HI,

I was wondering if there are any travellers are out there that have been both to Nova Scotia and either Martha's Vineyards/Cape Cod and would stongly recommend one over the other.
There are four of us and the plan so far is to rent a cottage of some sort for a week, so we want to be able to stay in one spot but still have enough to do for the week and lots of day trips and sites to see. Driving around and staying at hotels/b&b's is too costly as we will need two rooms all the time.
We will be driving from Toronto, and the reason we are considering MV and Cape Cod is because the drive is alot shorter.

Thanks for any advice!!

Yes, I have been to both and love both. I spent every summer of my childhood on the Cape and MV, have made one long trip to NS. Very different places. Cape Cod would be a beach trip - lots of sights all the way to Provincetown, antique shopping on 6A, great seafood. You could easily base in Dennis, Chatham, or Brewster. NS you would drive more I think, if you include places like Lunenberg and the fort at Louisbourg, and then the Cabot trail. You would have a harder time choosing a base I think, although a recent poster made a great recommendation for cottages around Cheticamp. As you've describe your desires, I think I'd pick the Cape.

Hi miumiu

I've been to both Nova Scotia twice and Cape Cod (Wentworth Valley, Halifax & South Shore NS and Provincetown only, though, so there's a world of both the Cape and NS I don't know) once, but from what I've seen these two are very different animals.

Cape Cod first of all is much smaller. The Cape is in reasonable driving (and ferrying) proximity of the large population centres New York City and Boston for a weekend trip and crowds (and prices) reflect this. The Cape as a result feels way more "urban" (where the urbanites get away) than Nova Scotia.

The water temps, while not warm, are warmer on the Cape Cod seashore than the Nova Scotia oceanfront. Air temp in summer at Cape Cod is also likely to be considerably hotter, more "beach" culture as a result (e.g. was high teens low 20s when I visited Nova Scotia this June, 32 for my day at the Cape).

Nova Scotia feels much more remote, with only one city over 100,000 people (Halifax, 1/10 size of Boston) close enough to send day/weekend-drivers into the rest of the province. Seafood is considerably less expensive. The terrain of Nova Scotia from what I know is more varied and dramatic (it is tremendously bigger, let's not forget). There's a Celtic and Acadian influence that is more prominent in parts of NS. Nova Scotians are especially friendly and there's a sense of pride in being Nova Scotian.

Both Cape Cod and NS have charm, great seafood, lovely oceanfronts, unique accents.

Never been to Martha's Vineyard.

I'm sure you won't go wrong whichever you decide. DAN

I've been to Nova Scotia a number of times and Cape Cod only once, many years ago. My impression (based on distant memory, mind you) is that Cape Cod is much busier, more beach-resort-like. Nova Scotia, apart from Halifax (which is a vibrant small city with nice harborfront tourist district), feels more off-the-beaten track - not "way" off, but in relative terms. But - it's a fairly big province, if you're renting a cottage, you have to decide where. For a week's worth of daytrips, I might recommend somewhere on the Lighthouse Route not too far from Halifax - lots to see within a couple of hours drive. Cape Breton is also very nice and could keep you busy for a week if you like scenic drives and day hikes plus a few small towns and historic sites.

Good grief, I've been to both (but never Martha's Vineyard), and I can't emphasize enough how much more you'd get out of Nova Scotia than Cape Cod (given the "week" part).

Firstly, isn't it more likely that you might get back to the Boston/Cape Cod area again than it is that you'll be randomly near to NS again?

NS, if you have the freedom of many various "Day trips"... has all kinds of possibilities.

And a two-day trip up north, to Cape Breton (from Halifax) would be a good move too.

Like Nova Scotia, Cape Cod has some appeal for not being on the way to anywhere, but NS is bigger, and has far more natural wonders. Cape Cod may have more U.S. history tied to it, but NS is a better vacation destination.

Hi miumiu,
As all the other messages have indicated these are two completely different animals. The point about which of these two will you likely be able to travel to again with ease is a valid point. If you have the chance to go to NS, I would recommend you do so. I had friends who went to NS with the idea of getting a base and exploring from there. They stayed on the Sunrise Trail in a place called Malagash. They rented a cottage on the ocean and day tripped to Halifax, PEI (I think that was two days) etc. They had a great time and stayed in a great place. If you are interested I can ask them where is was exactly.
Hope this helps, Dancove.

both are fabulous.
cape cod - i'd rent a cottage and do one long day trip out to martha's vineyard or if you could arrange it, stay one or two nights.
nova scotia - love it but you'd only be able to see a small portion in one week. i'd rent a cottage in baddeck and do day trips from there around cape breton. then i'd plan on at least 2 nights in halifax.