First time to NS, one week
 

We are headed to NS in late August with our 17 yr. old son. When in Halifax, we will stay at the Sheraton Four Corners because we have points. Arriving via plane in Halifax; need to be there our 7th night for next day flight. This forum has convinced us to limit ourselves to southern or northern NS since we only have one week. I think we're settling on southern. Would like itinerary advice. Interested in whale watching, short hikes, Fundy tides, lobster, fine dining, R&R, scenery, birds, kayaking, maybe tour colleges in Halifax and in Wolfville.

If you don't already have the Doers and Dreamers Guide from the Nova Scotia Dept of Tourism, get it ASAP. Their Lighthouse route (South Shore) sounds perfect fro your group.

Check out Lunenburg and book a cruise on the Bluenose. Check out Ovens National Park, the mussel farm at Indian Point, rent sea kayaks in Mahone Bay.

Well Halifax and NS in general are the places to be to check out the universities. Acadia in Wolfville is a beautiful campus. In Halifax Dal, St Mary's, Mt. Saint Vincent, Kings - depends on what your son wishes to study.

I would say spend a few days in Halifax. You can day trip to Lunenburg, etc. or spend a night there and drive across to Wolfville. Check out Halls Harbour for a lobster dinner on the wharf. You can whale watch directly from the Halifax waterfront. I have seen whales come up the harbour and have viewed them from my office.

Lots of fine dining in the metro area. In Wolfville try Tempest and in Halifax Gio at the Prince George.

Thanks for these fine suggestions...I ordered the D&D guide a few days ago because of this site so that may help us finalize our plans....I am inclined to stay in Halifax with day trips to start and then drive over to Wolfville for 2-3 nights.

As the proud parent of the valedictorian of the graduating class of Kings College (Dalhousie), let me get a plug in for that university. In fact, the reason we now know the area so well is because she chose to attend this school and met her partner there. We grew to love the town and environs SO much, we have now purchased a seaside home near there!

For a hotel in Halifax, the Marriott is nice and very well located.....it is connected to the casino and they often have very good promotions and great rates for the quality of hotel.

Congrats to the proud parent! Do you know if they have a good computer science/IT program there? I'm now thinking w nights on the front end of our trip in Halifax, 2 in Lunenberg and 2 in Wolfville, then final night back in Halifax. Any input on that plan? Will I have difficulty getting lodging since it's only 6 weeks away? I think we'd like to do the Zodiac tour of the Ovens Natural Park...should we whale watch in the Atlantic or in the Bay of Fundy???

Dal has a great computer science/IT program!

Daughter seconds the recco with regard to Dal's computer programme. As to your schedule, that works very well, but I would certainly book ASAP. You might want to check out BBCanada's website for B&B's in the areas you are looking at. I THINK you can count on whale-watching in either body of water but this is not my area of expertise (now ask me about food and I can go on all day!). You might want to try re-posting with a specific question.

Have a wonderful time: this is a great area!

Halifax is a lovely city; you will enjoy a couple of days wandering the downtown and harbour areas. Staying a night or two in Lunenbburg, or farther down the Lighthouse Route, will allow you to explore in a little more depth the fishing villages and some of the more off-the-beaten track and scenic beaches (which also offer good birdwatching- shorebirds are migrating in August). These include Cherry Beach (best at low-mid tide), spectacular Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct (accessed by moderate hike), beautiful Carter's Beach near Port Mouton and others. As you noted, best to book your lodging asap. Weekday availability might be better. I believe most of the info contained in the Doers and Dreamers Guide is online accessible with "searches" of the website. Mahone Bay near Lunenburg is an attractive village with shops and restaurants. And you'll want to do a quick stop at Peggy's Cove for the scenery.

Fundy is famous for whale-watching in August. Tours leave from Brier's Island (an area also known for birds, wildflowers and scenery). Although I haven't taken a tour out of Brier Island, I have experienced spectacular whale-watching in Fundy out of Grand Manan, and I expect the Brier Island tours would be similar.

Next trip to NS, make time to spend a few days in Cape Breton touring the Cabot Trail.

We will also be fortunate to spend a week in Sept in Nova Scotia. This group has been so helpful & I am trying to do some fine tuning. We plan to be in Halifax for the last 2 nights, especially to see the Bluenose & the Maritime Museum. Reservation is set at the Halliburton thanks to your suggestions.Are advance reservations needed to do a harbor sail on it? Tanya, you have been a great help to me!! We arrive at airport at 3, get away by 4 in the rent car if all goes well. We need advice on where to go from airport to position ourselves for the drive next day to Mabou or Margaree or somewhere in between where we will start the Cabot Trail the next day. We want to allow plenty of time for stops, photos, short hikes etc.
Got the wonderful Doers & Dreamers guide and a detailed map. Should we head for Truro or the Burncoat-Noel Shore-Selma area from the airport? We would really like to see the extreme tide area. This may not be a realistic option or choice. What would you experienced travellers and NS residents suggest? We were thinking 1st night Truro or whatever you suggest, somewhere near the beginning of the trail, 2 nights Ingonish area, Baddeck, then 2 nights in Halifax. I am open to any suggestions and thank you so much in advance.

For easy in and out from Halifax, you might consider the Comfort Inn on the Bedford highway-this was an Econolodge until very recently, like 3 weeks ago. We have stayed here frequently because of a) its easy access to both Halifax and the highway/no bridge/no tolls and b) its wonderful porch views of the harbour. It also serves an excellent and inexpensive breakfast in theri sunny dining room looking out on the water.

With so much great help and realizing that we simply can't do it all in a week, we have settled on: 2 nights in Halifax, hoping to hit its highlights inaddition to the Dal tour. Head towards Lunenberg with an obligatory stop at the Peggy's Cove lighthouse and another stop at the Swiss Air Memorial. Spend three nights based in Lunenberg. Do an afternoon at Ovens Natural Park with a Zodiac tour of the sea caves booked for 4pm. A free day to choose what to do (and be flexible about weather). Our final morning, do the early Bluenose excursion, then head across to Digby. Drive down Digby neck, catch the ferry and spend one night on Brier Island with whale watching scheduled for first thing in the am. Then drive up the Evangeline Trail to Wolfville and spend the night before heading to the airport for our return home. Any further input from all you experts?? Sure do appreciate the help!

When you are ready to talk turkey (or any other kind of foodstuffs i.e. restaurant reccomendations) come looking on this board. Other than that, it sounds like a wonderful trip and you and your son should end up well-informed about Dal and in love with the area.

LJ, I did read on this board that late August is AFTER lobster season and we will only be getting them out of tanks....is this accurate??? That's very disappointing! Although surely we'll find other things to eat!

Nothing to be alarmed about; you will get your fresh lobster. Prudent lobster harvesting demands that the official season when the fishing boats go out remains short. But I suspect what you have heard is that the lobsters are in pounds (not tanks) where they continue to grow in fresh sea water. There is fresh lobster all year round.