Thanks again for your detailed report, and the comments about the golf courses, most informative.

Thanks Reeder for your nicely written trip report, and your recommendations on places to stay and eat. They will come in very handy when we plan our next trip.

A couple of comments. You mentioned a "ton" of people on the Skyline Hike. Wow! My husband and I last did that hike in the mid 90's, and I remember passing only a few other people along the way! But, mid-summer is the busiest vacation time in Canada (so we usually aim for late spring/early summer or late August when things are winding down a bit). Yet, I am imagining that the trend of increased tourism that we noted last on Cape Breton a few years ago is continuing.

About Whale Watching - Zodiacs seem to be popular for getting people out to the sites quickly. I myself prefer bigger boats. And I think whale-watching in the Bay of Fundy may offer opportunities for some spectacular encounters. There are several operators from both Briar Island and Grand Manan Island (off the New Brunswick coast) that target the same general area in the Bay. We went on a tour out of Grand Manan in 2003 which was spectacular - a pair of Humpbacks swam right over to our boat, peered at us from alongside, swam under the boat, peered again at the other side, then dove giving fantastic views and photos! The boat appeared to be a converted fishing boat, bench seats, had washroom onboard and served warm drinks. They also included Pelagic Sea Birds as part of the tour (and earlier in the season have a separte tour to a Puffin and other sea birds colony).

Talking about the birds being quite - I'm a birdwatcher also and find that bird song generally starts to fade off in mid summer, even in the mornings when they are otherwise most vocal. Breeding season is winding down, young are mostly fledged and many are starting to get ready for migration. But - if you plan another visit - mid to late August can be interesting along some of the quieter NS and NB beaches and wetlands for the shorebird migration.

Mat106. Well the modified fishing boat is truly what I expected and had experienced in Massachusetts. The Zodiac sure got us out there fast in a frightening speed but to no avail--we saw nothing. I considered it an unpleasant $90. speed boat ride. Not even birds milling about which is sometimes a sign they (the whales) might be in the vicinity. I do wish we had given the whale watching a try while in Digby--but no time now for shoulda coulda. h

Update: John and I are back from a couple of great weeks on Cape Cod and one thrilling "whalefilled" whale watching trip out of Provincetown. Five humpback whales --three mothers and two babies and they did all their "tricks" for us over and over again. If you have never seen a humpback breach it is so awesome! Massachusetts has several whale watching trips which all go to the same place--a sanctuary for whales and other species. They leave from towns such as Gloucester, Plymouth, Hyannis(Barnstable and Provincetown. So in the end we did get to see our whales after all. H