
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
The red cliffs of Cavendish, inside PEI National Park, are indeed breathtaking as they glow in evening light. Add that to the white sand beach, warm waters, and beautiful dunes and you can quickly see why Cavendish has long been a Maritime favourite for swimming, building castles, long walks, and sharing dreams. Grab a blanket to watch glorious sunsets and to stargaze at night.
The dunes at Greenwich, PEI National Park, located along a peninsula that separates St. Peters Bay from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, should be on everyone's list. This peaceful place contains an extensive and fragile coastal dune system, wetlands and various natural habitats containing numerous rare plant species. What really sets Greenwich apart, though, are the unusually large and mobile parabolic dunes, a phenomenon rare in North America. The site also features hiking trails equipped with interpretive signs, which explain the unique ecosystem.
Many folks have a soft spot for the view from Northport Pier, near Alberton, PEI. The quaint fishing village and deep water commercial harbour on Cascumpeque Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the north side of the island is a perfect place to soak up the sights and sounds of the sea as you stroll along the boardwalk.
Basin Head Provincial Park near Souris in eastern PEI is another island gem. Folks line up at "The Run" where they can jump from a wharf into deep water and be pulled by the current into more shallow waters. The white sand beach is not only gorgeous; it's unique for its "singing" sands, which squeak as you walk. Long hikes and beachcombing are favourite activities here. The park is also home to the Basin Head Fisheries Museum.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Just outside Moncton in Shediac, NB is arguably one of the best beaches in Atlantic Canada. Parlee Beach is renowned for its spectacular sands, complete with lifeguards and food concessions. Parlee boasts some of the warmest salt water north of Virginia, and has been described as the ultimate beach experience. It's hard to argue. Besides supervised swimming, there's volleyball, football, a sand-sculpture competition, on-site restaurant, amphitheatre, change houses, showers, washrooms, playground, picnic area and parking!
Not far from Shediac, in Saint-Edouard-de-Kent, is the Irving Eco-Centre, La Dune de Bouctouche. A long, beautiful boardwalk built for strolling helps visitors enjoy the area. The dunes run about 12 kilometres. It's a wonderful site to see and to walk through the sand. One of the centre's primary purposes is to increase public understanding of the dune's fragile environment. Bilingual interpreters are available in season to explain why it's important to preserve the dune.
In southern New Brunswick, Grand Manan Island, one of three Fundy Isles, is chock-a-block full of spectacular seascapes. Castalia Marsh is worth the drive for watching birds or strolling quietly among the dunes.
In the province's north, Chaleur Beach is a great place to soak up Acadian culture and grab a bite to eat right on the beach. This unsupervised saltwater haven, with a range of amenities from washrooms to camping, has a licensed seafood restaurant and takeout right on the beach.
For the active family, one of the best beaches is located in New Brunswick's Fundy National Park. The park's beach interpretation programs are offered throughout the summer months. Families literally beach comb, and discover the creatures of the intertidal zone, all with a qualified park interpreter.
NOVA SCOTIA
Martinique Beach in East Petpeswick on Nova Scotia's eastern shore is the province's longest white sandy beach. It can take two hours to stroll from end to end-sometimes without meeting another soul. But that's not the beach's only claim to fame. It's a wildlife haven and has been designated as a wild bird sanctuary. It's also a piping plover habitat and one can frequently see seals just offshore.
Carter's Beach in Port Mouton, south of Liverpool on Nova Scotia's South Shore, has received such accolades as "stunning," "one of the jewels of the South Shore." The appeal? Crescents of fine white sand, dunes, and crystal clear waters. It's great for snorkelling and finding sand dollars. It's also a piping plover habitat.
In Antigonish County, NS, my sister-in-law, Louise MacDonald, loves driving around the point of Cape George, coming from Highway 245 to Highway 337. "...as you come around the last turn, you see all up the 337 plus the wharf....beautiful."
Big Island Beach in Pictou County is another little gem. Visitors cross a causeway to get here, very few people live nearby, and it's private. The easily accessible long sand bar is a perfect space for solitude and a long, soul-relaxing stroll.
Just 25 minutes east of Halifax, NS, Lawrencetown Beach, a provincial park, is a favourite destination for local and international surfers-year round! Sharing the sand with the surf crowd are nature lovers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts drawn by the nearby trail system. From the September Storm, a surfing classic, to a kite festival and guided walks, Lawrencetown always has something entertaining going on.