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You have a closeted fascination with lighthouses – hence the desk calendar.

When you dream, it’s of escaping to a quaint little fishing village, rimmed with ramshackle fishing shacks of every pastel color known to human kind. You’ve even read and seen Anne of Green Gables – but we won’t tell anyone.

It sounds as if Canada’s Maritime Provinces are - yours to discover after all!

My childhood friend Tanya lives in Sackville, New Brunswick, located on the beautiful Tantramar Marshes, and home to the culturally diverse and artistic

Mount Allison University. I try to squeeze a visit in every year – close to later summer/early fall. Yes, I miss my friend, but don’t tell her that I also miss hiking to the wondrous Hopewell Rocks, I miss the giggles at being pulled up magnetic hill, and I miss the gorgeous lighthouses and quaint rustic shacks of Peggy’s Cove. Ok, I also miss Cavendish, home to the Anne of Green Gables legacy, and home to Cavendish beach, with its soft red sand and soft, soothing tides. But most importantly, I miss that Canada’s Maritime Provinces are not only fascinating to behold – they’re cheap to visit as well.

Here’s my last whirlwind tour of Canada’s Atlantic Coast – starting in Moncton, New Brunswick to Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia to Cavendish, Prince Edward Island (PEI). You don’t need to shill out cash to tour, hike, drive or swim any one of these Atlantic coast wonders:

Magnetic action in New Brunswick – It’s not a wonder of the world, but it should be! New Brunswick’s Magnetic Hill really isn’t magnetic at all! It’s just a really good optical illusion. If you put your car in neutral at what appears to be the bottom of magnetic hill – you’ll be pulled up – or so it seems, thanks t the hill’s unique geography.

Hopewell, Rocks, Bay of Fundy – This diverse eco-system offers hiking trails, and spectacularly huge flowerpot rocks. When the tide moves out, you can explore the beauty of the Fundy coastline and climb the rocky giants.

Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia – As legend tells it, Peggy’s Cove was named after a woman named Margaret (and nicknamed Peggy), after the schooner she was aboard ran aground and sank in the year 1800. Today Peggy’s lighthouse built in 1868, houses a restaurant, gift shop and post office.

Cavendish Beach, PEI – You can’t miss Cavendish Beach, even if it’s just to get out of the car for a moment to run your toes thorough the power-soft red sand.

Avonlea Village is just a hop skip and a jump away, and fans of Anne of Green Gables can tour the home that inspired the literary tale. In Cavendish you can pick up Anne of Green Gables kettle chips – the best you’ve ever tasted, and browse the various gift shops and seafood restaurants for fresh fish and lobster.

(photo credit jefield cc)