Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
The number one visitor destination in the Canadian Maritimes is Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia. In addition to being a popular tourist attraction it is also a preservation area and an artists’ colony featuring a number of galleries and shops. Although the lighthouse no longer operates, during summer the famous landmark is Canada’s only post office in a lighthouse.
Visitors will find a few good places to eat from the note worthy So’Wester Restaurant to a hot dog cart. There are a number of galleries featuring original art and reproduction prints, a pewter shop and gift shops to browse and of course some great overlooks and a good hiking trail.
History
In the early 1900s, the population of Peggy’s Cove peaked at about 300 people. At that time the community operated a schoolhouse, church, general store, lobster cannery, and a number of fishing and lobster boats. Currently, the small fishing village has a population of only about 30 year-round residents.The narrow cove probably was named after the wife of William Rodgers, an Irish immigrant to St Margaret’s Bay around 1770 but you will be told a number of different legends about its name.
Officially the lighthouse is Peggy’s Point Lighthouse built in 1915, but it’s more commonly called Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse. The lighthouse stands at a height of approximately 50 feet and is perched on top of huge granite rock formations that overlook the Atlantic Ocean. It is no longer an active lighthouse but remains one of Canada’s most photographed structures. In addition to the picturesque fishing village, the lighthouse is also a prime attraction on the Canadian Lighthouse Trail scenic drive.
A popular attraction in “the Cove” is the Fishermen’s Monument, a large mural created on a granite boulder by local marine artist William deGarthe (1907-1983), which celebrates the local fishing family’s relationship with the ocean. Located behind his house it took him 19 years to complete. He started working on the monument in 1977 and finished it in 1996, a year before his death. The monument features 32 figures and is carved into a granite outcropping that overlooks the cove.
Getting To Peggy’s Cove
The small fishing village is located 37 miles (43 km) south of Halifax, on eastern St Margaret’s Bay. To get from Halifax to Peggy’s Cove by driving take Canada Rt. 333 southwest out of town and watch for the signs for Peggy’s Cove Road on the left. One of the most popular area destinations there a literally dozens and dozens of bus excursions. One word of caution about bus tours; the parking is so restricted in Peggy’s Cove that bus visits are limited to only one hour. So if you would prefer to stay longer or see more of the area, a rental car may be the best option and will probably save you some money.
Read more about Peggy’s Cove HERE.
The Intentional Travelers 