Peggy’s Cove

I haven’t been here in many many years — and it was just as wonderful as Remembered it to be.
Today it began by storming, then cold winds, more rain, cloudiness, then sun, more wind… no matter the weather, the entire day out on the rocks was beautiful. Packed a lunch and sat by some rocks shielded from the wind but still overlooking the Atlantic — perfect.
A classic Halifax attraction, and now that I’m local I’m only more excited to be near this place. I recommend it highly for a cheap and AMAZING way to spend a day.

Beautiful Lighthouse in an amazing setting. Completely overrun with tourists. It would be lovely to visit not during tourist season.

A must visit place. I expected something based on the pictures I’ve seen but this was even nicer despite the crowd. Definitely add to your bucket list.

On our way to Lunenburg we decided that we should stop and see the famous Peggy’s Cove. We really enjoyed the time we spent there.
We drove down through the small village went strait up to the check out the lighthouse. The ladies were not feeling very adventurous so Norm and I went and explored the area.
There are amazing views everywhere and we took tons of great pictures. The ocean is beautiful and the lighthouse and town just look so awesome. The only problem was with all the tourists in the area (us included) its hard to get a good shot without someone walking into it or being part of it.
I would definitely go there again, I really enjoyed it.

I am giving this place five stars no matter what because of more my tenacity of getting there. Ha! I got horrifically lost driving both ways to and from Halifax. Halifax is not an easy city to drive in so beware. Use GPS and pray for no main road closures in the main downtown area. On the way there I ran into a store to ask directions and both locals gave me a look and said, «Halifax, yes it is a driving nightmare.» Luckily every single person I ran into (well not literally) was a gem. What is it about Canadians that I just adore? I have never run into one rude person in Canada. What is there secret of being so happy, calm and helpful? Oh well, I digress.
Peggy’s Cove is a little villagey place that only takes a few minutes to look at, an hour to drive too (A beautiful drive– once you are unlost-​lol) and a fun place to explore the interesting rock formations. (be careful to not walk on the black parts or getting lost will be the least of your worries) Walk around a bit in the surrounding areas for a few minutes. The breakers and surf hitting them were cool. Check out the gift shop on your way out and maybe eat at the restaurant. I did not partake in the eats but I hear they are delish! You are pretty much ready to leave after an hour max if you do not eat there. It is kind of like the Grand Canyon here. The joke is you drive forever to get there then look and say, «Owwwwhh that is so pretty. I love it.» Then you leave. Just kidding, well maybe not. There is a slight truth to that. Ha!
I love the majestic feeling of the unforgiving Atlantic ocean here. It puts your life in perspective. The ocean has a way of humbling me. I adore the water and all things nautical. This explains why I took up residence in the desert. At Peggy’s Cove one can only imagine the winters here and of those poor souls who have met their death not far out to sea.
The Lighthouse is very nice but not sure about the reviewers that say it is the prettiest in the word. It is not by far. Saying that though does not diminish it’s wonderfulness. it really is still a gem of a place to visit. I just love lighthouses.
It does get crowded so bring your patience. I laughed at this one lady who just thought she owned the place trying to get pics. She kept yelling at people to get away from the lighthouse and out of her pics. She obvious was not a Canadian. Brawha! People are just so funny.
Tip– make sure you check out the Swiss Air memorial which is only two minutes down the road and very moving. That is also just a quick stop and you will be ready to head back into town in about fifteen minutes. Hopefully you will not get lost and then enjoy all the glories of Halifax! Might I suggest the public gardens? They are beautiful!

This is a short car ride from Halifax and totally worth the trip. It is a beautiful light house set on the rocks. The views are spectacular and it is fun climbing around the rocks. We were warned ahead of time not to go too close to the water and to stay away from darkened rocks that have obviously been hit with waves recently. Tourists have been over zealous and swept out to sea, so we didnt venture too close to the water. In spite of that, I didn’t feel like it really detracted from the beauty of Peggys Cove. There is still plenty of room too climb around safely.

Peggy’s Cove is the home of one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world. This little village is a short drive from downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. This small fishing community dates back to 1811. There are a few shops and little homes.
As we looked around, it seemed like we were in a postcard. Simply beautiful! Go and see for yourself!

One of the most gorgeous places ever! Right by the stormy ocean, the rock formation is amazing. The view is breathtaking. Cute little lighthouse. It’s a tiny little old fishing town. Looks like it jumped right off a painting!

For anyone that has even been to Halifax, this is the place to go to.
We came during the first week of April, so it was slow season and some how it took us 2 hours to get there.
It was my MIL’s dream to go to Nova Scotia and Peggy’s Cove, so what happens after such a long ride, she wanted to eat, look at the gift shop and then go home.
It was so windy that she did not even want to take a photo here. We should have just got her a postcard at the hotel.
Luckily she finally consented to one photo.
I think we would have enjoyed this place more with a guided tour instead of just driving here.

Check the boat tours down the street from the lighthouse. We took the puffin tour, saw lots of puffins and seals

It had been far too long since my last visit to Peggy’s Cove, so when my man suggested an overnight in that area, I was super excited. After being stuck in Alberta for three years, he was ready to admire his home province, and I was down for the ride.
We drove out on Sunday of a long weekend, and it was a lovely trip. Peggy’s Cove is one of those wonderful spots that really allows you to escape into your own imagination. It’s a place that causes you to forget time as you gaze out over the ocean, far in to the horizon, off into the distance. It’s amazing, it really is. We’re lucky to live beside the ocean, you know.
Playing on the rocks is incredible. Yelling out «Parkour!» when you jump on them is crazy fun. They tell you to never ever climb down to the «black rocks» (You will know them when you see them), but it is SO HARD to resist! Enjoy watching the other tourists do it instead, do not risk your life. Even if it looks awesome.
The air here smells so rich. I’m so jealous of those who get to breathe it in all day. I wish I could live by the ocean someday.

I flew to Halifax on Thursday … I was staying with my sister. I had some time to kill … I wanted to be outside and near the water (I love being by the water!) so I headed to Peggy’s Cove (about a half hour from Halifax). It’s been a couple years since I’ve been there.
The first recorded name of the cove was Eastern Point Harbour or Peggs Harbour in 1766. The village is likely named after Saint Margaret’s Bay (Peggy being the nickname for Margaret), which Samuel de Champlain named after his mother Margarite. There has been much folklore created to explain the name. One story suggests the village may have been named after the wife of an early settler. The popular legend claims that the name came from the sole survivor of a shipwreck at Halibut Rock near the cove. Artist and resident William deGarthe said she was a young woman while others claim she was a little girl too young to remember her name and the family who adopted her called her Peggy. The young shipwreck survivor married a resident of the cove in 1800 and became known as «Peggy of the Cove» attracting visitors from around the bay who eventually named the village, Peggy’s Cove, after her nickname.
The village was formally founded in 1811 when the Province of Nova Scotia issued a land grant of more than 800 acres (320 ha) to six families of German descent. The settlers relied on fishing as the mainstay of their economy but also farmed where the soil was fertile. They used surrounding lands to pasture cattle. In the early 1900s the population peaked at about 300. The community supported a schoolhouse, church, general store, lobster cannery and boats of all sizes that were nestled in the Cove.
Just before you get to the Sou’Wester Restaurant and the lighthouse, you come across this gorgeous view …
There’s the lighthouse after I left the restaurant … I headed towards it. There was a bagpiper … I love the bagpipes! I sat on a rock and watched him for a while.
Then I started roaming around the rocks. It was fairly busy at the Cove … there were about 20 tour buses in the parking lot. It was a beautiful day to be at the Cove … warm and sunny! I sat on the rocks for a long time soaking it all in.

I’ll admit, the first time I went to Peggy’s Cove I was less than awestruck. In fact, I think I probably said «Really? We drove all the way for THIS? THIS is Peggy’s Cove? ALL of it?». Ya, I wasn’t smitten in the least.
Now that I’ve visited a few more times over the years it has grown on me. What is most famously known as the tourist trap of NS and more somberly known as «the place where that airplane went down», it really is picturesque.
Perhaps I’ve come to appreciate the spot more now that photography plays such an important role in my life. I go for the serene vistas and can honestly say this spot is beautiful no matter the time of day nor the season. Draped in mist it feels romantic and the lighthouse basking in the light of the setting sun is equally as beautiful.
Perhaps the prettiest vistas however are the ones of the village’s shoreline when standing near the lighthouse and also the wharf with the fishing stages and boats (especially at sunset).
Kids love Peggy’s Cove because of all the climbing of rocks there is to be done. Our four year old calls it «Peggy’s Mountain» no doubt because the massive rock formations seem like mountains to him.
Be sure to take your camera — you’ll be in good company and have fun trying to get that elusive shot of the lighthouse without anyone standing in front of it :-)

It’s an absolutely gorgeous spot that you can’t help but be excited to be there.
I have been able to just spend hours there when I can get a lift out there. The sound of the waves crashing against those rocks is just something special.
The picturesque aspect of Peggy’s cove obviously doesn’t stop at the ocean. There is a whole cute little town that has many little sea shanty’s in it and even some shops that sell local artwork for a price.
There are also some beautiful sculptures within the town that are must sees. Some to mark the loss of the many sailors who have not come home.
And just a short drive away is the memorial for the Swiss Air Flight 111 tragedy that so many members of the Peggy’s Cove township were there to help with.
Whether it be to just go and show a visitor one of Nova Scotia’s most import and recognizable landmark, or just go for a walk/​hike through the rocks around the site or even just watch the waves. Peggy’s Cove is the place to be!

I drove to Peggy’s Cove randomly cause I had nothing better to do… and I don’t regret it at all. Peggy’s Cove was a small little town (kinda right out of a Stephen King Novel) than captivated my camera. That’s right, bring your camera’s because there are some wonderful pictures to take here. The town is small enough to walk around in 20 minutes, and the people are friendly. The homes are ready for visitors for their souvenirs and then before you know it, you’re at the one tourist spot that catches everyone’s attention… the lighthouse. I got some really nice pictures from all around the lighthouse and in between the rocks. And since I was around, in this lobster town, I visited the big (and maybe only) restaurant in the town to get fresh lobster.
This is a nice spot for couples, photographers, or just world travelers. Go ahead and take this small 30 minute trip outside the city to come see how pretty this area is.
PS… B&B’s are ALL over the place…

Thumbs up:
— SIMPLY GORGEOUS
— So small but full of surprises
— One of the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen
— Your camera would LOVE it
— About a hour from Halifax
— So peaceful and relaxing
— …
Thumbs down:
— Nothing! I wish I could come here everyday! ;)
If you come to visit Halifax, you absolutely NEED to come to Peggy’s Cove.
:)

To finish off my pitiful May review challenge attempt, I would be remiss if I didn’t review the «exceptionally East Coast» experience that is Peggy’s Cove.
This is one of my favourite spots in the Merry Times. To avoid most of the tourists I prefer to go before or after school summer vacation.
No matter the weather, Peggy’s Cove is breathtaking. The only real exercise I get in my life is climbing up and around the huge rocks, trying to find the perfect spot to watch the waves. On «good» days the wind is so strong you have to lean into it to stay upright and the waves thunderously crash against the cove. Fabulous!
There are several small gift shops/​cafes along the road, the largest and most popular being the Sou’Wester Restaurant and Gift Shop. I’ve never eaten there, but the gift shop is always PACKED with tourists and a wide selection of souvenirs. Plus it’s a great place to buy a slicker if it starts to rain.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard one tries, it’s very difficult to take a photo that truly captures the awe-​inspiring-​ness (new word!) that is Peggy’s Cove; it must be experienced first hand.

Wow! Just simply amazing. One of the nicest spots I’ve seen in my travels across this great country.
Peggy’s cove still maintains it’s small fishing village lifestyle amongst the thousands of tourists that come here every year.
It’s almost impossible to describe in words; look at the pictures, or better yet, come here yourself!
I spent over an hour just hoping across the large rocks, sitting back and listening to the waves crashing and taking pictures.
Be warned though, it gets FULL of tourists after mid-​morning. If you want to experience it like I did, with the whole place to yourself, come early, like 7 or 8 am early, on a week day. It makes for better pictures too :)

Peggy’s Cove is hands down one of my favourite places in the Maritimes. While a bunch of rocks and a lighthouse may not seem breath-​taking, I usually spend a great amount of time in awe during every visit — not bad for a quick 40-​minute drive from the city.
The lighthouse is as picturesque as they get and although you can’t tour the inside (it’s pretty small), I do love the iron-​cast warning posted on it in an attempt to keep tourists from getting swept off to sea. Seriously — make sure you get a chance to read it!
My favourite part about Peggy’s Cove though has to be hopping around on the rocks and watching the sheer power of mother nature as the waves crash up over the rocks, reaching far deeper inland than you’d ever suspect. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a nice weather day (which are unfortunately few and far between when you’re standing on the edge of the Atlantic), you could truly spend hours with the right packed lunch or a quick dip into the Sou’Wester Restaurant.
But don’t stop after the rocks, make sure you stroll down into the village. There’s a gorgeous art gallery, a fantastic espresso bar tucked into a souvenir shop, lovely and authentic fishing gear stored on the docks, and the stone carving of the sailors and the angel.
For the ultimate Peggy’s Cove visit, make sure to bring along a friend who isn’t from the area. There’s nothing better than revisiting this landmark with someone who’s bound to be floored by its beauty!

I had no idea just how magical Peggy’s Cove would be until Ben B took me on a windy road drive to the smooth coastal rocks. According to Ben, and judging by the pictures posted here, we DID strike a lucky break with a brilliantly bright day, complete with crashing waves. Truly, it’s been a few days but I’m still awestruck. In fact, I think Peggy’s Cove might just be my new happy place. Here’s looking at you future stressed moments, I’ll be chanting my new visual Peggy’s Cove mantra. Honestly, words can’t describe it. Check the pictures instead.
There’s not much to do in Peggy’s Cove, but of the 35 people who live there, we did get a chance to meet a couple of them. Check out the art gallery and the espresso shop inside the gift shop for gabbing with locals, take trip down «Lobster» lane, and peek your head into the window of the empty lighthouse… where you’ll likely discover a sign that’s both cautionary and comedic… you’ll see.
It’s only 40 minutes or so from Halifax, so I suggest taking this itinerary: get breakfast/​brunch someplace fun… like The Armview and then get going. Get out to those rocks early, avoiding the later afternoon tour buses and don’t forget to make a stop at the Swiss Air Memorial.