Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

This, honestly, wasn’t what we expected. We were going because “who wouldn’t” on the only trip we had had to the East Coast. We were expecting crowds too thick to allow us to appreciate the view, a vista that couldn’t live up to the romanticized impression we all wanted to hold onto, and a parking nightmare. It took so little time to realize our pessimism was unfounded. The drive to the cove was peppered with postcard worthy vignettes of small fishing towns and farms. The lighthouse and the hill leading up to it were gorgeous. We had no problem finding a few spots to take pictures away from the crowd, who were also trying to find secluded spots. Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia was peaceful, pretty, and understandably, a place of a subdued magical presence.

There wasn’t too much in the way of shopping experience, there were no playgrounds for the kids, and we couldn’t (for the steepness of the rocks) go anywhere near the water. We, adults and kids alike, however, didn’t want to leave. Perhaps it was our chance to reflect on the entirety of the trip; perhaps we had been caught up in the East Coast charm, which is as tangible as Toronto smog. I loved this part of the trip and not for its bells, whistles, or its production value, but because we all were in joyful moods the whole time. Except when parking; parking was a nightmare.

Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia was the end of a road trip through 3 of Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Read on for the rest of our trip to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI.