We are going to NS for the first time and will be spending a week there. We like to hike and hang out on the beach. Would appreciate suggestions on touring NS or should we just stay in one area. Many thanks!

When in NS make sure you go to Cape Breton - great people, food, music, and wonderful pristine beaches!!<BR>

Thank you! We will be spending 3 nights in Ingonish. Any suggestions on where to get trail books? I have checked out the government websites but the maps are not very discernable.

Try the Pugwash area for the rest of the stay, I found a cottage (where you can walk to the beach) that rents for $300. a week and the owner will accomodate even for one-night stays! You can use it as a base camp for all the rest of NS and PEI as well as parts of Cape Breton and save a bundle with the option of cooking for yourselves or eating out, Pugwash has a sophistocated restaurant as well as down-home ones. Excellent hiking, we saw more Eagles Great Blue Herons in one week than I had ever seen in my entire life!

When you get to Ingonish, you are in the Highlands National Park. Just stop at the visitor centre there and you can get all the trail maps and info you will need. There are some breathtaking hikes there that you can do.

I would highly recommend the Cabot Trail. We used Baddeck as our central point. Did Louisbourg in day one and then the trail the second day. Third day did Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck and headed to the mainland. Ingonish Beach is awesome! However, you will find warmer waters in the Pictou County area. The Merb (Melmerby) has all of the amenities.

Saira, where was the $300. week cottage in Pugwash, do you have an email address?<BR>

The very reasonable and clean cottage can be had froma Mrs. Webb, her phone number is (902) 243-2903 and (902) 664-3484. She is so nice that I hope lots of people stay with her, people in NS are so kind.