Nova Scotia

I'm traveling to Acadia NP this October. I'm considering going on to Nova Scotia (Cape Breton). It's my first time in NS. Any suggestions, help, comments to help me make this photo trip a memorable one. Would love to hear from photographers who have been there or residents. I know nothing about NS but everyone I've talked to says that it is a beautiful place to photograph. Thanks in advance.

John

We made the trip several years ago on our first visit to Acadia. We took the car ferry across to Nova Scotia, then drove up to Cape Breton. On the return trip, we drove back through New Brunswick, then down the Maine coast. I thought Cape Breton was beautiful, and would love to go back again. I was shooting film then, so unfortunately I do not have any online photos to share.

Taking the ferry, it's a long day's trip to get to Cape Breton. If I recall, we actually did not make it there until the next day. So, depending on how long you like to drive, you may want to pick someplace along the way for an overnight stop. Halifax is supposed to be nice, but we drove up the north coast instead. There is not much to see for quite some time going that north route once you leave Yarmouth.

I live in California now, but I'm of acadian french heritage (Bourgeois) and was born and raised in that neck of the woods. Cape Breton in the fall is a MUST. The Cabot Trail is spectacular and a must go to destination is the Red Shoe Pub in Mabou. (google "Red Shoe Pub Mabou Cape Breton" The fiddle music will get your toes tapping and you will really feel like you've visited Nova Scotia. Halifax has the citadel and a lot of history, you'll love that city and of course, Peggy's Cove Lighthouse and fishing village is a photographer's dream. Trust me on that. don't miss Peggy's Cove, it is world famous for a reason and it is NOT "just another lighthouse". Enjoy!

The ferry that used to run from Bar Harbor Maine to Yarmouth Nova Scotia hasn't run for a few years now. There is a ferry though from Saint John, New Brunswick to Digby, Nova Scotia, which brings you right to Brier Island area, home of Whale Watching tours and lots of birding on the edge of the Bay of Fundy. From there, a short drive across the province to Peggy's Cove, like Sue said. While in the area of Peggy's cove, visit some of the other very picturesque villages in that area like Mahone Bay http://www.townofmahon​ebay.ca/visiting/visit​ing.html and Lunenburg. Lunenburg is a world Heritage site, and a really photogenic spot, as well as home of The Bluenose, the ship on the back of the Canadian dime. A newly built reconstruction of the Bluenose is going in the water soon, in Lunenburg. Http://www.explorelune​nburg.ca/photo-galleries.html. http://www.thespec.com …to-relaunch-in-lunenburg/ I think Halifax is worth a day, see The Citadel and the waterfront.

And definitely The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton. Drive around it in the counter clockwise direction for better views. Stop at the lookoffs. If you like history and old forts, see Fortress Louisburg on the northeast corner of Cape Breton.

Sample the seafood chowder at some of the village restaurants....that's my way of testing the local food offerings

If you have time, pop over to Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province, for a whole different lifestyle and scenery. You can take the ferry from Pictou, or the Confederation bridge from the area of the Nova Scotia-New brunswick border. Visit Charlottetown, and be sure to drive up to North Rustico for a lobster dinner at Fishermen's Wharf Lobster Dinners http://www.fishermansw​harf.ca/aboutus.cfm ......they also have a huge 60-foot long salad buffet.

I was on Cape Breton for three weeks about 20-some years ago. At the time I was working hard and didn't have much opportunity to take photos, though I did carry my film camera, but I wasn't really that into photography then. At this point in my life, I'd love to go back with the camera, maybe a flyrod and maybe even a shotgun and my bird dog. It was really very beautiful.

Scott M - thanks for your comments. I appreciate the information.

John

Sue C - Thank you very much. You are exactly the kind of person I wanted to hear from. Really looking forward to going. Cape Breton is the big reason for this trip, along with Peggy's Cove. Thanks for the tip about the Red Shoe Pub and also for the info on Halifax. Can't wait for fall!

John

Ian - Thank you so much for the fantastic information. When we leave Acadia, we should have about 5-6 days in NS. Cabot Trail, Peggy's Cove, Halifax, Bay of Fundy are some of the places we have been considering. Appreciate the tip on going counter-clockwise on Cabot Trail and also the ferry tip. I know 5 or 6 days is not nearly enough time to see everything, what would you suggest seeing on my limited time in NS? We like to do landscapes, wildlife, harbor scenes. Is whale watching season over by mid-October? Hope to hear back from you. Thanks in advance.

John

Bill - Thanks for responding. As you mentioned, everyone I've talked to said it is beautiful there. I've seen some photos and still searching for more before I go. It's been 10 years since my first trip to Acadia. I want to take advantage of going to NS since I'm already that far north. Not sure when I'll make it up that way again. Haven't been this excited about a trip in a long time.

John

johnohio wrote in post #16245673
Ian - Thank you so much for the fantastic information. When we leave Acadia, we should have about 5-6 days in NS. Cabot Trail, Peggy's Cove, Halifax, Bay of Fundy are some of the places we have been considering. Appreciate the tip on going counter-clockwise on Cabot Trail and also the ferry tip. I know 5 or 6 days is not nearly enough time to see everything, what would you suggest seeing on my limited time in NS? We like to do landscapes, wildlife, harbor scenes. Is whale watching season over by mid-October? Hope to hear back from you. Thanks in advance. John

No trouble John. You're right, whale watching will be over by October, and if not totally over, they will have started to leave for the south. If I had just 5-6 days, I would do Lunenburg, Mahone Bay (same day), possible Peggy's Cove the same day and into the sunset, stay locally, hit Halifax next day, then leave for Cape Breton. I would do it like this :

Day 1 : Ferry from Saint John to Digby (3 hrs), then over to Lunenburg, Mahone Bay and Peggy's Cove
Day 2 : Halifax waterfront and Citadel, and leave for Cape Breton
Day 3 : Arrive on Cape Breton and get to maybe Baddeck by late afternoon
Day 4 : Cabot Trail, many stops, include the Skyline Trail, and Sue Cassidy's recommended stop in Mabou , maybe stay in that area
Day 5 : Leave Cape Breton and head for who know where

One more thing. If you decide to drive around the land route instead of going back down to Digby for the return ferry to Saint John, drive via Truro, then head for Glenholm and drive the Fundy Shore route going through Great Village, Five Islands (stop there...very pretty) and along the shore to Parrsboro. This whole stretch is often overlooked but very very pretty....often described as a mini-Cabot Trail. If you have time, drive in to the Bass River Lighthouse and see the Bay of Fundy shore there.

Hope you have a great time!

Lunenburg and Mahone Bay are a couple other photogenic places in NS. Driving through NB I would hit up Hopewell Rocks, I think it is just 30/45 minutes outside of Moncton. If you time it right, like I lucked into, walking the trail to the rocks, I got pictures of kayakers going through the rocks and by time we arrived on the ocean floor, we could walk under them.

There are a number of waterfalls in CB, Marianne falls is on the cabot trail and another whose name slips my mind but both were short treks so they do not eat up a lot of time...

rane wrote in post #16246754
Lunenburg and Mahone Bay are a couple other photogenic places in NS. Driving through NB I would hit up Hopewell Rocks, I think it is just 30/45 minutes outside of Moncton. If you time it right, like I lucked into, walking the trail to the rocks, I got pictures of kayakers going through the rocks and by time we arrived on the ocean floor, we could walk under them.

There are a number of waterfalls in CB, Marianne falls is on the cabot trail and another whose name slips my mind but both were short treks so they do not eat up a lot of time...

Right is Rane . Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick would be right on your way, pretty well, if you go home via land through Amherst NS rather than the Digby ferry. You'll see the famous Bay of Fundy tides, highest in the world @ ~ 50 feet. Also he is right re Marianne Falls in CB....short walk (like 10 minutes from the parking spot) and very photogenic.

Everyone, Thanks for all the great info. I've been thinking of making a trip up there sometime next year.

Ian - Thanks for your suggested itinerary. Will probably try to follow it, with some probably changes (nothing ever goes as planned). Your land route back home sounds interesting and would give us another side of NS that we wouldn't have seen otherwise. If you think of anything else, please post. Or if you have a personal favorite spot or area, that you'd be willing to share. The more information I get, the more excited I am about going. Thank you again for all your help!

John

P.S. I have followed you on this forum for some time and have always enjoyed your photos and posts.

Rane - I appreciate your suggestions. If we have time, we will definitely check out Hopewell Rocks, along with Marianne Falls in CB. As I told Ian, if you think of anything else, would love to hear about it.

Thanks.
John