The 2018 Ford EcoSport it’s going on an adventure across Canada from coast to coast this summer. The journey started in St. John’s, Newfoundland and will end in Tofino, British Columbia. I was honoured to be chosen to drive the Ford EcoSport for the Halifax to Charlottetown leg of the tour. It was such an incredible time full of new experiences. It was my first time in Halifax and I hadn’t been to Charlottetown since I was a kid so it was a very exciting road trip for me.

Here are all the highlights for your very own East Coast road trip:

Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Prince George 

First, we checked into our hotel, The Prince George Hotel. It was newly renovated and is situated in the middle of downtown Halifax so it’s a convenient and comfortable spot to stay.

Le French Fix

Once we arrived in Halifax, we needed some quick fuel before we began seeing the sights. So happy we stumbled upon this cafe. They make the best macarons I’ve ever had. I loved their salted caramel flavour!

Peggy’s Cove

Once we fuelled up this was our first spot. It was such a beautiful drive out to Peggy’s Cove along the water.

Once we made it to the iconic lighthouse we parked the EcoSport and explored. You can walk along the rocks and you’ll get one of those views that looks like the ocean goes on forever.

We walked towards the dock and colourful buildings and some fishermen were bringing in a fresh catch. It was a very peaceful spot so we took some time to take in the view. Peggy’s Cove region is a great place for kayaking, whale watching (starts in June) and more. 

Peggy’s Cove had a sign not to leave valuables in your car due to theft. Luckily the Ford EcoSport has a special compartment in the trunk where you can store valuables. I always make sure my valuables aren’t in sight when leaving a vehicle, especially if it’s something expensive like a laptop, so this was a super useful feature to have.

Citadel Hill 

We made it back downtown just in time for sunset at Citadel Hill. Here you’ll find a series of forts that overlook Halifax and protected the city from 1749 to 1906.

It’s a National Historic Site so you’ll find the iconic red Parks Canada chairs.

We watched as the sky turned into a gradient of purple, blue and pink. If you go during the day you can do a walking tour of the Citadel.

Lot Six Bar & Restaurant

Next, we headed to Argyle Street for dinner. This is one of Halifax’s main streets and you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants. There are lots of musicians jamming on the street or in bars. We ended up at Lot Six and I’m so happy we did. The bar itself is stunning with a glass ceiling and dim lighting.

I was very impressed with their cocktails, perfect balance and flavour. My friend and I shared the mussels, baked oysters, lobster croquettes and surf n turf. Since we were on the East Coast, of course, we had to get seafood. Everything was delicious. Our waiter told us this bar has only been around for 2 years but its already gaining plenty of recognition and awards and I can see why. If you’re in Halifax I definitely recommend getting a bite or cocktail here.

Brunch at Robie Street Station

We woke up early to meet my friend Kayla from Short Presents at Robie Street Station for brunch. I got their Cilbir, two poached eggs, garlic yogurt, chimichurri with Aleppo chili butter naan. It was different and something I haven’t seen before. Their fries are double fried so they’re nice and crispy! If you have time there are plenty of shops and cafes to explore around here.

Halifax Waterfront

Before we left for PEI we stopped at the Halifax Waterfront. Here you’ll find some great views of the water and plenty to explore like restaurants, breweries and more. Bicycle Thief is along the waterfront and would be a great spot to enjoy dinner at sunset. The Halifax Seaport Farmers Market is here and was established in 1750. At Pier 21 you’ll find the Canadian Museum of Immigration. Pier 21 was the entry point for one in five Canadians between 1928 and 1971.

Halifax to Charlottetown

Next up was our drive from Halifax to Charlottetown. It’s about a 4-5 hour drive. It was a super easy drive in the Ford EcoSport. The vehicle is so comfortable and spacious. It has plenty of legroom so you don’t have to worry about being cramped on the journey. 

The in-car navigation system kept us on track and the in-car wifi let us play our Spotify playlists the whole way there. We had perfect weather for our trip so it was also a great opportunity to use the sunroof.

I liked that the Ford EcoSport has a light that flickers on the side mirror to show someone is in your blind spot and a reverse camera.

We hit some traffic a few times on our trip. The Ford EcoSport has auto start/stop technology that shuts off the engine automatically when it is not needed. This feature helps reduce fuel consumption so you can save money, especially on a road trip.

It was a quick tripped so we packed pretty light but if you’re doing a long road trip there is plenty of room to store all your things.

You can comfortably fit your family or friends.

We entered some rougher terrain a few times in PEI so it was nice to be in an SUV with 4 wheel drive.

One of the best parts about road trips if you can stop any time you please. We stopped just before Confederation Bridge to take in this view. You can also take a ferry over but the bridge route is quicker.

Prince Edward Island

Cows Creamery

Our first stop in PEI was Cow’s Creamery. My friend and I both remembered having it when we were younger and it tasted just as good now. I got a scoop of wowie cowie and birthday cake and they did not disappoint! Reader’s Digest named it Canada’s best ice cream.

Inn at Bay Fortune

This was my favourite part of the whole trip and a must if you’re in PEI. This inn and restaurant is owned by renowned Chef Michael Smith and his wife Chastity. 

The FireWorks Feast here is a must! It won Canada’s Best Farm to Table restaurant for 2018. It’s the best dinner I have ever had and I still can’t stop thinking about it. It’s named FireWorks because of the 25 ft brick-lined, wood-burning oven that anchors their fire kitchen.  

The FireWorks Feast begins with a tour around the farm. You learn about their processes and how they grow everything on their farm, including the piglets. They get deliveries every morning from the Bay for fresh lobster. The Chefs go out every day to pick the ingredients they use in their meals directly from the farm. They also chop their own wood.

Next up was the Oyster hour full of unlimited appetizers exploring the grounds. The Oyster hour included oysters, fire pit flat iron tacos, a sausage station, smoked salmon with seedy gouda crisp and lobster aioli and a sausage station with fresh sauces. All the appetizers were so delicious but make sure not to fill up too much because a dinner with very generous portions is ahead.

Before dinner, everyone meets at the flag for a champagne toast. It was a nice way to bring everyone together before a delicious meal.

Next up is the main dinner. It’s community seating so you sit down with strangers and leave with friends, making the experience that much better. Everyone bonded over the 7-course meal.

We enjoyed East Coast clam chowder, The menu includes freshly baked wood-oven bread, seafood chowder with shellfish from the island, the days catch, their farm salad full of fresh produce from the farm and wood roasted meats and vegetables.

The presentation and taste of each dish was phenomenal.

We ended the night with everyone at the bonfire roasting blueberry cinnamon marshmallows.

The next morning everyone joined together at the same tables for breakfast. We all talked about how incredible the dinner was the night before over oatmeal-crusted french toast and bacon. They also had freshly made scones, cinnamon buns, yogurt parfait, smoothie and orange juice. One of their staff brought over a map and pointed out some main spots we should check out for the day. She recommended driving along the coast and hitting some major points. Breakfast is cooked over an open fire in their wood oven.

The rooms were adorable and felt like you were in a fancy cottage. The walls were lined with art from a local artist that is available for purchase. After we checked in we went back to our room and there was a little-stuffed pig tucked under the covers – pigs in a blanket 😉 and a small box with a fortune cookie that said: “Todays Bay Fortune always becomes tomorrow’s good fortune.” There were so many small moments like this during our stay that really stood out. Staff came from all over Canada to work here and were so passionate about what they do. I highlight recommend the Inn and FireWorks dinner if you’re in PEI, such an incredible experience. I’m still blown away by the whole experience and definitely plan on going back.

Basin Head 

After a delicious breakfast, we started on our trip around the island. Our first stop was Basin Head. A local we met at the FireWorks dinner told us it’s the go-to spot for swimming in PEI. I can see why. The basin is surrounded by trees and so clear. Then there’s a long stretch of beach along the ocean. The sand is called ‘singing sands’ because of the sound it makes as you walk through it. It would be a great spot to cool off in the summer and enjoy where the locals go.

Prince Edward Island National Park 

There is plenty to explore here from beaches along red cliffs, hiking trails and more. Since it’s a National Park you’ll be able to find the iconic Parks Canada red chairs here. Take a picnic with you and spend the day exploring here and then end your day relaxing on the beach. Here you’ll be parking the car for a while so it’s another great spot to have the secret compartment in the Ford EcoSport trunk if you have valuables.

Charlottetown 

I hadn’t been here since I was a kid but I remembered there being a ton of cute shops and restaurants. We didn’t have a ton of time here before our flight but we made sure to get a lobster roll, an East Coast must! We stumbled upon The Chip Shack and it was so good! Get the fires and lobster roll and you won’t be disappointed.

The Ford EcoSport

This was such an incredible adventure in the Ford EcoSport. You need a car if you’re visiting the East Coast. Everything is a lot more spread out, especially in PEI. With the Ford EcoSport we were able to explore the whole island. It’s nice to drive around and take your time exploring all the sights. Especially in PEI with all the red sand and dandelions.

The in-car navigation us making the most of this adventure and bringing us to plenty of new places. You can connect up to 10 devices at once to the SUV’s wifi hotspot. The all-new 2018 Ford EcoSport made the drive so easy and comfortable with it’s blind spot blinkers that can sense traffic around you, Apple CarPlay (or Android AutoTM) with voice recognition, fast charging USB ports and Intelligent Access means you can keep your fob in your pocket or purse to enter and start your EcoSport and lock it behind you. You can get more details on the Ford EcoSport here.

A huge thank you to Ford Canada for this opportunity to join the cross-Canada tour from Halifax to Charlottetown. The Ford EcoSport led me to places I couldn’t get to otherwise and opened me up to so many new adventures. Where will the Ford EcoSport lead you? Let me know if you’ve been to the East Coast in the comments or on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Follow the Ford EcoSport on its cross-Canada journey using hashtag #FordEcoSport.

Thank you to Ford Canada invited me on this Press Trip to try out the new Ford EcoSport. As always, all opinions are my own.