Stories From the Waterfront in Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, the picturesque Halifax Harbourwalk features restaurants and shops that overlook the bay. Downtown stretches uphill from the waterfront. Sites include the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which details the Titanic tragedy, and St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Canada’s oldest surviving Protestant church and Halifax’s oldest building. On the city’s north end, Fairview Lawn Cemetery is the resting place of 121 Titanic passengers.
Commanding panoramic city views, the Halifax Citadel’s star-shaped fort was built by the British in 1856. Groups can opt for several different tours. Sentries dressed in 78th Highlander tartans change guard on the hour. The new “Ready, Aim, Fire!” program invites visitors to fire three rounds using an authentic Snider-Enfield Rifle.
Foodies can experience the flavors of Halifax with Local Tasting Tours. Guests on these walking excursions go through downtown and the Harbourwalk while sampling the city’s cuisine and getting an insider’s look at the food scene. Six tours focus on locally sourced food, craft beer and one-of-a-kind establishments. Beer lovers can explore the area’s breweries aboard the Halifax Beer Bus.
To the north of Halifax, wild and rugged Cape Breton encompasses 3,981 square miles. The 185-mile Cabot Trail road passes forests and rugged coastline as it skirts Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The park’s Skyline Trail footpath overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known for migratory whales. Driving tours of the area give groups a look at the stunning scenery, winding roads and expansive countryside.
While on the cape, visitors should plan to stop at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. This museum showcases Bell’s numerous inventions, including his landmark work with the deaf. An optional “white glove” tour takes participants into the archives, where they can touch and see additional inventions that aren’t on display.
Another popular attraction, the Highland Village Museum, is perched on a picturesque hillside above Bras d’Or Lake and features costumed interpreters in reconstructed buildings. Each building depicts a different era of Gaelic heritage from the late 1700s to the early 1900s.
Located on the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia, approximately two and a half hours from Halifax, Barrington claims some of the best birding in eastern Canada. It’s also home to Peggy’s Cove, where the iconic lighthouse perched on a granite outcropping has become one of the most photographed spots in the Maritimes.
The Barrington Woolen Mill Museum features demonstrations of spinning, dyeing and weaving. And at Darren Hudson’s Lumberjack AXEperience, visitors learn skills like axe throwing, log rolling and competitive sawing from a seven-time world-champion lumberjack.
“The lumberjack experience is very Canadian and unique,” said Pam Wamback, media relations specialist for Tourism Nova Scotia. “Barrington is considered the lobster capital of Canada, and they have terrific seafood.”
Nova Scotia borders on the Bay of Fundy as well, and groups can experience coastal hiking, tidal bore rafting and bird-watching on its shores. At the Fundy Geological Museum, groups can help paleontologists dig for dinosaurs on a behind-the-scenes tour at the Fossil Research Lab. Museum experts lead ocean floor walks. Guided beach tours highlight tides and geology. The annual Nova Scotia Gem and Mineral Show and Sale takes place August 18-20.
Island Charm and Green Gables on Prince Edward Island
Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island (PEI) is known for its scenic beauty, bucolic charm and significant history.
In 1864, representatives from Britain’s Canadian colonies gathered on the island to declare their independence from the Crown and form a new nation. Today, visitors can relive elements of those historic events when visiting Charlottetown. Interpretive guides dressed in period costume, known as the Confederation Players, take groups through historic downtown. Visitors learn about PEI and Canadian history and chat with re-enactors who portray locals who lived here over a century ago. Province House National Historic Site, the birthplace of the Confederation and the seat of PEI’s provincial legislature since 1847, is a significant landmark.
At the Confederation Centre of the Arts, the Charlottetown Festival has entertained audiences for more than 50 years. From June through September, live theater, free outdoor performances, gallery exhibitions, dining and shopping are available. The 2017 lineup includes “Million Dollar Quartet,” “Anne of Green Gables: The Musical,” “Bittergirl” and the world premiere of “A Misfortune.”
Fall Flavours Festival, a monthlong September celebration, offers signature events created exclusively for the festival and hosted by celebrity chefs. Groups can also join local hosts to pick potatoes, catch lobsters or harvest oysters. Each experience offers an educational component, plus a tasting and/or cooking opportunity.
From Charlottetown, three scenic coastal drives offer opportunities for daylong sightseeing excursions. The North Cape Coastal Drive features Mi’kmaq culture, Acadian music and theater, and museums highlight potatoes to shipbuilding. The Central Coastal Drive includes Cavendish, spectacular views along Route 20, fishing ports, lobster suppers and quaint Victoria-by-the-Sea. The Points East Coastal Drive features the dune system at Greenwich in PEI National Park, beautiful beaches, wildlife and the Railway Museum in Elmira.
Most groups don’t leave PEI without visiting Cavendish, home of Lucy Maud Montgomery and the setting of her beloved book “Anne of Green Gables.” At the Green Gables Heritage Place, fans can immerse themselves in the landscape that inspired the beloved story of red-haired orphan Anne. They can explore the original house, the 19th-century gardens, the farmyard and the historic trails. Avonlea Village, a re-created rural community is based on the village where Anne lived, complete with shops and eateries. Other “Anne” activities include Matthew’s Carriage Ride past the Lake of Shining Waters, an old-time photo shoot dressed up as Anne at Shop and Play in Gateway Village, and visiting Montgomery’s birthplace in nearby New London.
