These six places in Nova Scotia, Canada, are a must-see if you’re considering visiting the country or living in the area and are down for a few day trips. I traveled in Nova Scotia on a 1.5-year solo road trip through the United States, Mexico and Canada. It’s one of the most scenic, spectacular places of the many I’ve visited.
1. Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia is the only place on Earth where the tides rise and fall up to 60 feet every six hours. That, combined with the deep, glacier-carved rock formations, makes it one of the most unique kayaking experiences in the world.
Surrounding the bay, Cape Chignecto Provincial Park has the best towering red cliffs, sea stacks, arches and ancient lava flows. The scenic cliffs show evidence of the separation of the continents when Africa and North America drifted apart. Many of the adventures occur in this area, named the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark. The geopark is n the North shore of the Minas Basin, an inlet in the Bay of Fundy. The area features hills, mountains, valleys, forests, and coastal marshlands. The Geopark features exposures of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province. It’s the largest outpouring of lava in Earth’s history, fossils of early dinosaurs, vertebrates and more.
Food fun: Try Dulse. It’s an edible seaweed that is harvested in the Bay of Fundy. It has a salty, brine flavor that is perfect for adding to soups, salads, or snacks.
I went kayaking on the bay and it’s a unique and rare experience to feel the tides churning beneath the boat. If kayaking in the Bay of Fundy doesn’t sound appealing, plenty of other activities exist. You could try whale watching, a boat tour, hiking or biking along the Fundy Trail Parkway, tidal bore rafting or mud sliding.
Read Sea Kayaking in the Bay of Fundy here.
2. Cape Breton
The drive along Cabot Trail in Cape Breton’s Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada, is unparalleled. Found on Cape Breton Island, this natural wonder includes mountains, valleys, waterfalls, rocky coastlines, Acadian and Boreal forests. The Cape Breton Highlands and White Hill, the highest point in Nova Scotia. All that is to say: it’s a spectacular drive and a beautiful place to spend a few days.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park encompasses 366 square miles in the northernmost part of the province. Established in 1936, it is one of 42 national parks in Canada. Aside from the park and the island, the Cabot Trail is the biggest draw.
Food fun: Get a butter tart! They’re a traditional baked treat from the area that will melt in your mouth and live in your dreams.
I’ve done a lot of driving as I’ve traversed North America, but it has seldom been as rewarding as on the Cabot Trail. The Cape Breton coastline is a beautiful, rugged stretch of land, including mountains, forests, and beaches. The rolling two-land highway traverses the island’s edge, providing unspoiled vistas, rocky seascapes and forested views. The air is fresh and pure, the sounds are mostly of nature, and the feeling is like freedom. Green, blue and brown are the primary colors, Gaelic signs along the road, and small old-world businesses will make you feel like maybe you’ve gone through a time loop.
Read Drive the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton’s Highlands National Park here.
3. Prince Edward Island
There are many things to do on Prince Edward Island, but the best part may be the drives down two-lane highways. You’ll see flashes of its unusual bright red soil, yellow potato blossom fields, and old-world charm of villages you pass through.
PEI has more than 60 lighthouses along its coastlines, which is exceptionally substantial considering the island is only 140 miles long and 40 miles wide. It’s about the size of Delaware or twice as big as Martha’s Vineyard, which has only five lighthouses.
Drive through the fields of purple, yellow, red and orange to Green Gables. It’s a farm on Prince Edward Island, better known as the setting for the classic novel, “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It is one of the most beloved books worldwide, especially in Canada.
Prince Edward Island National Park has various natural features, including beaches, dunes, forests and wetlands encompassing 57,000 acres, including 68 miles of coastline. It’s the perfect place to see the province’s uniqueness, including the many picturesque white and red-sand beaches.
Food fun: Go to Moo’s Creamery for Moon Mist ice cream – a Canadian specialty with grape, banana and bubblegum-flavored ice cream.
Read Eight Things to Do on Prince Edward Island here.
4. Lunenberg
Lunenburg, on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, is a UNESCO maritime gem and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can enjoy the experiences of a bygone era. At the mouth of the LaHave River, it’s a National Historic District and one of the most beautiful small towns in Canada. I was pleased to find a charming German and Swiss port town on the water. There are several blocks of shops and historic architecture you don’t see elsewhere in North America.
German and Swiss settlers founded the town in 1753 after fleeing religious persecution in Europe. They designed it as a fishing and whaling village, and it quickly became a major center for the maritime industry. Today, it is known for its distinctive wooden architecture of houses, some of which date from the 18th century.
The town’s homes, shops, and churches are all built in a blend of British, German, and Swiss architecture, giving Lunenburg a unique and charming atmosphere. There are also several museums and historical sites which offer visitors a glimpse into its rich history.
Read 6 Interesting Things that Make Lunenburg Worthwhile here.
5. Joggins Fossil Cliffs
The Joggins Fossil Cliffs in Nova Scotia are one of the only places in the world where you’re likely to discover a fossil just by walking along the shore. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to the world’s most complete fossil record dating 300 million years ago. There are so many fossils they just fall from the cliffs! However, rangers ask that if you see anything interesting, please turn it in at the visitor’s center. Scientists have found over 10,000 fossils at the site since the early 1800s. I don’t know of any other place where you can come this close to being an archeologist for a day.
The Joggins Fossil Centre is home to a collection of fossils from the Joggins Fossil Cliffs. There are exhibits on the area’s geology, the history of coal mining and the evolution of life on Earth. The Joggins Fossil Centre offers educational programs and activities. These include guided tours of the fossil cliffs, workshops on fossil preparation, and summer camps for kids.
The cliffs cover an expanse about nine miles long and 100 feet high overlooking the Bay of Fundy. While the bay is remarkable, it also impacts your viewing of the cliffs based on the time of day. With the highest tides in the world, the Bay of Fundy rises and recedes nearly 60 feet daily. If you’re there during high tide, the beach will be inaccessible, so check the tides.
Read Unique Joggins Fossil Cliffs Reveal Earth’s Past
6. Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia
An hour outside Halifax, Peggy’s Cove is a small but historic fishing village. It’s made famous by many photographers for its picturesque turbulent Atlantic Ocean lighthouse scenes. It’s a popular tourist destination known for its rocky coastline, lighthouse, fishing boats, artists and craftspeople in the village shops.
Found on the eastern shore of St. Margaret’s Bay, Peggy’s Cove is a simple place home to about 100 people. In an ever faster, noisy and crowded world, that simplicity is part of the beauty of Nova Scotia.
Food fun: Try Rappie Pie: A traditional Acadian dish with grated potatoes, pork fat, and meat or seafood.
This isn’t the kind of place where there’s a lot to do, but it’s the type where you’ll see something rare. The way to the cove will take you along rolling hills, past trees and through maritime port towns filled with small businesses. These are modest places that have kept the traditions and norms of the past. You must drive long distances to find big box stores and city life while visiting neighbors might require transportation. The people are friendly but keep to themselves, and the sea is a way of life. None of this is truer than in Peggy’s Cove.
Read 7 Things to Do in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, here.
7. Halifax, Titanic Artifacts and Cemetery
The Titanic exhibit in Halifax is home to one of the world’s most grim and riveting stories. You’ll be surprised that you don’t know the half of it. There’s much more than James Cameron depicted in “Titanic,” including a cemetery with over 150 graves of Titanic’s victims. The Titanic exhibit is part of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Downtown Halifax is a maritime city on the Atlantic Ocean. It boasts charming lighthouses, fresh seafood, phenomenal landscapes and the world’s second-largest natural harbor. It’s a small city with just 400,000 people. Compare that to Toronto with 6.5 million and the picture of a quaint, historic, coastal seascape emerges.
Halifax was the closest major seaport when the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912. It became the base for ships searching and recovering the bodies of Titanic victims. The museum and nearby cemetery tell a lesser-known part of a very well-known story. It’s worth a visit.
Read: Visit a Rare Titanic Museum and Cemetery here.
If you’re looking for a unique part of North America to visit, these stops in Nova Scotia will make it the trip of a lifetime. I spent three weeks traveling the area and could have happily spent three more.
Read more stories about Canada here.
