Nova Scotia, anyone?
 

Hi!
I'm thinking of travelling to Nova Scotia with my husband and daughters, ages 6 and 9. Do you think this would be a good place to visit with them? What kinds of things are there to do with kids? My husband and I are history buffs and my daughters love wildlife. Would this be a good spot for us?

I appreciate any feedback. Thank you!

How are you arriving in NS (air, car, etc.) How long are you planning on staying and what time of year.

Nova Scotia is a great spot for a family vacation.

The Fortress of Louisburg is great for history and has lots of stuff geared to kids as well.

You can pick up a whale watching trip from the Halifax area.

Seals are frequent visitors on the coastline (we saw them daily in the Malagash area last summer)

There are great beaches at Port Hood, Mabou and Ingonish areas in Cape Breton .

NS is very good for wildlife. First Cape Breton: Spectacular scenery - you'll want to do the Cabot Trail, especially through the National Park. There are lots of Bald Eagles - I've seen many around the Bras d'Or Lakes and ocean bays along the Cabot Trail through the Park. Moose are quite possible (sometimes on the highway around dusk and dawn!). Try the trails early in the morning - the Bog Trail is short and perfect for kids. There are whale watching tours from northern Cape Breton, and I have also seen whales right from shore looking off from the headlands. See http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ns/cbreton...natcul1/c.aspx . There are some quite nices beaches in Cape Breton also. And The Fortress of Louisbourg would interest you as History buffs.

Seals can also be seen thre and other regions, e.g. I've seen them on rocks and off beaches along the Lighthouse Route. There are some beautiful beaches along that shore, although the water does tend to be quite cold along this route.

At the opposite end of NS, Brier Island also is famous for whale tours at certain times of year (check) and these try for the big species like Humpback and Finback.

Halifax is a very nice not too large city with a vibrant Harbour district with boardwalk, boat tours, a fort, museums, etc.

This is just a small sampling. Pick up a Guidebook for details on these and lots of other attractions. Great for families. Try to visit the Fundy Shore of New Brunswick (e.g. Alma/Fundy National Park and Hopewell Rocks) if you can for the impressively dramatic tides and scenery.

If you go, be sure to find ways to teach the kids about the TIDES in the Bay of Fundy.

I know that sounds dull and boring to people used to thinking only about the waves in their bathtub, but when you see tides Fundy-style, it will leave a lasting impression.

In fact, I WONDER if, when bringing little kids, whether the best move is to see Hopewell Cape, NB at HIGH tide FIRST... and only THEN return later so the kids can be mesmerized at going waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out on the ocean floor at low tide.

There are many spots around the area where, at low tide, the kids can walk a zillion feet waaaaaaaaay out on the ocean floor. And there is nothing quite like the phenomenon of seeing big, ocean going ships docked and sitting on the bottom of the ocean while awaiting the next high tide.

Hi Tanya!
I'm hoping to travel to Nova Scotia sometime this August.

I just read the book "Someone Knows My Name" AKA The Book of Negroes which made me very interested in seeing the history of this area. We live in NY, so I guess the best way to get there would be to fly.

We would encourage you to visit Nova Scotia. Lot's of history throughout the province for you and your wife and wildlife is everywhere for your daughters. As you travel through the province we'd invite you to come visit Chedabucto Bay, the largest bay on the Nova Scotia Atlantic coast with more than 600 kilometres of shoreline to explore. Here is our list of more than 101 things to do on the Bay: http://www.authenticseacoast.com/play

Holly, that is a fabulous book! I didn't know the American title. Isn't it unbelievable that the author had to create a second title??

Ok, so flying into Nova Scotia would mean you would have to rent a car or simply stay in Halifax as public transporation is limited throughout the province.

With kids 6 and 9, Halifax has a lot to offer. Explore Citadel Hill and watch the noon cannon going off. The waterfront is a great spot to walk, eat, play (there is a ship playground your 6 year old would like), perhaps buskers depending on the time of year. Take the Harbour Hopper tour around Halifax that gives you a little history (in a fun way) and takes you into the Harbour for a ride. The Freaklunch Candy store on Barrington St. is a must. Discovery Centre is a great way to spend a few hours on a rainy day. Sit on the wall in front of the library on Spring Garden Road and enjoy some hand-cut french fries. Outside of Halifax/Dartmouth a couple of nice beaches but bewarned, the water is cold. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is also on the waterfront. Take a ferry boat ride to Dartmouth and enjoy a lunch.

Pictou County boasts the warmest waters north of the Carolina's. Popular beaches are shared with the same stretch of water as PEI. Melmerby, Caribou, Big Island.

Whale watching tours - for the best probably Digby Neck or the Cabot Trail - but you can see them outside of Halifax Harbour too.



About 40 minutes from Halifax is the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park that would featured animals native to this area. A great way to spend an afternoon. If hot, go early so the animals aren't sleeping.

Towards Wolfville at Oaklawn Zoo is the opposite of above. A zoo with a variety of exotic animals. In this area, explore Grand Pre, go to Halls Harbour, you can also do pick your own vegetables/fruit at many farms (this is Nova Scotia's agricultural area). Between Wolfville and Lunenburg is Ross Farm's a NS museum that features the way of life many years ago in rural NS.