Trip chapter 06

Digby to Halifax

The long way round to Halifax through foggy lighthouses, a UFO crash site, Tilly's first Atlantic toes and a people-watching patio downtown.

Drive timeLong driving day around the lighthouse route

FromDigby

ToHalifax

Our next stop on our travels was Halifax, but we took the long way round to stop at a bunch of lighthouses. Unfortunately the weather did not comply, and it was foggy the entire time.

Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse

Our first lighthouse was at Cape Saint Mary. There wasn't too much of a view for us, but it was really cool and eerie hearing the foghorn going on the lighthouse.

A picnic shelter at the foggy Cape Saint Mary lighthouse park — The foghorn was the main attraction at Cape Saint Mary.

Cape Forchu and Tilly's first Atlantic toes

Our next stop was Cape Forchu Lighthouse. The fog equally stopped our views, but it was a great area to walk around with Tilly, and it was the first opportunity for Tilly to dip her toes in the Atlantic, having dipped them in the Pacific Ocean the previous year. The lighthouse itself was not dog friendly, but there was a little patio outside where you could sit and eat, providing you have someone to wait outside with your dog.

The Cape Forchu lighthouse rising out of the fog — Tilly's first dip in the Atlantic, after the Pacific the year before.

Tilly looking out over the rocky shore at Cape Forchu — Tilly's first dip in the Atlantic, after the Pacific the year before.

The Shag Harbour UFO Landing Site

We made one more stop at a rather strange site: the Shag Harbour UFO Landing Site, a little park dedicated to a supposed UFO crash in the area in 1967. With the fog and everything, it was a rather creepy stop.

The 1967 Shag Harbour UFO crash site sign in the fog — A creepy little stop, made creepier by the fog.

A lobster statue painted as an alien at the Shag Harbour UFO site — A creepy little stop, made creepier by the fog.

High-tailing it to Halifax

We planned to make another couple of stops, but the fog was not lifting, so we high-tailed it from here straight through to my favourite Canadian city, Halifax.

The Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites

We stayed at the Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites, and I love this hotel. It is in a great location, it is pet friendly, and it has parking attached. Parking is $35 per day, and they charged $40 per pet for the pet fee.

Donairs at the Economy Shoe Shop

We ate at the Economy Shoe Shop on Argyle Street. Tilly was welcome on one part of the patio — it was a little weird as we were the only people on that side of the patio, but the food was great, they brought Tilly a bowl of water right away, and we had a great spot to people watch. Tilly enjoyed people watching while I tucked into a nice cold pint of Keith's and a Halifax donair.

Tilly people watching on the Economy Shoe Shop patio — A Halifax donair, a cold Keith's and a dog doing proper people watching.

A Halifax donair with fries and a pint of Keith's — A Halifax donair, a cold Keith's and a dog doing proper people watching.

Worth pulling over for

Stops along the way

Stop 01 / Cape Saint Marys, Nova Scotia

Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse

A fogged-in lighthouse where there wasn't much of a view, but the foghorn was really cool and eerie.

AddressLighthouse Rd, Cape Saint Marys, NS B5A 5B4

VisitedSummer 2025

Best forAn eerie foghorn experience

Dog accessOutdoor grounds on a leash

Heads upThe fog can erase the view entirely

RouteDigby to Halifax

For the dog

The grounds are walkable on a leash, though the fog gave us almost no view. Hearing the foghorn going was the highlight.

View full guide →

Stop 02 / Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Cape Forchu Lighthouse

A fogged-in lighthouse but a great dog-friendly area to walk, where Tilly dipped her toes in the Atlantic for the first time.

VisitedSummer 2025

Best forA coastal walk and Tilly's first Atlantic dip

Dog accessOutdoor grounds; the lighthouse building is not dog friendly

Websitehttps://capeforchu.com/

RouteDigby to Halifax

For the dog

The lighthouse itself was not dog friendly, but the grounds were a great area to walk around with Tilly, and there is a little patio outside where you can sit and eat, providing you have someone to wait outside with your dog. This was Tilly's first chance to dip her toes in the Atlantic, having dipped them in the Pacific the previous year.

View full guide → Official website ↗

Stop 03 / Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia

Shag Harbour UFO Landing Site

A rather strange little park dedicated to a supposed 1967 UFO crash — and with the fog, a rather creepy stop.

Address6139 Nova Scotia Trunk 3, Lower East Pubnico, NS B0W 0B6

VisitedSummer 2025

Best forA quirky roadside stop

Dog accessOutdoor park grounds

Fun factDedicated to a supposed UFO crash in the area in 1967

RouteDigby to Halifax

For the dog

An outdoor park with a UFO crash-site sign, an alien lobster statue and a painted kiosk. Strange enough on a sunny day, and creepier still in the fog.

View full guide →

Stop 04 / Halifax, Nova Scotia

Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites

My favourite Canadian hotel: a great location, pet friendly, with attached parking and a thoughtful welcome bag for Tilly.

Address1515 South Park St, Halifax, NS B3J 2L2

VisitedSummer 2025

Pet fee$40 per pet

Welcome bagFood, a treat, poop bags and a nearby pet-store discount

Parking$35 per day, attached to the hotel

Best forA comfortable, well-located Halifax stay with a dog

Websitehttps://lordnelsonhotel.ca/

For the dog

A pet-friendly hotel in a great location with parking attached. Parking is $35 per day and the pet fee was $40 per pet. Tilly received a welcome bag containing food, a treat and poop bags, plus a discount for a nearby pet store.

View full guide → Official website ↗

Stop 05 / Halifax, Nova Scotia

Economy Shoe Shop

A Halifax institution with a dog-friendly section of patio, great food, a quick water bowl for Tilly and a prime people-watching spot.

Address1663 Argyle St, Halifax, NS B3J 2B5

VisitedSummer 2025

Best forA donair, a Keith's and some people watching

Dog accessOne section of the patio

Tilly's welcomeWater bowl brought right away

For the dog

Tilly was welcome on one part of the patio. It was a little weird as we were the only people on that side, but the food was great, they brought Tilly a bowl of water right away, and we had a great spot to people watch. Tilly enjoyed people watching while I tucked into a nice cold pint of Keith's and a Halifax donair.

View full guide →