Day 1: Arrive Halifax
Welcome meeting at 6pm. Evening: Halifax waterfront walk and seafood dinner. Overnight Halifax hotel.
Day 2: Historic Halifax & Peggy’s Cove
Morning: Halifax Citadel, Public Gardens, and the waterfront. Afternoon: Peggy’s Cove lighthouse — the classic red-and-white beacon on wave-battered granite. Walk the massive boulders, visit the deGarthe monument, and soak in one of Canada’s most iconic views. Optional: lobster roll from the Sou’Wester restaurant at Peggy’s Cove. Return to Halifax. Evening: North End dining scene — craft beers and the best donair in town (Halifax’s official food). Overnight Halifax.
Day 3: Lunenburg & Mahone Bay
Drive the Lighthouse Route to UNESCO-listed Lunenburg. Morning: walking tour of the colorful waterfront — 70% of the original colonial buildings survive. Visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic and see the Bluenose II. Lunch at a waterfront pub. Afternoon: Mahone Bay — three churches, antique shops, and Amos Pewter’s workshop. Evening return to Halifax. Overnight Halifax.
Day 4: Halifax to Prince Edward Island
Drive to PEI via the Confederation Bridge (12.9km over the Northumberland Strait). Afternoon: Charlottetown walking tour — Province House, Victoria Row, and Confederation Landing. Visit the Confederation Centre Art Gallery. Evening: PEI lobster supper — the full Maritime experience: chowder, steamed mussels, 1.5lb lobster, and strawberry shortcake. Overnight Charlottetown lodge.
Day 5: PEI — Anne & the North Shore
Morning: Green Gables Heritage Place — walk through L.M. Montgomery’s inspiration. The Haunted Wood trail and Lover’s Lane as described in the book. PEI National Park — walk the red sand beaches and the dunes of Cavendish. Afternoon: North Rustico fishing village for fish and chips, then Cow’s Creamery for ice cream. Late afternoon: drive to Cape Breton via ferry. Arrive Baddeck.
Day 6: Cabot Trail & Cape Breton Highlands
Dawn: drive the Cabot Trail to the Skyline Trail trailhead. Hike the 7km loop as the morning sun illuminates the Gulf of St. Lawrence — moose are often seen grazing in the early hours. The 400m clifftop descent on boardwalks reveals one of Canada’s most dramatic coastal views. Continue the Cabot Trail loop through Cheticamp (Acadian village), stopping at viewpoints and for lunch. Afternoon: Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck. Evening: live Celtic fiddle at a Baddeck pub. Overnight Baddeck lodge.
Day 7: Baddeck to Halifax — Departure
Morning: final Bras d’Or Lake views. Drive back to Halifax (4 hrs). Stop at the Canso Causeway and Antigonish for a coffee. Arrive Halifax Airport for departure or extend your stay.
