The most stunning views in Atlantic Canada

Water. That's the essence of Atlantic Canada -- the four provinces of Canada's far-east coast: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.

The sea surrounds these maritime communities and it was water that formed the land into dramatic peaks, valleys, cliffs, and rockscapes that sometimes feel otherworldly, but are always arrestingly beautiful. It's an emotional landscape that stirs the soul and sparks the imagination of musicians, writers, and poets. Don't miss a chance to see the most incredible views Atlantic Canada has to offer.

Miscou Island, New Brunswick

A coastal Acadian island on the Gulf of St. Lawrence with 600 mostly French-speaking lobster and herring-fishing residents, Miscou has spectacular beaches, sand dunes, and lagoons. But it's the view from the historic Miscou Island Lighthouse that dazzles visitors: swaths of peat bogs turn bright red in autumn making for stunning photos. Catch a summer singing performance at the lighthouse or hike the many trails.

The Bay of Fundy’s Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick

Between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the entire world. After you beach walk, kayak, or ride the swells with a guide, snap a picture of the Hopewell Rocks, nicknamed "Flowerpot Rocks" - and you'll see why.

Swallowtail Lightstation, New Brunswick

There's a reason Grand Manan Island's 1860 wooden Swallowtail Lightstation is the most photographed in New Brunswick. Enjoy the postcard shot from the ferry or stand at the observation area for the best panorama. Then climb to the top of the grassy knoll and up the station's steep stairs for a coastline overview, stopping in at the ground floor museum on the way out.

Icebergs, Newfoundland & Labrador

Listen to the cracking rumble of 10,000-year-old enormous icebergs breaking up from the deck of a boat, paddle past what locals call "bergy bits" in your own kayak on a guided tour, or spot them from shore. They don't call Newfoundland's coast Iceberg Alley for nothing.

Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station, Newfoundland & Labrador

On the Labrador Peninsula, the base camp of Torngat Mountains National Park is a Far North outpost in Inuit homeland. With unusually colored, 3.9-billion-year-old rocks and 7,000-year-old archaeological sites, the far-flung station affords spectacular daytime views of towering peaks, fjords, lakes, and tundra; by night, the Northern Lights. Add a polar bear- or caribou-viewing side trip to complete your voyage.

Fogo Island, Newfoundland & Labrador

Creatives and thinkers flock to remote Fogo Island Inn to find inspiration in the stunning, stark landscape. More cultural movement than luxe hotel, the inn has 29 rooms, plus four off-the-grid artist studios perched on the volcanic rock of Newfoundland's largest offshore island.

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland & Labrador

The scale of Gros Morne is mind boggling. And the outlook from Gros Morne Mountain, a nine-mile trek ascending 2,600 feet, is ethereal. Everything about this geologist's paradise is sweeping and large-scale -- framed by the distinctive, flat-rock Tablelands.

Basin Head Provincial Park, Prince Edward Island

Oceanside views anywhere on island-province PEI are lovely, especially the vast, red-sand Argyle Shore. That said, watching the churning Atlantic from the grassy dunes of Basin Head Provincial Park is particularly delightful.

A bike with a view, Prince Edward Island

On two wheels is the best way to take in the gentle, rolling farmland of PEI. The coastal lookouts are gorgeous and there are so many historic beacons along the way. We recommend packing a lunch and touring by bike, from lighthouse to lighthouse.

The Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

With rugged green mountains jutting up out of the Atlantic, Cape Breton Island is a world must-see, according to Travel + Leisure. Drive the fabled 185-mile, cliff-hugging Cabot Trail, but make time to cycle around, too, taking in some quiet and the natural beauty, then picnic above windswept cliffs.

Skyline Sunset Hike, Nova Scotia

Of Cape Breton Highlands National Park's 26 scenic trails, the most exhilarating is the five-mile Skyline Sunset Hike -- like walking on the top of the world. Amble the wooden boardwalk that winds gently down the mountainside as the sun melts into the sea.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

From the water, 1750s-era Lunenburg resembles a painting, with its brightly hued houses, steepled churches, and sailboats anchored in the marina. Once a shipbuilding and rum running hub, this quaint UNESCO World Heritage town is ideal for touring on foot. Don't miss rum tasting at Ironworks Distillery.

Views are meant for lingering. So take your time in Atlantic Canada, where life feels a little slower -- and views, a lot bigger.