Nova Scotia and Maine: My Top Picks

Like many campers, I have a favourite camping spot that doesn't even come close to the others. If you read my introductory post, you already know that it’s MacLeod’s Campground in Dunvegan. It’s located on Cape Breton Island, part of the Atlantic Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and it features a sandy beach, grassy hills filled with fully-serviced sites, and a breathtaking view of the ocean.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Cape Breton Island, you’re missing out. With a strongly-rooted Scottish culture (‘Nova Scotia’ does mean ‘New Scotland’, after all), the signs throughout Dunvegan’s Inverness Country appear in both English and Gaelic, a nice traditional touch to a such a small area. I’ve been camping at MacLeod’s since I was born and the campground’s close-knit feel has yet to change; Cape Bretoners are very friendly and within minutes of your arrival, there’s a good chance someone will offer to help set up your tent, or invite you over to their campsite for a cookout or campfire.

The price of the campsite is reasonable and currently sits at about US $22.00 for an unserviced site and US $27.00 for a serviced site. For tenters, there are spots available in the field, on the cut grass, or just inside a wooded area that sits right next to the beach. RV and camper-trailer hookups are also available, and the beach can be seen from almost every site in the campground. The drive to Dunvegan is beautiful, with the small community sitting along Cape Breton’s Ceilidh Trail.

When we feel the need to branch out, we head to New England. Unfortunately, my top pick no longer allows tenting, but it does accommodate RVers. My first American camping trip was in 2003, where we made our way through various parts of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Without a doubt, the quiet, friendly grounds at Camp Eaton were something to rave about. Located in York Harbour, Maine, the campsite sits directly across from Long Sands Beach (yes, there is also a Short Sands Beach), a beautiful, lifeguard-monitored piece of the ocean that is great for families.

During a two-week tour through New England, we never spent a night in the same place twice, and I was only disappointed with one campsite. If you’re planning a trip through Nova Scotia or Maine, be sure to visit MacLeod’s Beach or Camp Eaton as part of your sandy adventure.

You won’t be disappointed.