Great Nova Scotia Itineraries

Great Nova Scotia Itineraries

If you have 3 Days

Start in Halifax, a port city that combines old and new. Explore the South Shore and the Annapolis Valley, taking in the Lighthouse Route and Evangeline Trail, which loop back to Halifax. Head for Peggy's Cove, a fishing village perched on sea-washed granite and surrounded by coastal barrens. Explore the crafts shops of Mahone Bay and travel on to Lunenburg and the Fisheries Museum. Continue on Highway 3 or 103 to Shelburne on Day 2. Visit Yarmouth and travel on to Digby to try its famous scallops. Annapolis Royal is a lovely spot to spend an afternoon, or drive down Digby Neck to visit Long Island and Brier Island and catch a whale-watching cruise in season. Travel on to the elm-lined streets of Wolfville, home of Acadia University, and explore nearby Grand Pré National Historic Site. On Day 3, check tide times and drive to Minas Basin, where the tides are the highest in the world. A leisurely drive puts you back in Halifax by late afternoon.

If you have 5 Days

Spend a day or two in Halifax before exploring the Eastern Shore along Highway 7, which winds along a dramatic coastline. Musquodoboit Harbour is a haven for fishing enthusiasts. Nearby is Martinique Beach, one of Nova Scotia's best. Spend some time in Sherbrooke Village. Continue on Highway 7 toward Antigonish on the Sunrise Trail. Visit Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou, where the Scots landed in 1773. From Pictou, Highway 6 runs beside a string of beaches. Turn right to Malagash and Jost Vineyards. A half-hour drive takes you to Amherst. Continue on to Joggins and search for souvenirs in its sandstone cliffs. For more fossils, head to Parrsboro.

If you have 7 Days

Cape Breton Island is the perfect place for a leisurely 7-day tour. The coastal route takes you on a west-to-east loop from the Canso Strait Causeway. Overnight in Mabou, the heart of the island's rich musical tradition. From a base in Margaree Harbour, take a day or more to explore the Cabot Trail and Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Peruse crafts stores along St. Ann's Bay, but allow time to visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck. Spend the night in Iona. A day or two in Sydney positions you for an afternoon excursion to the Cape Breton Miners' Museum in Glace Bay and a daylong visit to Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Park and the town of Louisbourg. Take Highway 4 back to Canso Causeway through Big Pond, and spend a day wandering the colorful Acadian villages of Isle Madame, such as Arichat.

An alternative 7-day tour, could be paring Cape Breton down to 2 or 3 days–a day in Louisbourg, one on the Cabot Trail, and one in Baddeck, for example–and combining this with a visit to the eastern shore/Sherbrooke and the Antigonish route.