Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island/ Cape Breton Island

I haven't been to all those places but I've driven around NS and I don't think that's too ambitious for 12 nights. Distances aren't very long, though on some of the drives you'll want to stop often for the scenery. Of course there's enough to see in Halifax for several days if you want. Or you might want to add Louisbourg if you're interested in the history around it.

It's been a long time (probably about 30 years) but I did pretty much all of those places, including a one night stay in St Johns, NB. I also started and ended in Halifax. My trip was a total of 10 nights/11 days so I'm sure you can do it comfortably in 12, especially since you're not planning on New Brunswick. As the other poster said, the driving distances are not long between places. This was one of my favorite trips and I still have fond memories of the Maritimes.

I live in Nova Scotia. 12 nights is a good amount of time. I will say that Truro isn’t high on my list of places to visit. Let me know if you’d like some sightseeing suggestions.

We visited the Maritimes the month they reopened to Americans after Covid. We spent 2 weeks and it was a good amount of time. We didn't do Truro, but we went way down to Brier Island after arriving in Digby on the ferry from St John. Then we went to Lunenburg, Halifax, Baddeck, and then up to Cape Breton. We loved Markland Cottages in Dingwell. Then we continued around Breton and went to PEI. It was easy to stay in Charlottestown and travel out to other points ini PEI from the same hotel. If you have any time for New Brunswick, we loved the Hopewell National Park to see the Flower Pots and also the hiking at Fundy National Park and the beautiful Kingsbrae Garden in St Andrews.

Have a great trip.

We would love your site seeing and hiking suggestions.. We can drive from Lunenburg to Charlottestown, and skip Truro. Then on to Cape Breton Island.
Also, did you like the K. National Park by Lunenburg? (I’m away from my laptop and I don’t remember the name correctly. No offense intended.)`
Also, we are hoping to go in June. Does the insect deterrent clothing work to keep the black flies off? Any suggestions on that are also appreciated.
Thanks,
Ardeth

I was referring to Kejimkujik National Park in the response above.

I would suggest visiting the historic site Louisbourg Fortress if it fits into your plan. We really enjoyed it.

Ardeth,

Kejimkujic is 3.5 hours drive to the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick border depending on traffic and construction and 5 hours to Charlottetown.

If you plan to do New Brunswick and PEI as well as Cape Breton, I wouldn’t do Keji.

There are lots of great hiking trails along the Cabot Trail. Autumn is the most popular time on the trail as the colours are all out. There is also the Celtic Colours Music Festival at that time. The Skyline Trail near Cheticamp is excellent. You could also go to Beulach Ban Falls along the trail there as well. Cheticamp is on the other side of the trail from Baddeck. In Baddeck, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum is great. You could also hike to Uisge Ban Falls. If you go around the Cabot trail, Neil’s Harbour is nice and White Point is a gem of a scenic hike (a different white point then the resort near Liverpool).

In Lunenberg, just taking a walk and seeing all the colourful houses is nice and the fisheries museum is nice also.

For New Brunswick, I agreed with Mary in that the Hopewall rocks are great. You need to watch the ride times (tide must be out) if you want to walk in the ocean floor there. It’s a place you can go at different times as it will look totally different when the tide is in.

Saint Andrew’s is a bit far if trying to go to PEI and Cape Breton in the same trip.

We do have a tick problem here in NS so I would make sure you have appropriate clothing and or sprays. The black flies are only an issue in certain areas.

What are your interests?

Kim

Thank you. I think we will add Hopewell Rocks and skip Kejimkujik. Our interests are easy and relatively short trail hiking, museums, hanging out in nature, and lighthearted dining such as local music or with a view. We love a scenic drive and taking pictures. I think we will enjoy Peggy's lighthouse, Lunenburg, (maybe pass through Kejimkujik but not hike,) Hopewell Rocks, the farms, museums, beaches, Meade brewery, etc. on PEI, and then the drive and short hikes on Cape Breton Island. I may try to take a whale watching boat ride, but my husband gets seasick. We may book a boatride on the lake at Baddek. Thanks for the suggestions for trails on Cabot Tr. drive.
Is there a preferred way to prevent ticks?
Also, is there any vacancy in June in the local hotels or do we need to book every night in advance? That would give us some leeway in travel time. Mostly, we would stay at Airbnbs.
Thanks,
Ardeth

From mid June to August, there are boat tours from just outside Baddeck that guarantee puffin sightings, if you are into wildlife at all.

Baddeck will have more accommodation then any where else on the Cabot Trail. But, summer and fall are high tourist seasons. If you plan to stay any where other than Baddeck along the trail, I would consider booking that. Also, if you are looking for more affordable accommodation, I would book that as that will be the first to go. People will often spend a night in Baddeck. Other locations along the trail that are popular are Ingonish and Cheticamp. Depending on what you are doing in the trail, staying in multiple spots avoids doubling back. You are probably looking at 3 hours around the trail from Baddeck to Cheticamp without stops for example. There are a lot of scenic viewpoints, so you will want to stop for those, for example.

I tuck my pants into my socks. If I’m wearing shorts, I use a natural product called Atlantick, which you can get here. I have used feet as well. Not advocating for or against it. Just saying that I have used it.

We stayed at the Markland in Dingwall years ago and loved it. Way out on the edge of the world. Probably fills up fast in the summer months.

If you have the time while you are on PEI, I highly recommend going to the Greenwich Dunes. Take a walk along the Greenwich Dunes Trail over sand dunes and a pond. This walking trail is a beautiful walk over a gravel path and then on a boardwalk over the dunes, and then a floating boardwalk over the pond. The scenery is gorgeous! This was a highlight of PEI!