A Road Trip to Peggy's Cove
About 42km (26 miles) southwest of Halifax is the fishing village of Peggy's Cove (pop. 120), which offers postcard-perfect tableaus: an octagonal lighthouse (surely one of the most photographed in the world), tiny fishing shacks, and graceful fishing boats bobbing in the postage stamp-size harbor. The bonsai-like perfection hasn't gone unnoticed by the big tour operators, however, so it's a rare summer day when you're not sharing the experience with a few hundred of your close, personal bus-tour friends. The village is home to a handful of B&Bs and a gallery, but scenic values draw the day-trippers with cameras and lots of film. While there, make sure to check out the touching Swissair Flight 111 Memorial among the rocks just before the turnoff to the cove; this site memorializes the passengers of that flight, which crashed into the Atlantic just off this coast. Want to stay awhile? One good lodging choice in the area is Peggy's Cove B&B (tel. 877/SALT-SEA or 902/823-2265; www.peggyscovebb.com), a five-bedroom B&B close to the lighthouse. Rates during low season (March, Oct, Nov) C$89-C$99(USD$87-$97) for double; Spring season (April, May) C$99-C$125 (USD$97-$123) for a double; High season (June, July, August, Sept) C$125-C$145 (USD$123-$142) for a double. Advanced booking recommended for high season. Extra person $15 per night. If it's full, try West Dover Harbourview Cottages, 7029 Prospect Road, West Dover, NS B3Z 3S9 (902-823-1301, www.harbourviewcottages.ca). Double rooms go for C$85 to C$118 (US$68-US$164) per night.
