If Nova Scotia was a team sport, Peggy’s Cove would be the kid who always gets picked first. You know, the athletic one that effortlessly pulls off a confident swagger.
If Nova Scotia were a postcard, Peggy’s Cove would be the picture. Actually, that’s already true. Pick up any provincial promotional magazine, browse a local tourism website – or go buy a postcard – and chances are good you’ll come face-to-face with Peggy’s Cove. It’s our Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, Eiffel Tower, and Empire State Building.
Nova Scotia’s uncontested darling of attractions, Peggy’s Cove has popular charm in spades.
As a family, we’re big on adventure. We pride ourselves on finding hidden gems; places off the beaten path – spots that require us to follow grassy trails through the woods to reach derelict lighthouses. While touristy destinations are all well and good, we like to champion the unsung heroes of our province.
But Peggy’s Cove is a worthy exception.
Of all the locations we’ve adventured as a family, Peggy’s Cove is hands-down the kids’ favourite place on planet Earth. Local friends admitted that several of their (fully grown) children had never been to Peggy’s Cove. Um, what now? We went three times in 2020 alone, including Christmas Day. To say we’re obsessed might be underselling things a bit.
The hardest part of writing this post was deciding what pictures to include – we literally have hundreds from this gorgeous spot. Fair warning: this post will be heavy on images, light on text. I can’t help myself; as is, it pains my heart not to include All. The. Photos.
Also, how were my children ever that tiny?!
We visit with friends, we visit with family, and sometimes we hop in the car on a random Friday evening to chase a sunset. We’ve been there in shorts and a T-shirt (many times) and we’ve explored in winter coats (several times). Sun, rain, and fog – we’ve seen it all.
Built in 1915, the current lighthouse is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada. I think I understand why. Isn’t she a beauty? But the winning feature for our family is those long, sloping rocks – nature’s jungle gym and the climbing wall of childhood dreams.
Each time we visit I have to temporarily suspend anxiety. There are rules – most importantly No going on (or near) the black rocks. Notoriously slippery – and indicative that pounding surf reaches that area – people are washed out to sea here every year. I watch and follow the kids like they’re on invisible leashes, but I can tell they feel free. From the time they were toddlers our motto has always been “Pick a path.” Here, more than anywhere, the kids have learned to be intentional about their choices. Taking risks, assessing safety, pushing their bodies, and factoring all that information into planning the best way forward.
The fishing village adjacent to the lighthouse isn’t exactly hard on the eyes, either.
Okay. I’ll stop.
Just one more…
And one more after that…
Cheers, Peggy’s Cove…until we meet again. I have a feeling it won’t be long.
Your turn. Do you have a favourite “tourist” destination? If I came to visit you tomorrow, where would you feel like you HAD to take me to experience an authentic local vista? Have you ever been to Nova Scotia and/or Peggy’s Cove?
Shelly
Beautiful pictures! I have not been to NS but it is on my list of must visit places. In our city I would take someone to The Forks. It’s a developed area but with some shops by the two rivers that meet but also has paths and areas for kids to explore. There is a kids museum for younger kids that is great on colder days.
Outside of our city, we have many lakes and renting a cabin or yurt (or camping for the heartier souls) is a great way to explore the nature of our province.
Elisabeth
The Forks sounds like it has something for everyone! We don’t have any great kids museums locally, so what a treasure that is!
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie
What a beautiful place! Do they ever open the lighthouse for tours?
If you came here I would take you to the Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie. Picking a favorite Lake Erie lighthouse is kind of like picking a favorite child, but I had to pick just one, this would be it. It’s my favorite way to spend $3.
Elisabeth
Hmmm. Great question. I’ve never seen the lighthouse open to the public but…maybe?
Marblehead Lighthouse looks GORGEOUS! I just Googled it – it actually reminds me a bit of Peggy’s Cove in terms of the topography around it. DEFINITELY worthy of $3.
Lisa's Yarns
So gorgeous! How far is this from where you live? I love that you have so many pictures of your family visiting this beautiful location! Love the flashback photos of your kiddos!
It’s tricky to pick something in Minneapolis. I feel like we don’t really have a big “must see spot” – it’s more about the general vibe of the area with all of our lakes. We could take a walk around a number of lakes, one of which is about 1/2 mile from our house. There is a great bandshell area with a seasonal spot to order ice cream, popcorn, coffee etc. So I think I’d take you for a walk and stop by that spot for an ice cream or coffee. There are concerts there throughout the summer months, too, so those can be fun to hang out at. Since you love picture books, I would for sure take you to a bookstore called “Wild Rumpus.” It’s the most amazing kids bookstore I’ve ever been in. It’s based on a book called “The Salamander Room” which is about a little boy who brings a salamander home and as he talks about what his salamander needs to survive, his room changes and shifts to being like the outdoors. Similarly, as you walk into Wild Rumpus, it appears that the ceiling is breaking open to reveal the sky and there are lots of other visual elements. They also have lots of pets like chinchillas, chickens, cats, birds, a lizard, etc. This was my go to place to take my nephews when they were younger. There is a local ice cream spot down the block, so it makes for perfect outing!
Elisabeth
This is about 1.5 hours (slightly less) from our house. So a very doable day-trip drive.
The lakes sound great and I love the idea of strolling (and ice cream). Of course a bookstore would be right up my alley…and Wild Rumpus sounds AMAZING.
Bee
Gorgeous!
Jenny
Wow, I can see why you had to include all the photos! And I loved seeing your kids through the years. You obviously love this spot if it was a Christmas Day destination.
Well… in the past we always took visitors to the beach. But as my kids get older they enjoy the beach less and less (too hot, too sandy, etc. Sigh.) I definitely need some new “tourist” destinations! Maybe that will be my goal this year.
Elisabeth
Beaches are hit and miss for me – I love them, but really hate sand and the mess that comes with it. We only went to one sandy beach this summer and I feel a bit guilty about that, but also am so happy I didn’t have weeks of sand in the bottom of my washing machine.
J
What beautiful pictures! How long of a drive is this for you? I feel like Northern California has so many beautiful places I could take you, but they are all a commitment to get to. Traffic, traffic, traffic.
I love that this is such a favorite place, and yet it is so low key. It’s just nature, with a beautiful lighthouse thrown in, and then that charming fishing village…I assume you can get lunch or ice cream there? It seems perfect to me.
Elisabeth
It’s about 90 minutes from our house. No traffic, but lots of twisting and turning roads!
There is food and ice cream, but we’ve never bought either since we tend to bring a picnic (and food and treats in those sorts of touristy spots are both busy and expensive!). But it’s a great one-stop-shopping sort of place since there are little stores, a restaurant, lots of merch for souveniers, but then you can also skip all of that and just play on the rocks!
Michelle
Wow, what a beautiful place! I love all the pictures and can see the joy in your kids’ faces. I live near Yellowstone Park, but I hardly ever visit it anymore because it’s always so busy. One of my favorite places to travel is Victoria B.C. I love the Butchart Gardens, and I’ve been there many times. Our last visit was pre-pandemic, and it was crazy busy.
Elisabeth
Yellowstone looks gorgeous but I can see it being a very busy place to visit which can dramatically impact how pleasant it is (especially if you live locally; somehow, I mind lines and crowds a lot more when I’m close to home vs. if I’m in a destination where it seems like part of the experience).
I’ve never been west of Ontario in Canada (I KNOW – this needs to change); BC looks stunning.
Kyria @ Travel Spot
What a beautiful place and I love all of the photos of your family! Your relatives have some curly, curly hair! Is your hair that curly too and I just did not notice? I always wanted curly hair (mine is thin and stick straight). I have never been to Nova Scotia; it has been on my list for a long time but I have not prioritized it…I could make excuses but it is kind of far! Never fear, starting next year I hope to do some longer jaunts and I would love to get over there — what time of year does it become not so fun any more? I do not mind snow and I don’t even mind frigid cold, although I do like outdoor activities, so I don’t really want to be inside all.the.time… Thoughts?
I actually have a post in the works about where I would take you if you came here, but some that I won’t put in this post but are still at the top of my list are the High Sierras — Yosemite is of course beautiful but is very crowded and if you like hiking and lakes and trees and rocks, there are many other just as beautiful, much less crowded places. Also, of course we have the ocean and the story is the same, but Stinson beach is nice; Ocean beach is beautiful but not great for swimming, and driving up or down the coast are both very beautiful!
Elisabeth
My hair is wavy (everyone in our family has at least wavy hair), but one of my sister’s had VERY tight curls as a child and two of her four kiddos inherited that hair!
If my hair is down, I’ve generally straightened it, but naturally it has a lot of wave (not outright curl, sadly).
January to April is a time frame I would avoid. August – October is the nicest period in my mind; warm days, cooler mornings and evenings. Beautiful colours if you come in October.
You live in a beautiful part of the world and I love that you stay so busy exploring it!
Nicole MacPherson
Gorgeous! It’s easy to take our own back yard for granted, I think. I knew Calgary people who never went to Banff, for example. I love all these photos!
Elisabeth
I do think it’s harder to appreciate nice things that are local. Thankfully, Peggy’s Cove is just far enough away it never feels “stale” to us. And it’s drop-dead gorgeous!
San
Elisabeth! Peggy’s Cove is stunning. The lighthouse is so cute and pretty, but what I really love is the surrounding landscape of rocks. So, so cool. And I can see why it was so hard to not include a gazillion pictures. They’re all beautiful and capture the place in unique ways. I’d love to visit Peggy’s Cove some day!
If you came here, I’d probably take you to the State Capitol and the Tower Bridge (a golden-painted, old draw string bridge) for which Sacramento is known. It’s not half as cool as lighthouses, but definitely worth a visit.
Elisabeth
I also love bridges; so cool!
I hope I get to California and that you get to Nova Scotia! Very different topography and climates, but both beautiful places to live.