20th Anniversary Countdown: Guest #10

In celebration of my 20th Blogiversary, I'm doing guest posts every week leading up to the big day. 

Today's guest poster is Elisabeth!

Elisabeth (definitely with an 's') is a mom of two who lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. She works in project management, which I secretly think is a code word for espionage. She blogs at The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist and write about the struggles of living in this modern world, travel, parenting, and ethical conundrums such as what are your top five and bottom five ice cream flavors. Go read her stuff!!

When Engie asked if I would consider being one of her guests during the celebratory countdown to her twentieth - (let’s all let that sink in for a minute; two-zero!) - year of blogging, I jumped at the chance. When she suggested I write about my favourite places in Nova Scotia, I all but sprinted to my computer. [Note from NGS: I enjoyed at all the -ou words in this post and I left them all for you to enjoy the true Canadian experience.]

If you’ll indulge me in some geographic navel-gazing, here are my Top Twenty (er - Twenty Four) Favourite Things to See/Do in Nova Scotia.

Top Four Lighthouses

Narrowing down my list of lighthouse suggestions to only four is nothing short of torturous; there are over 100 lighthouses scattered along Nova Scotia’s 13,000 km of coastline. But, if pressed, these are my absolute favourites. 

1. Peggy’s Cove. It is fitting that the first destination I mention is my favourite location in all of Nova Scotia. The (literal) poster child of our province, this lighthouse and adjacent rocky shoreline is a spot we return to year after year. 
2. Cape Forchu. Years ago, we pulled out of our driveway one weekend morning and asked the kids: Right or Left. We followed their directional cues all the way to the Western tip of Nova Scotia and were rewarded with this stunning “apple core” lighthouse.
3. Louisbourg. The original structure - ultimately destroyed by fire - was the first lighthouse in Canada. The current build, like its predecessors, overlooks the Fortress of Louisbourg - a French stronghold destroyed by the British in the 1760s).
4. Margaretsville. This lighthouse is a perennial favourite; there’s an art co-op on site, a waterfall within walking distance, a pier full of fishing boats (perfectly stereotypical for the Maritimes), a boardwalk, and picnic facilities. 

Top Four Beaches

On the Bay of Fundy side of our province, the beaches are red mud - beautiful and fun in their own way. But the Atlantic side boasts gorgeous white-sand shores that stretch for miles.

 

1. Beach Meadows. My personal favourite. It’s small, it’s quiet, the waves are constant but gentle. There is a rock formation to one side of the beach full of tide pools teeming with sea life. I absolutely love this beach.
2. Carter’s Beach. If you’re looking for the closest thing Nova Scotia has to the tropics, it would be Carter’s which shot to fame about a decade ago when it was named Canada’s Best Beach. The shoreline is littered with sand dollars and the water looks like it was transported straight from the Caribbean. 
3. Hirtle’s. Another family favourite, this beach offers some of the best boogie-boarding waves in Nova Scotia. (For surfing enthusiasts, I’d recommend Martinique and Lawrencetown.)
4. Cape Sable. This is a bit of a cheat; I love this beach primarily because it includes one of the most beautiful lighthouses in Canada (look at me sneaking in a fifth lighthouse recommendation; stealthy). Getting to this stretch of shoreline requires hiring a boat, but it’s worth the effort. Absolutely stunning.  

Top Four Historical Sites

1. Landscape of Grand Pré. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features a stone church and sprawling grounds. Marking the site of the Acadian deportation in 1755, this area was immortalized in the poem Evangeline written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. [Note from NGS: Here's the link to the poem. I feel like I have to follow Maya's example.]
2. Lunenburg. While we’re on the theme of UNESCO…Lunenburg is one of only two urban communities in North America with a World Heritage Site designation. The waterfront is lovely, especially when the Bluenose II - a replica of the iconic racing schooner that graces the back of the Canadian dime - is in port.
3. Annapolis Royal/Port Royal. This was my hometown as an adolescent and is steeped in history! The Habitation at Port Royal was established in 1605 by Samuel d’Champlain and is one of the earliest European settlements in North America. Nearby Fort Anne was one of the most hotly contested parcels of land on the continent (and even played a role in the American Revolutionary War).
4. The Halifax Waterfront. In the heart of our provincial capital: There are islands! There is a lighthouse! There are museums! There are cruise ships! There is a British citadel from the 1800’s! Sadly, this was also the scene of the Halifax Explosion in 1917 which remains one of the largest man-made explosions of all time. [Note from NGS: As loyal readers know, I love learning about a good maritime disaster. This looks amazing.]

Top Four Hikes

1. Cape Split. An iconic looped trail through the forest; depending on the trails selected, total distance varies from ~12 -14 km.
2. Blomidon. Perhaps our family favourite? Depending on the route, ~6-12 km.
3. Skyline Trail (Cape Breton). Arguably the most famous hike along the Cabot Trail - and maybe in all of Nova Scotia - it’s shorter than I expected at around 6 km but offers stunning views.
4. Balancing Rock. A short 2.5 km hike gets you to the Balancing Rock (also known as Nature’s Time Post) - a basalt rock formation that defies gravity.

Top Four Local Experiences

1. Walk on the ocean floor. The Bay of Fundy boasts the highest tides on the planet - and nowhere are these tidal extremes on better display than the rock formations at Medford Beach (at high tide, the only way to access these rock formations is via kayak...or swimming).
2. A sunset. We have beautiful sunsets and I highly recommend finding a spot by the ocean and settling in for a display of God’s handiwork.
3. Wolfville. The prettiest town in the province, I challenge anyone who says otherwise to a duel (of words). There are quaint shops and trails and historical sites and a university and two independent theatres and restaurants and a used bookstore and a library in an old railway station and more culture than you can shake a stick at. (I may be a wee bit biased since I live here.)
4. A bonfire at Scott’s Bay. One of our new favourite summer activities, this beach is the perfect place to roast hotdogs or marshmallows and watch the sun go down.

In honour of wishing Engie many more years of blogging, I present four bonus mentions that are iconic and beloved experiences that simply aren’t high on my personal radar.

Top Four “Come-from-away” Adventures

1. Whale-watching. While we have been fortunate enough to spot whales/porpoises/seals from shore, Nova Scotia is famous for whale-watching and there are all sorts of off-shore tour options.
2. Star-gazing. Our wee province boasts two Dark Sky preserves. While we haven’t traveled to any of the destination locations for star-gazing, this picture my husband captured in our back yard isn’t too shabby. 
3. Wine, spirits and all things alcohol. I rarely imbibe, so this attraction is very much lost on me. There are so many wineries and distilleries (dozens in the province) and they are a major tourist draw. Wolfville hosts a Magic Winery Tour atop a double-decker bus that visits ten or so wineries within a 15-minute radius. (Yes, there really are that many wineries where I live!). There are also oodles of cider companies and distilleries. 
4. Seafood. Quaint fishing villages are more than just a photo-op; Nova Scotia seafood (especially lobster, scallops, and clams) is renowned world-wide! 

The world is a beautiful place and there are architectural and natural delights on every part of the globe. But some places are extra special. I am blessed to live in one of those extra special places. (Not convinced? National Geographic’s top thirty global “Cool List of 2024” includes Nova Scotia).

Thanks Engie - I’m wishing you many, many years of happy blogging ahead.

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Anyone else convinced that Nova Scotia should be your next vacation destination?