Google Map with Stops https://bit.ly/3mukkuB

We took a 5 hour direct flight from Calgary to Halifax on West Jet to begin our East Coast Family Vacations. We did lots of research using YouTube, google and researching through blogs and social media!  Having a son with Autism and Pans/Panda we needed to make sure we accommodated any needs that might arise.  Also being a family of 5 with three boys that are entering pre-teen to teen years we needed to make sure we had beds for all of us!

Day one we arrive in Halifax and head to the hotel close to the airport to eat, swim and rest to get started on our family vacation. We stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Dartmouth in a family suite.

Day two we are on the road to our first stop at Oak Island Resort by Mahone Bay.  We have a few stops to check out on the way, up first is Peggy’s Cove located just 45 minutes from the Halifax. Peggy’s Cove is one of Nova Scotia’s most visited attractions and crowds can be huge here!

This  tiny village of Peggy's Cove. There you will find the most photographed lighthouse in Canada. Built in 1915, the iconic Peggy's Cove lighthouse keeps watch over the waves and guides the lobster fishermen back to shore. After leaving Peggy’s Cove your next stop will be Mahone Bay is a must-stop on any Nova Scotia Road Trip.

It has been named one of the prettiest small-town downtowns in Canada. It’s easy to understand why.  We decided to have lunch at Oh My Cod it is close to 2 o’clock in the afternoon and HOT, and the lineup is down the block, but everyone says that the wait is worth it, so we stand in line and we were not disappointed, it was DELISH!  We stop and check out the Landmark of Mahone Bay, the famous Three Churches. With full bellies, we decide to head to our hotel to check-in. We have rented a two-bedroom cottage with an ocean view. 

The Famous Oak Island is direct across from where we are staying!  Sadly, the on-site restaurant was closed due to a lack of staff, and we head down the road for a mediocre meal (not the meal we were hoping for) we didn’t want to miss our Oak Island Boat Tour at 7:00.

The tour was a highlight with Salty Dogs Tours, owned and operated by Tony Sampson, the lead treasurer hunter on the HBO show Oak Island, which is the world’s longest treasure hunt.

On day two we head to Lunenburg.  Lunenburg is famous for its painted houses creating a rainbow of colours along the waterfront. The pastel buildings must adhere to a strict code to keep the town beautiful.  We grab a coffee from Fancy Pants coffee and explore a bit before heading to lunch at Half Shell Oyster Bar we order the fish and chips, which were terrific, a make-up from our sad dinner the previous night.

The Blue Nose was on the harbour for sailing, and we were sad that we could not get tickets for a sail on this iconic sailboat.  We decide to grab some groceries and BBQ our dinner and enjoy the surrounding, pool and beautiful scenery.

On day three we check out to head to Digby Pine which is known for the best scallops the WORLD! On our way, we decided to stop at the Incredible view of the Bay of Fundy, stop and explore the spectacular Kejimkujik National Park. We wander through groves of 300-year-old hemlock trees and follow a trail to an abandoned gold mine. After we are sweaty from the record-breaking temperatures, we finish our drive to Digby.  Digby Pines, we are staying at a two-bedroom cottage with ocean views.  We are so hungry when we arrive at the hotel, we head straight to the local restaurant for a quick lunch.  The pool at Digby Pines has an Italian feel and is fantastic.  We cooled off for a couple of hours and get ready for supper in town at Dockside.  Jeff and the boys love the scallops, I keep going with the fish and chips, and it was a successful day.  We walk around Digby waterfront boardwalk.  We head back to our cottage and watch the cotton candy sunset.

On day four we catch the Ferry to New Brunswick for we are Staying at the Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews for two nights. After we get off the ferry, it is now time to drive directly to the Bay of Fundy for a walk on the ocean floor. The Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest tides. It moves 100 billion tons of water every 6 hours! Fundy National Park has an extensive trail system with soaring coastal views showcasing the highest tides in the world and the Acadian forest. Come marvel at the waterfalls, descend into moss-covered river valleys and swim in backcountry pools. You may even see some of New Brunswick's wildlife if you're lucky! Our trail ranking uses the international system, so you can be sure you know what you are getting into.

We arrive at St. Andrews which is prettily perched on the coastline 100 kilometres from Saint John. This quintessential North American town is adorned with Georgian, Romanesque, and colourful Queen Anne homes, a beautifully maintained shopping district and, of course, the imposing Tudor-style Algonquin Resort, famous for its ghosts (we did the evening free ghost tour) golf course, and old-world charm of Katy’s Cove, the hotel’s private beach. There are two here, an outdoor pool with poolside drink service and an indoor pool with a waterslide; kids preferred the indoor pool, for the speed of the waterslide brought them all the joy!

On day two in Saint Andrew, we check out Kingsbrae Garden. (Family Admission $40) This award-winning garden shows off 2,500 species of perennials, shrubs, and trees. You’ll fall in love with the magic of its strutting peacocks, adorable alpacas, sculpture gardens, Dutch windmill, and remarkable cedar maze.  It was so hot, so we only lasted a short time. 

In the afternoon, we decided to drive the ocean floor to Ministers Island.  You can only head to this island at Low Tide and must return before the tide returns. Ministers Island is a historic Canadian island in New Brunswick's Passamaquoddy Bay near St. Andrews. The Minister Island was home to Sir. Van Horne and an enchanting place to visit. This was a fantastic stop and, honestly, the first time we had every driven the ocean floor! 

After exploring the Island, we head to dinner at The Gables Restaurant with ocean views for a fantastic dinner!

We check out of Algonquin to travel to Moncton.  We decide to stop at St. John on the way.  Saint Johns’s main attraction is the SkyWalk, a dramatic glass-bottomed platform with prime views of the waves and whirlpools of the Reversing Rapids. As the only Skywalk in North America to be positioned over water, it juts out over the precise point where the highest tides in the world are forced into a narrow rock gorge, causing a reverse in the flow of the Saint John River,, a fantastic spectacle you won’t want to miss. We decided not to pay to use the skywalk so you can check out the views right from the bridge, I was expecting more, so I was glad we did not pay.

The Saint John City Market

Designed with a roof resembling an inverted ship’s hull, this market is Canada's oldest continuing farmers’ market. We enjoyed strolling through in the morning, watching the fishmongers lay out the daily catch and the artisans setting up their stalls. Foodies may also be interested in the daily tasting tour. (See Saint John City Market website.)

We leave St. John and continue to Moncton. Moncton’s most famous attraction (perfect video fodder for your social media feed) is Magnetic Hill, a natural phenomenon that’s been baffling visitors for more than 80 years. No need to leave your car; put your car in neutral and prepare to be astounded as you roll backwards from the bottom of Magnetic Hill to the top!  The cost is $6.00 to complete the hill.  We know we have a short time in Moncton, so we much the day and finish at Hopewell Rock.

Hopewell Rock, is a famous site boasting one of Canada's most impressive natural phenomena. The exceptionally high tides (10 to 14 metres) at Hopewell Rocks have sculpted gigantic sandstone "flower pot" formations that visitors can explore on foot at low tide and kayak around just a few hours later. Like a modern Indiana Jones, you can walk on the ocean floor at low tide in search of precious treasures. Before leaving the area, take in some sun on one of the two sandy beaches.   There is a cost to check out the park.  After we explore, we drive 45 minutes back to Moncton to check into the Holiday Inn for the night.  It was about a 12-hour day so we were tired!

Discover NB Beaches (we didn’t have enough time, but if you are interested, these are considered some of the best beaches to explore)

• Tuft’s Point and Long Beach (Fundy Trail)

• Point Wolf Beach (Fundy National Park)

• Herring Cove Beach (Fundy National Park)

• Irving Nature Park (Saint John, NB)

• Gardner Creek Beach (Gardner Creek, NB)

• Reeds Beach (Gardner Creek, NB)

• Black Beach (Lorneville, NB)

• Pebble Beach (Barn Marsh Island / Cape Enrage, NB)

• Crow Island Rd Beach (Near Chance Harbour, NB)

On day eight, we are heading to the beach side of Cavendish Bay in PEI, where we are staying in a two-bedroom cabin with an ocean view at the Bosom Buddies Beach Resort.  We decide to make a few stops on our drive.  First up, we go to Lepreau Falls. The falls is a 0.9 km hike and takes about 5 minutes, an easy, quick stop.  From here, we head to Peek into St. Martins Caves.  St. Martins is a picturesque village rich in seafaring history. With miles of unspoiled, accessible beaches, two lighthouses, and a busy harbour boasting two covered bridges, St. Martins is home to many lovely vistas. But the village is best known for its sandstone sea caves – submerged during high tide, and accessible to explorers during low tide. But don’t linger too long…keep an eye out for the returning tide!  We are here at high tide so sadly we don’t get to explore the caves, we have ice cream instead, and everyone is happy!

We hit the world's longest bridge over ocean water, and our adventure continues in Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island. This tiny capital city can boast of being the birthplace of Canada. Learn about this chapter in Canadian history at Province House National Historic Site. At the end of the afternoon, go for a stroll along Victoria Row, a charming pedestrian street lined with shops and restaurants. 

Take a seat on an outdoor patio and enjoy the live (often Celtic) music that invades the street's restaurants and bars after nightfall.  We have lunch on the waterfront at Lobster on the Wharf.  We walk around and take in the history of the birthplace of Canada’s confederation.  After exploring, we head to our accommodation for the next two nights at the Bosom Buddies Resort, we are staying in a two-bedroom cottage.  We deiced to get some groceries to take a break from eating out and cook a home-cooked meal that was appreciated by all.  After dinner to decided to drive to Cavendish Main beach, watch the sunset, and play in the ocean.  The water was warm, the air was perfect, and it was one of the best nights.

On day two we have a day of mini golf, panning for gold, playing at Berkeley Beach and looking at some lighthouses.  Cavendish is home to Anna Green Gables. the historic site based on the Books and TV Shows. Cavendish reminds me of a small carnival town, everything is so random, yet perfect!  There is so many attraction in a 3 km radius.

Shining Waters - https://www.maritimefun.com/shining-waters/

Sandspit - https://welcomepei.com/feature/sandspit-amusement-park/

Magic Mountain - https://www.magicmountain.ca/

Mariners Cove mini golf - https://www.maritimefun.com/marinerscove

We are up early on day 9 to catch our ferry to Pictou.  It is always a good idea to book your ferry ahead of time, the summer months are busy, and it is a long wait between ferries.  This ferry cost was $89 for the vehicle, a way better option than the ferry from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick.

We are staying at Pictou Lodge in a charming two-bedroom cottage called a king Suite with two rooms and a pullout.

There is so much to do here; this is a place you can stay easily for a week; an outdoor pool, chess boards, two beaches, and a mini lake with canoes and kayaks, and it is set up for the best vacay!  We dine at their delicious onsite restaurant.

We pack up for our final three nights in Halifax. On the way, we stop at Truro for lunch and check out the Joseph Howe falls in Victoria Park.

Where we are staying at the Hollis Hotel.  In a one-bedroom room, which had two queen beds in one room and a pull-out in the living room.  Lots of room for us to move around for the next three days, does not feel like a hotel, plus complimentary breakfast every day was included with our stay! Halifax, is the capital of Nova Scotia; we checked out the discovery of the Maritime provinces, the Citadel National Historic Site, which is Perched high on the large hill dominating downtown Halifax; the Halifax Citadel offers commanding views of the city and its harbour. The star-shaped fort was built to defend the city against attackers—dinner at the Bike Thief and Salty’s and a Harbour Hopper Tour. The Historic Properties district is the perfect place to enjoy a drink on an outdoor patio at the end of the day. 

While Halifax's list of places to love is undoubtedly long, the waterfront will always be close to the top. During the summer, the Halifax waterfront is bustling with visitors and locals, and you can’t help but get caught up in the excitement and energy. It’s a great place to catch a cool breeze on a hammock, grab a snack or drink from one of the many vendors, and explore everything there is to see and do along one of the world’s longest continuous waterfront boardwalks. That includes the ‘drunken lampposts’.

If you haven’t seen the series of bendy or DRUNKEN lamppost sculptures yourself, check them out on social media! The Fountain and Get Drunk, Fall Down pieces are constantly popping up on social media.

This was a fantastic trip, and we know we will be back…We would love to spend more time in PEI and Pictou.

We hope you enjoyed it as we unpacked our suitcase on the East Coast of Canada.