Why not simply do two provinces (NB and PEI) and save NS for another time.

New Brunswick has some great spots, especially around the Fundy National Park. You can rent cottages at the park. There is a lovely outdoor pool, activities for the kids, bonfire each night, etc. Close by is Hopewell Rocks which is worthy of a day to explore. In Moncton there is a water park and a few other amusements to keep boys that age busy.

PEI - suggest you look around the Cavendish area. Lots to keep kids that age busy plus great beaches.

i personally think nova scotia is too large to do in a week. i spent 2 1/2 weeks there and could have used 5 more days. it's a fabulous place.
kids love pei. there are a lot of really nice beaches.
if you do new brunswich i would not spend any time in saint john. it was a very dull city in my opinion. hopewell rocks are great. i recommend going one day at high tide. then return the next day at low tide to appreciate the difference and walk on the sea floor. at high tide, you'd only need an hour to look around. at low tide, give yourself a few hours. your admittance fee is good for 24 hours. i would also recommend you spend some time around the shediac area and visit the national park there - kouchib... it has some beautiful walkways and great beach. fundy national park is also very beautiful.

We spent two lovely weeks in NS in a cottage on St. Margaret's Bay (rented from Cottage Connections -- very nice people). If I had it to do over again, I'd rent nearer to Mahone or Lunenburg, though. You can do some nice day trips from there, including Halifax and Peggy's Cove.

Yes, I agree that the Lunenburg Mahone Bay are as a base has a lot to offer for a family with kids, beaches. Curiously, I also know of Cottage Connections and they have just added new properties in that area. With kids you might want to look for a cottage where there are bikes and kayaks on offer, You may pay a bit more upfront but you don't have the hassle of seperate rentals. Good luck!

We had bikes and kayaks left for us but our cottage was too far from a town to suit me.

I'll have to check out CC and see what's new!

The beaches in PEI and the beaches in New Brunswick along Northumberland Strait have water much, much warmee than anywhere else int he Maritimes.

Parlee Beach, near Shediac and Cavandish, on PEI, have tides where the ocean recedes, leaving pools of water a few inches to about a foot deep that kids love to play in.

BAK

If you haven't finalized your plans yet, I encourage you to visit Campobello Island, just over the bridge from Lubec, Maine. (Note that this Canadian island is connected to the US mainland by a bridge!) Easy border crossing...lots to see and do, including the Roosevelt cottage in the Roosevelt-Campobello International Park and two lighthouses. In the summers, a seasonal ferry connects Campobello to Deer Island and another from Deer Island to the Canadian mainland. www.campobello.com