turtleveg

hello,
I am traveling with my husband to NS for the first time (from the U.S.) - we will have one week in NS and plan to come in late July, but that is flexible at this point. I would like to see both Cape Breton and the southwest coast area if possible.
Although we want to stay relatively active with outdoor activities we are considering this a relaxing/romantic getaway so don't want to cram in too much. We also like to stay in "quiet" areas away from crowds.
Can anyone help with suggestions of places we should stay that offer the best scenery (I love rocky coasts!) and outdoor activities (hiking, possibly kayaking) and relative quiet?
We are both vegetarian (no seafood) so we don't care about that part of things. We thought of renting a cottage with a scenic view so we could have a kitchen to cook our own veg food. If you have any locations of cottages to suggest....
thanks!

turtleveg

oh, and I've heard horror stories about mosquitoes, can any one give me first hand accounts of what to expect in July?

artsbabe

Well, you could do a couple of nights in Lunenburg and then a couple of nights on Cape Breton, but it is a pretty long drive. You might just spend the whole week on Cape Breton. Another option is to fly into Halifax and out of Sydney or vice versa so you don't lose as much time driving. From near the tip of Cape Breton (Neil's Harbour), it took us 6 hours to drive to Halifax and we only made a couple of brief stops.

We were there for the first two weeks last August, so I don't know about mosquitoes in July, BUT I'm a bug magnet and I didn't have any problem.

mat54

Hi - I think you could enjoy one week split between those 2 locations if you don't mind most of a day driving in between them. Several Cape Breton accommodations offer kitchens. One I have investigated (but not stayed in) is Lantern Hill & Hollow http://www.lanternhillandhollow.com/home.htm
I do know the area though and the location, although on a beach, is essentially right in the National Park, on the spectacular Cabot Trail (superb scenic drive), with views to the nearby Rocky coastlines and great accessibility to day trip much of Cape Breton. A good variety of excellent hiking trails in the National Park http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ns/cbr...iv/activ1.aspx
There are some Chalet resorts in Cheticamp too which is a larger more bustling village (but far from big) and is closer to most of the big high headlands of the Cabot Trail. You might want to google some of the communities at the north end for the most seclusion - e.g. Cape North, Dingwall, etc. I have never found Cape Breton to be "crowded" although I've never visited during your late July target which is the busiest summer vacation period. Still - you won't find anywhere near the crowds that, say, the U.S. National Parks tend to attract at that time of year.
The Lighthouse Route of Nova Scotia southwest of Halifax has a number of options. Not as much rocky coastline(outside of little Peggy's Cove which is a great scenic stop) - but lots of small scenic fishing villages and - especially as you get farther from Halifax - some quite off-the-beaten track undeveloped beaches - great for romantic strolls. The Seaside Adjunct of Kemikujik National Park is in this area and offers relative quiet hiking and exceptionally scenic seascapes.

cabottrail

One week in NS is pretty tight to travel to the two extreme ends, e.g Cape Breton and then the South Shore and Yarmouth end.
You need to do what mat54 said, Pick a spot on Cape Breton and then one on the "mainland" , but that's hard because you have such a wide list of "wants".
Yes, look at the loop of the Cabot Trail as it is the area between Cheticamp and Dingwall, and then to Neils Harbour where the best hiking is found, but at the same time, practically every side gravel road on Cape Breton can be a hiking trail too.
Late July will be a bit busy on Cape Breton as the last 2 weeks of July is when everyone "comes home" and there are lots of "festivals" .
You might as well try to stay in places by the ocean, so look at Margaree Harbour, Belle Cote and Cheticamp and then Pleasant Bay. On the mainland , look at anything along the coast between Halifax and Liverpool, but you want to be in a place that is on a cove that is inland from the ocean as the hotter the day the greater the morning fog as you near the Atlantic.
b eh ocean at

turtleveg

thanks all! we decided to limit our trip to the Cape Breton side. We will definitely check out all your recommendations for trails, etc.