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Do not go to Cape Breton, you will spend half your time driving. Take a half day in Halifax (most of what is to see is an the harbour front). Then spend a day checking out the wonderful small towns just outside of the city. I suggest the you go to Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg. All three suit what you are looking for. The time traveling between them (I am sure that you will stop a lot to admire the scenery, have delicious meals, and check out the artisan shops), plus the time it takes to tour each one (half day each for the two towns), will take up your 3 days well.

If you want more advice or pointers on what to do in those places let me know! You are going to have a blast!!

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Globaljaunt couldn't be more right! Peggy's Cove and Lunenburg are both amazing. Peggy's Cove only has one bed and breakfast, which is really lovely. I recommend staying there if you can. Here's a link to some pictures I took while I was there http://www.flickr.com/photos/collettev/sets/72157624876594226/with/4971272367/

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thanks for your replies. we decided to base ourselves in halifax (comfort inn bayers lake) then at least we can unpack & chill a bit, and do day trips plus of course explore halifax as well. both peggy's cove & lunenburg on the list for a day trip - any more recommendations please post them! cheers!

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ps - beautiful photos collettev!

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i would do as you say and base yourself in halifax. day trips down to peggy's cove, mahone bay, etc.
i also really like the town of pictou and the beach at caribou/munros provincial park.
that would be two day drives.

or, you could do a circle. a night in halifax, drive through peggy's cove, mahone bay, stay somewhere around digby - on the island off of digby and then back to halifax. there are some nice beaches between halifax and digby if you take the coastal route through yarmouth on your way down.

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great pics! awesome place, i'm gonna visit someday

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The Peggy's Cove/Mahone Bay/Lunenburg Atlantic seacoast experience could easily be paired with a trip to the Annapolis Valley/Bay of Fundy. I suggest the area radiating out from the university town of Wolfville, especially toward Canning. Once you hit Wolfville, pull off the high-speed highway. Within a relaxed half-hour radius you get a choice of spectacular coastal views (Bolomidon), a couple of golf courses, a tranquil, thought-provoking UNESCO heritage site at Grand Pre, a lively arts & culture sector, some unique shops, a fully engaged 'local foodie' movement, a range of dining experiences, wineries, a great gastro pub at Port Williams, farm-markets at harvest time, historic homes, inns & artifacts, and breathtaking views of fields, mountains & tidal bay ... the bay with the highest tides in the world, in fact.

You could regard your Peggy's Cove/Mahone Bay/Lunenburg segment, and the Annapolis Valley/Wolfville/Canning area, as two elements on triangle, with Halifax being the third. Each is not much more than an hour away from the other. Because both Lunenburg (on route 102) and Wolfville (on route 101) are both approx and hour outside of Halifax, your idea of two separate full day trips works, returning to Halifax each night. However, in the final hour+ of driving back to your Bayer's Lake hotel at the end of each day, you would be doubling-back over the same territory you would have covered that morning. (The best roads back to Halifax, 102 and 101, are limited-access divided highway, good for getting you to an airport on time, but not very scenic :>) Alternatively, if you were not returning to sleep in Halifax to sleep after you see Lunenburg, you would have the option of going 'cross-country' from the Lunenburg/Mahone Bay area to the Annapolis Valley region, on a paved/single-lane rural road through forests/lakes/farms. (Admittedly, if your day is too long, it wouldn't be easy to drive this route in the dark without a GPS)

Unless there is a real need to spend every night in the city, personally I'd recommend staying at least one night elsewhere, if not two. If you do so, I'd suggest you sleep in the Valley where there may be a wider range of evening options/events available at that time in the year.

You asked about golf. There's lots in the valley but here's the most conveniently located course, which is well-regarded http://www.ken-wo.com/

Here's a few other links to give you a further sense of the area:
http://www.yelp.ca/topic/halifax-daytrips

Foodies-
http://travel.sympatico.ca/RobinEsrock/Articles/foodie_escapes_Canada.htm?feedname=PHOTO_GALLERY_TRAVEL_ROBIN_FOODIE_CANADA&pos=2&nolookup=true

http://www.yelp.ca/topic/halifax-daytrips

Wolfville & area natural & cultural heritage-
http://www.thehighesttides.com/
http://botanicalgardens.acadiau.ca/general-information.html

Fair trade visionaries- http://justuscoffee.com/ http://www.justuscoffee.com/locations/grand-pre-coffeehouse

Visuals:
http://www.gardenhouse.ca/home/5