This is Nova Scotia: feel the invigorating wind and fresh sea spray on board a majestic Tall Ship sailing into Halifax Harbour. Stop and smell the polyantha roses at the Halifax Public Gardens, an ode to Victorian elegance. Discover the colorful stories of war brides and refugees at Pier 21, where 1.5 million immigrants began their lives as Canadians. Feel the beat of the pulsing nightlife in a city with more pubs and clubs per capita than almost anywhere else in the country.
Feel yourself wrapped in the warm embrace of Cape Breton’s storytelling islanders, rated among the friendliest in the world by Travel + Leisure. Tap in time to bagpipers and fiddlers reviving Gaelic culture on the Ceilidh Trail. Watch fiery sunsets over Bras d’Or Lakes. Hear the symphony soar at the Savoy Theatre in glorious Glace Bay. Pay homage to world-famous seafood and seafaring traditions at communities along the scenic 185-mile Cabot Trail during the annual Lobsterpalooza “feastival.”
Tidal action in Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy moves 100 billion tons of water in and out twice a day. At low tide, treasure hunt for amethyst stones at the bottom of the ocean. At high tide, bring your binoculars; look for the telltale spouts of humpback, minke and right whales. Head to the fishing village of Peggy’s Cove for a postcard-pretty authentic Atlantic Canada experience, where tragic tales of the sinking of the Titanic and this tiny town’s role are still told around a pint.
