Before we left Ontario we had almost three weeks booked. Five days at three different campgrounds then a two week stint at a cottage. Deciding to play the rest of our time by ear depending on what areas we liked best and where we wanted to continue our house hunting.
So...our first campground was at Five Islands and although we struggled to find it, it was lovely when we arrived. We had a beautiful site perched on a hill with gorgeous views of the Bay of Fundy where the highest tides occur. We saw stunning sunsets and walked on the mud flats at low tide. We were able to see the red cliffs and lots of shell sea life that the tides had left behind. The staff was wonderful, overall a terrific introduction to Nova Scotia. However, in driving around for the two days we were there, we realized the area did not call to us. I still can't explain it, so call me crazy, I just knew this was not where we were going to live.
After two days at Five Islands, we packed up and drove past Truro around the tip of the Bay of Fundy to Newport and Smileys Provincial Park. The park itself was fine although the glow of camping was already wearing thin for Zoe. We did a lot of off site driving getting to know this area. This was the first time we ventured into Annapolis Valley and went to the Tangled Gardens and the Fair Trade Coffee Museum. I loved the Gardens, Zoe not so much! The Coffee and Chocolate museum was basically just a store, so a little disappointing. Then we decided to venture further down the coast to Aylesford and a visit a farm zoo. Zoe was in love!! It was a very small zoo which did have regular zoo type animals, lions and tigers and bears (oh my) as well as many farm animals. Horses, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats etc. I had hoped to gain some tips on farming and caring for animals but in reality it was just a lovely afternoon seeing Zoe smile and enjoying the animals.
Our third campground was a miserable failure!! It was Risser's Beach Provincial Park about an hour and a half west of Peggy's Cove. First of all we arrived after dark-a mistake on its own. When I had booked the site five days earlier I had booked a walk-in site. In my previous experience this meant it was a site saved for last minute bookings or "walk-in" campers. In this campground however, we were told it meant the campsite we had booked had no vehicle access, it was a walk into only! So we parked the truck, walked to the site with some firewood and chairs, had a lovely relaxing bonfire then walked back to the truck, pulled out our blankets, lowered our seats and slept there for the night!! That would prove to be Zoes last night EVER camping. As we struggled to get comfortable in the truck Zoe emphasized the fact that our blog should not be Two Girls And a Dream but rather, Two Homeless Girls! Although it was a very stressful night, we woke up having had the best sleep in a week LOL!! We were so "done" at this point that we did not even do any house hunting in this area, just a bit of sight seeing then on to the Yarmouth area. 
Finally on to the cottage. It was a lovely, tiny, rustic, one bedroom cottage in Acadia. Zoe had never been so glad to see a shower and a kitchen in all her life! I am very glad we stayed at this cottage because it made us realize a few things. First, while being on the water is lovely, hearing the waves, listening to the birds, seeing the views and sunsets, everything in the cottage is always damp! From our clothes to the swelling doors. While waterfront property is highly sought after, we decided it was not for us. Second, we realized how much we use wifi!! There was no internet at this cottage and we now know that any house we purchase must be able to receive high speed internet! We spent two weeks using this cottage as our home base. After some house hunting and lots of driving, touristing, shopping, we also felt that this area was not for us.We continued our travels moving south east into Annapolis Valley along the Bay of Fundy coast. We used Homeaway to rent a house in Parker's Cove, fifteen minutes away from Annapolis Royal. We felt a little defeated at this point...while I had made sure to book a place with wifi this time...this cottage had no cell service. So we could do research and iMessage but not call or text anyone! However, we finally felt a connection to the area. We loved Annapolis Valley. Again, I cannot explain why, we just felt a connection and knew this is where we would find "our home".
We had no other lodging booked at this point but we found the house we want to make our home!! So we booked one more place to stay through Air BNB. It was a loft in Paradise which finally had everything we wanted! Air conditioning for Zoe, wifi AND cell service, and a great location! From here we were able to put an offer on our home and meet our conditions.
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