Going to Nova Scotia...

[Laviolette]

...during 2 weeks in late June. Any tips on place to visit and/or photogenic places? We will probably do Halifax and the surrounding (Lunenburg) and Cape Breton, but we aren't set for now.

Places for kids (8 and 5) would be great too...though last summer in Maine what they seemed to enjoy the most was playing with snails on the shore!

Equipment wise, I was thinking to bring my 4x5 Chamonix for landscapes and my M3 with 50mm and 21mm lenses for casual shots.

Thanks!

 

[FrankS]

Hopewell Rocks for sure!

 

[newsgrunt]

Unless you want to get started crack of dawn to beat the busses, maybe skip Peggys Cove. I'd suggest camping on Cape Breton Island for part of your trip if you can swing it. Preferred the east side (Ingonish and lots of lobsters) to the west (Cheticamp) but some spectacular drives and viewpoints on the west though. We stayed at one very nice campground which had a trail that led to a large beach. Very quiet as well. Flip a coin. Whale watching tours can be fun.

and go to the Five Fisherman for at least one dinner if you can.

btw- flying or driving and Frank's suggestion of Hopewell Rocks is good but more of a long day trip if it were me.

 

[BillBingham2]

Watch for deer as you drive around. A medium-sized group followed two leaders about one second after they crossed the road. Scared the poop out of my wife as crossed in front of her in the car following mine.

Didn't spend time in the big city, as beautiful and diverse a place as I've ever been too. I liked Peggy's Cove but it was off season. Not sure what it's like in high season. Lakes that look like man has never touch them abound.

B2 (;->

 

[FrankS]

Halifax is a cool city.

Restaurants/pubs, museums, fine art university, waterfront

Historical Fortress of Louisberg is worth a visit.

 

[back alley]

hire an interpreter!
😉

 

[Tin]

If you plan to go round Cape Breton Island, I'd suggest that you do the west side first. The reason is that I find the west side more photogenic---rocky and rugged shorelines, fishing villages. However, your kids will enjoy the east shore more with lots of sandy and pebble beaches. I kids certainly did. They also picked up a lots o shells and pebbles of various colours.

There is an Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck that is worth half a day of visit.

Also check out the pastry shops. Some can be found along the highway on the island.

 

[Joe Vitessa]

We went to Nova Scotia last summer with our 6- and 8-year-old daughters. I have to say, the fantastic scenery did not impress them. That said, we had a great time. I just asked them and the highlights of the trip for them were:
1. Whale watching off Cape Breton.
2. The Halifax Buskers Festival (you'll miss it)
3. Upper Clements Amusement Park near Annapolis Royal
4. Swimming in the changing tides in the Bay of Fundy (we actually did most of that in New Brunswick, but you can do it on the north shore of N.S.)
5. Several nice beaches outside of Lunenburg.
6. Prince Edward Island -- definitely worth a trip if you have the time. Lots of activities for kids as well as adults.

Photographically, there's a charming fishing village outside of Lunenburg called Blue Rocks. I took a lot of photos there. Cape Breton is also great if you get off the beaten path. I took my Mamiya 6, which I dropped on some rocks on Prince Edward Island. Sigh...

 

[FrankS]

After taking the train from Toronto to Moncton, we rented a car and pretty much drove around the perimeter of Nova Scotia/Cape Breton Is.

Towards the end of this trip, we stopped at another site, and a teenage voice came from the back seat: "I'm not getting out of the car to look at another lighthouse!"

 

[Laviolette]

Thanks everyone! I can't wait to be there. Great advice from all of you.

I have one more question : is it very windy? I suppose there's always a bit of wind on the seaside, but I want to know if it is bad enough so that I will have trouble taking pictures with my 4x5.

Hopewell Rocks for sure!

I saw them when I was 13 on a trip with my family. Beautiful. We may stop there on our way back.

hire an interpreter!

haha! Do they have that much of an accent?

 

[Michael I.]

be sure to wear some flowers in your hair !

 

[back alley]

Thanks everyone! I can't wait to be there. Great advice from all of you.

I have one more question : is it very windy? I suppose there's always a bit of wind on the seaside, but I want to know if it is bad enough so that I will have trouble taking pictures with my 4x5.



I saw them when I was 13 on a trip with my family. Beautiful. We may stop there on our way back.



haha! Do they have that much of an accent?

strong accent plus they talk fast too!

 

[ChrisPlatt]

After taking the train from Toronto to Moncton, we rented a car and pretty much drove around the perimeter of Nova Scotia/Cape Breton Is.

Towards the end of this trip, we stopped at another site, and a teenage voice came from the back seat: "I'm not getting out of the car to look at another lighthouse!"

Cape Breton Island is breathtaking.

I'd love to go back. I'd spend a month photographing.
Only this time I'd go alone, with no impatient "complainers"...

Chris