Jan

Just got back from the most fabulous two weeks in Nova Scotia and a big thanks to all who helped either first or second hand with queries we had re the province, you guys are great! We stayed in five different places during the two weeks, Halifax, Sherbrooke, Baddeck, Halls Harbour and Lunenburg and got most of our accomodations from the B&BCanada website, all were good. The sea food was amazing I think if I had eaten any more lobsters I would have turned red and grown claws! Thanks for the Halifax restaurant suggestions, we even had some fries from Bud the Spud. Our favourite meal in Halifax was at the Cellar Bar & Grill. The weather was not kind on Cape Breton which limited our hiking somewhat but we loved the cruise to Bird Island and our visit to Louisbourg. Halls Harbour is a step back in time, believe me if that was in the UK it would have been commercialised out of existance. Lunenburg was a lovely end to the holiday, I can see why it is a world heritage site. The thing we will remember most is the friendlyness of the Nova Scotian people, thanks. The rhubarb? Just glad to see it being served everywhere, stewed for breakfast, in pies and crumbles,a most underrated vegetable IMHO!

Susan

Sounds like you had a great holiday, Jan. We're going to that area in September for 2 weeks, but driving from Toronto so we'll see some of New Brunswick and miss Cape Breton. I love rhubarb! Haven't had rhubarb pie in years.

Paula

Where did you stay in Baddeck? Hope to go there in late September and am investigating B&B accomodation at the moment.

Jan

We stayed at the Broadwater Inn. The room was nice with a large outside deck, it wasn't the favourite accomodation of the holiday, ( we did have better breakfasts elsewhere), but it was perfectly adequate.

Mary

Please give us more<BR>I would like to see your itinerary. How many days in each place? <BR>What did you do from each place? Would you stay in the same B&Bs again or would you rather look for something else?<BR>What hikes did you take?<BR>And please tell me more about your trip to Bird Island. <BR>Thanks

Jan

Hi Mary, <BR>Our two weeks were split up thusBR>3 nights in Halifax at Another Era B&B<BR>1 night in Serbrooke at the Sherbroke Village Inn (more of a motel style of place)<BR>4 nights in Baddeck at The Broadwater Inn<BR>3 nights at Halls Harbour at The Tides In suites<BR>3 nights at Lunenburg at Maplebird House.<BR>In Halifax we visited The Citidel & museums took the ferry to Dartmouth saw the Multicultural festival there walked in Point Pleasant Park amongst other things. The B&B was in a lovely part of Halifax if a little far out but that did not stop us walking everywhere.<BR>Sherbrooke was an overnight stop on the way to Cape Breton but we did have the afternoon to visit the Historic Village,which was well worth it.<BR>As I said the weather on Cape Breton was not too kind to us, if we visited again we would either stay in Baddeck itself, (BW Inn is a short drive from the town), or split the time between two locations on the Cabot Trail. The Bird Island boat tour went from Big Bras D'Or junction 14 off route 205, Baddeck to Sydney road. We saw puffins, guillemots razor bills cormorants andgulls plus on the way there a bald eagle, )BIG bonus!). Captain Vic who runs the tours is very informative and made the trip very interesting. AS for hiking the hike we had wanted to to was impossible due to the low cloud and mist and the lower level one we did do was not the best so I would not recommend it! I cannot remember the name at present sorry.<BR>Halls Harbour was great, a step back in time, the Tides In suites were lovely, very spacious with a kitchenette and everything provided to make a superior continental breakfast. In this area we visited Wolfville, Grande Pre a couple of wineries and Annapolis Royal amongst other things.<BR>Maplebird House was probably our favourite B&B, Smallest room of the trip but the position, gardens, views swimming pool and the owners more than made up for that. In Lunenburg we took the lobstermen boat tour, visited the aquarium, walked the back harbour path and hiked in the seaside adjunct of Kejimkujik National Historic Site (that was brilliant) and drove some of the lighthouse route.<BR>If you need more info. do feel free to email me as I did keep a more detailed diary which is far too long to post here.

Susan

Jan, I'm staying at the Maplebird house in Lunenburg in September for a couple of nights! I'm so glad you liked it. My sister who lives in Calgary loves that part of Canada and has stayed there twice. She highly recommended it to us, so that's why we booked.

Jan

Susan, you will love Maplebird, Barrie & Susie are wonderful people and breakfast round their big dining table was very memorable. One for the super breakfasts and also the great conversations with fellow guests. Loads of good restaurants in Lunenburg we particularly liked the Lion Inn and the Hillcroft plus The Noble Grounds Coffee House does a mean espresso using Illy coffee. Also we enjoyed the Maritime Museum, lots of great exhibits as well as the aquarium.

Saira

Y'all missed the best part which,to me,is the westernish north shore. We stayed in a cottage, paid much less than if we had stayed in a fancy B&B and had the option to cook for ourselves *or* eat out. Pugwash was charming, like Cape Cod was 40 years ago, we stayed there and used it as a base for the rest of NS, PEI and Cape Breton, saved a bundle. I know that the woman who runs it is still doing so as I called her to thank her for being so accomodating. Swimming waters were much warmer on the north shore. Pugwash is an undiscovered gem, shhhhh!