I recently did a three part series that documented my European travel experiences from 2017 (you can read about them here, here, and here!), and the following summer I embarked on another unforgettable journey that I wanted to share. This time I traversed the Eastern provinces of my very own country, and despite never crossing any borders, it felt like a whole new world. My dad and I visited New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island (unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to hop over to Newfoundland). This trip helped me discover a different side of the nation I call home, from lobster rolls to rocky coast lines. The summer 2018 trip was my last major vacation before COVID-19 took over, so it holds a special place in my heart.
Kicking things off in New Brunswick, we settled ourselves in the quaint town of Alma, specifically visiting Fundy National Park. The Bay of Fundy is famous for its massive tides, measuring at around 15 meters and cycling in about every six hours. We visited Hopewell Rocks at the peak of the tides, standing at the observation deck to peer out at the vast waterfront. The next morning we returned to the tides at their lowest and had the opportunity to literally walk on the ocean floor. The strong smell of saltwater and textured rocky clay we stepped over was impressive, yet somehow the most intriguing part of our adventure here was in the form of a chance encounter with a strange man. While observing a giant boulder covered in seaweed, a man in a khaki vest and safari hat appeared next to us. He began to tell us all kinds of facts about the seaweed, including the fact that it was edible, as he proceeds to prove to us by popping one in his mouth. I, of course, had to try it for myself, and was pleasantly surprised at the tangy taste. All of his ramblings of facts and trivia quickly turned into stories and legends about this seaweed, which included a myth that if you place a piece of seaweed on both of your fingers and hold your hand next to your ears, you can hear the whispers of ancient sea spirits. Upon doing this, I’m not sure if I heard sea spirits or if it was just the whistling of the wind. Just as quickly as he appeared, the man seemed to vanish in a moment. To this day, we aren’t sure if this man was a park ranger, tour guide, or just a random guy wandering around with a keen interest in seaweed.
After our trek across the ocean floor, we headed to P.E.I., a beautifully quaint island littered with lighthouses and glorious rocky shorelines. Due to the province being so small, we were able to drive across the entire island in an afternoon, and there’s nothing like driving with the windows down to take in the fresh island air while passing potato farm after potato farm.
Our next and final stop was Nova Scotia, where we probably spent the most time. Firstly, we visited the infamous Peggy’s Cove, and I have to say that we were unfortunately quite disappointed as the small fisherman town was so overrun by tourists that it was hard to enjoy. We had to park miles away and walk past what seemed like hundreds of cars lining the road into town, and once we arrived the crowds were overwhelming. The scenic sights were so littered by tourists that I didn’t even bother getting any pictures. Though I did take plenty of pictures at our next destination in Cape Brenton, the picturesque island that has a scenic roadway trail that encircles the entire island. The views were unforgettable, and we ended our time on Cape Brenton by going on a whale watching boat trip — where we surprisingly saw a lot of whales! After a quick stop in Halifax (where you know I had to stop by the Central Library) we concluded our travels in the small town of Luxemburg, which was everything Peggy’s Cove had promised to be. The charming town was lined with brightly coloured buildings and a unique nautical themed museum made for a lovely visit. This town was also where I bought a copy of my all time favourite book at the recommendation of a local bookstore owner.
Thus, my trip to Eastern Canada comes to a close. I came home with a tan on my skin, some seaweed in my belly, and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. With domestic traveling becoming more popular during the pandemic, if you have the chance to explore the Eastern provinces of our own broadly diverse country, I highly recommend venturing out to the Canadian Atlantic coast.