Do a Lighthouse Tour of the Maritimes
Lighthouses offer a glimpse in the past. They were a beacon of hope for seaward travelers, and early settlers and traders, many seeing the Maritimes for the first time. There are hundreds of lighthouses dotting the coastlines, providing night lights to ships and great attractions for visitors. Definitely bring your camera, as lighthouses are often located on beautiful coast line well worth the photo. Pack an evening picnic and snap a shot of a lighthouse during a spectacular sunset, or work a lighthouse visit into a walk or hike. There are lots of them so it’s completely up to you how you find each one.
In New Brunswick you’ll definitely want to see the lighthouse at Cape Enrage near Fundy National Park. It’s the oldest lighthouse in New Brunswick, dating back to 1847, and was noted in Frommer’s travel guide as one of the best views in Canada. For information on lighthouses in New Brunswick visit their website. Prince Edward Island has over 50 lighthouses just to itself. Ones of note include the West Point Lighthouse, Wood Islands Lighthouse, Souris Historic Lighthouse and Cape Bear Lighthouse. By visiting the government of PEI website you can create your own lighthouse map and see a list and description of the many lighthouses, some dating back to the 1800’s, located around the island.
Nova Scotia contains some great historic lighthouses such as the Peggy’s Cove and the Bass River, which was in use from 1908 to the 1980’s. Be sure to visit Sambro Island lighthouse, at the entrance to the Halifax Harbour. Sambro is a National Historic Site, being the oldest surviving lighthouse in North America. Visit the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society website for a complete list of lighthouses in that province. And on to Newfoundland and Labrador. The lighthouses here are nearly uncountable there are so many! You could focus a visit here just on lighthouses. Some that you should definitely visit include the famous Cape Race Lighthouse, where the first wireless station was built in Newfoundland and where the New York City Associated Press used to keep a newsboat to relay information from incoming ocean liners back to New York. Also check out the Fort Amherst lighthouse, built in 1813, near the entrance to St. John’s Harbour and the Rose Blanche lighthouse, constructed in 1871, at Isles aux Morts.
Wherever you start from, you’ll enjoy the lovely scenery and history that accompanies these Maritime lighthouses. Many have been resurrected and turned into accommodations, restaurants, museums and attractions while many remain on duty to this day. You can wind your way around the provinces, making stops at the nearest ones or pick them ahead of time and include in your destinations. Travel by car, motorcycle or even by pedal bike and stop along the way at a number of the campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, inns, great cottages and hotels you’ll find here. And don’t forget your camera!
trekking!
