🇨🇦 Toronto - Halifax | 8 Days & 7 Nights in the Maritimes

This trip was with very close friends, entirely to escape the fast pace of Toronto 🏙️. The itinerary was relaxed and focused on enjoying the scenery and clearing our minds. If you're a "special forces" traveler, you could compress our two-day activities into one! Day 1: Toronto ✈️ Halifax We took a 7:50 AM flight from Toronto to Halifax. After picking up our rental car 🚗, we headed straight to Peggy's Cove. It's one of Canada's iconic landmarks 🎑, often featured on postcards. Though I'd seen countless photos online, standing in front of the red-and-white lighthouse was still breathtaking—perched on giant granite rocks, it's incredibly photogenic 📸. Every shot looks like a masterpiece! 🍚 For dinner, we went to The Bicycle Thief, an Italian restaurant in downtown Halifax highly rated on Yelp and Xiaohongshu. Their lobster pasta is a must-try 🍝! Though the portions are small and it's a bit pricey, it's worth it. Recommend making a reservation in advance! Day 2: Halifax 🚗 Cheticamp Today was mostly about driving. We wanted to be close to Cheticamp for whale watching on Day 3 🐳. The drive from Halifax to Cheticamp took about 4 hours. We made stops at Egypt Falls and Gypsum Mine. If you need to stretch your legs or take a short walk 🚶🏻‍♀️, these spots are okay, but they're not worth a special trip—the scenery is pretty ordinary. 🏠 We stayed at a seaside cottage—affordable, cozy, and perfect for chatting with friends, watching movies, and relaxing! 🍚 The only Yelp-rated restaurant nearby, Harbour Restaurant & Bar, was mediocre. The wait for food was long, and it wasn’t great value for money. Day 3: Cheticamp 🐋 Ingonish We started early for whale watching and saw Minke Whales. Though we didn’t witness dramatic whale performances, it was still awe-inspiring! 🐋 Whale Watching Tips: Arrive early to board first. Try to sit on the captain’s side near the edge—he’s the one tracking the whales! 🍚 For lunch, we ate at Rusty Anchor Restaurant. Highly recommend the lobster poutine and seafood wrap. The poutine portion was huge and delicious, with plenty of lobster—finally a satisfying meal! After lunch, we hiked the popular Skyline Trail, a loop route. If you don’t want to walk too long, just take the left path to the viewing platform and return the same way 🔙. We thought the other side might offer different views, but the platform section is the most stunning. 🌊 Pro Tip: Walk down to the wooden boardwalk and look out at the distant sea—you’ll spot countless whale shadows swimming and the water trails they leave when surfacing for air! 🏠 We stayed at Skyline Cabins—a lovely, quiet little cabin perfect for a peaceful night. #MaritimesRoadTrip #HalifaxTravel