Atlantic Coast
Take a road trip past whales, icebergs and puffins to find storybook villages by the sea.
The province of Newfoundland and Labrador sits on the edge of what’s known as Iceberg Alley. Every spring, when ice melts and splits from the glaciers of western Greenland, mammoth icebergs float down the coast. At about the same time, puffin colonies come to breed and the world’s largest population of humpback whales migrate here to feed. As you drive along the coastline, pause in the capital, St. John’s, for a boat tour to the best viewing locations with O’Brien’s (obriensboattours.com).
Fresh seafood and produce abound in all Atlantic provinces but it’s Prince Edward Island that claims the title of Canada’s Food Island, thanks in part to its impassioned community of chefs, farmers and fishermen. Stay and eat at The Inn at Bay Fortune (innatbayfortune.com) to experience farm hospitality with five stars. Pull over to collect just-caught shellfish, root vegetables and handmade breads as you continue your journey through the island’s rolling green hills and red sand beaches.
There’s no shortage of natural wonders and quaint fishing villages to find along the Atlantic Coast. At Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick, when the world’s highest tide peels back for hours at a time, walk among rock colossals usually hidden beneath the water.
On The Lighthouse Trail drive that hugs southern Nova Scotia, stop in Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where fossicking in shops and galleries between bright heritage houses and proper old pubs is its own reward. The scenic Cabot Trail takes a 298-kilometre loop around Cape Breton Island, passing mountains and beaches. Don’t rush – every moment will tempt you to stay a little longer.