribon · Google

  Ingonish Beach

  Sand barrier beach with both a warm freshwater lake and the ocean.

  OutdoorsIngonishFree2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Leonid Chukhovsky · Google

  Mary Ann Falls

  Short gravel side road to a waterfall and swimming pool in the eastern highlands.

  OutdoorsFree45 minSummer
• Photo: Rusty Anchor Restaurant · Google

  Rusty Anchor

  Roadside restaurant above Pleasant Bay with lobster rolls, chowder and whale views from the deck.

  EatPleasant Bay$$60 minLunch
• Photo: David H · Google

  Restaurant Le Gabriel

  Chéticamp family restaurant with Acadian dishes and seafood, often with live music.

  EatChéticamp$$75 minDinner
• Photo: The Keltic Resort · Google

  Highland Sitting Room at Keltic Lodge

  Lounge in a historic resort on Middle Head peninsula, with ocean views and Nova Scotia drinks.

  Tip Walk the Middle Head Trail beforehand.

  DrinkIngonish$$$60 minSunset