As the gateway to Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia has plenty for everyone. Whether you are just looking to relax, drive around the province and see the sites, or if sports and adventure are more your thing, Nova Scotia has it covered.
There are many wineries dotted around the peninsula for a little tasting or take a cruise off-shore for some whale watching. The scenery is fantastic, so coastal hikes and site-seeing drives are well worth your time. The provinces' small size makes it easy to tour, and there are plenty of activities on offer including top-class golf courses, kayaking and even surfing!
The historic, harbour side city of Halifax is connected by direct flights from the UK and takes just over 6 hours to get there - the rest of the peninsula is within scenic, short drives from your arrival point. Arriving off a relatively short trans-Atlantic flight will have you refreshed and ready to explore the quaint harbourside city of Halifax straight away. Downtown shops and bars offer something for everyone, while the waterfront has museums and the fantastic Seaport Farmers Market – the oldest of its kind in North America. Overlooking the city is Halifax Citadel, a National Historic Site. Dating well back into the 18th Century, learn of the first British settlers in the region and how the location of the citadel allowed them to easily defend the harbour.
South of the city, travel to Peggy’s Cove on the Atlantic and see one of over 160 historic lighthouse that dot the entire coast of this maritime province. Over 100 years old, this lighthouse still now watches over the surging ocean and helps keep lobster boats and fishermen safe.
To the west, between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick lies The Bay of Fundy, home to one of the largest tidal movements in the world. Each day, over 160 billion tonnes of water moves in and out of bay, twice! This can mean a difference between high and low tide of over 10 meters so seeing both high and low tide show two different versions of the same place.
At the north end of the province is Cape Breton Island. Here, explore the stunning Cape Breton Highlands National Park along 26 hiking trails or the winding roads of the Cabot Trail. Get onto the water on majestic Bra d’Or Lake or hit the fairway on Baddecks excellent golf courses.
British and EU citizens don’t normally require a visa to visit Canada, but you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) to enter the country. For more information on visa requirements and general travel advice visit GOV.UK.
As an Atlantic Maritime province, Nova Scotia’s menus are unsurprisingly dominated by fresh seafood. The lobster, caught close by in the Atlantic Ocean, is possibly some of the finest you will ever experience while local farms also produce wonderful fruit which lead to fantastic deserts such as Nova Scotia Blueberry Grunt.
Wine is produced in the province so sample a local vintage, drink some of the local craft beer and even locally distilled spirits for every pallet.
TRAVEL AWARE – PREPARING FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY TRAVEL ABROAD
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provide the latest travel advice by country including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health. For the latest FCO advice please refer to www.gov.uk/travelaware
Current travel health information can be found by visiting www.travelhealthpro.org.uk a resource set up by the Department of Health. The advice can change on all sites so please check regularly for updates.
