Nova Scotia Guide
 

Hi, I live in Halifax, NS, and would be pleased to answer any questions that anyone has about Nova Scotia. I have been almost everywhere in this province. Also I thought it would help people if I posted the web site for NS Tourism. It is http://explore.gov.ns.ca. <BR> <BR>

The Nova Scotia web site is a good one. <BR>Also, the staff at the visitor/welcome center on the main road when driving from New Brunswick into Nova Scotia is very helpful. I used both services to plan a very nice trip in '97. <BR>I hope everyone that visits the province can enjoy their trip as much as I enjoyed mine.

Jody, we're coming to Nova Scotia in late Sept. and driving from Halifax to Digby via Yarmouth, ferry across the Bay of Fundy to New Brunswick, then Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, ending our trip in early Oct. What kind of weather should we expect during that period? <BR>

JJ, The weather in early October should be fairly good, especially in Nova Scotia. Always be prepared for rain though. Although NS gets more rain than NB and PEI, it is also warmer. Last October, it was quite warm until mid to late month. The leaves will be incredible along the Cabot Trail then. You definitely have to make sure that you drive the Trail counterclockwise. This is the best way for the sights.

Hi, glad to see you posting, we have just decided to visit Halifax in mid-July. Planning on 7-day driving tour. Do you have any recommended 'must see' spots in both NS and NB? Look forward to visiting this area.

Depending on when exactly in mid-July you will be here, there is much to see. I don't know New Brunswick that well but can certainly help you with NS. The Tall Ships will be here from the 19th to the 24th. Halifax will be very exciting during that time with many events going on. <BR> <BR>If you are looking for nice scenery then I suggest you see the South Shore of NS, which includes Peggy's Cove, Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. The ocean views are spectacular. As well if you do not go to NB or skip the South Shore you could go to Cape Breton and see the Cabot Trail. It will be impossible for you to see much of both NS and NB in only 7 days. It is about 3 hours at least to the border of NB from Halifax and then you have to drive quite a distance in NB to see any worthwhile sights. One way you could do it is to see the Annapolis valley in NS and Digby and then take the ferry to NB from Digby. You could go whale watching in Digby if it is not foggy or rainy. <BR> <BR>Let me know if you have any more questions. <BR> <BR>Jody

Sandi, <BR>Jody's post is very good. Although the NB border to Halifax is only 2 hours with the new highway open, she is correct that it will be next to impossible to do NB & all of NS in a 7-day trip. Cape Breton is very beautiful, but it requires plenty of time to do it right. To get a good flavour for NS, I'd second Jody's suggestion of doing Halifax & the South Shore (follow the "Lighthouse Route"). <BR> <BR>I'm not sure where you're driving from, but a suggestion may be to do a "loop" where you take in the Fundy Coast of NB (St. Martins, Hopewell Rocks, Fundy Nat'l Park are very beautiful), then continue on to Halifax for the Tall Ships Festival (My wife & I will definitely be taking that in!), then head south through Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, Liverpool, etc. Very beautiful towns. Then you could take the ferry from Yarmouth to Portland, Maine (if that's where you'll be coming from), or continue on to Digby and take the ferry to Saint John, NB. Whichever fits your schedule better. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps, and enjoy your trip! Maybe we'll see you at the Tall Ships! <BR> <BR>Tim

What is the drive time from Halifax to St, John, NB, now that the new roda is open? We'll be staying with friends at Hubbards, and are trying to decide whether to drive back or take the ferry from Digby to St. John.

Gene - with the new highway open and a speed limit of 110km/h, Halifax to Saint John can be done in a little more than 3.5 hours. <BR> <BR>Note though that there is now a $3 toll on the Nova Scotia portion of that road, between Truro and Amherst. they had also put up toll booths in NB between Moncton & Sussex, but they have since been closed. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip! <BR> <BR>Tim

hi jody, thanks for all the helpful messages. we'll be in n.s. 7/16-7/23 <BR>driving from yarmouth ferry. we did this same trip 2 years ago and had so much fog and rain we missed a lot..hopefully july is clearer than sept. what all is at the tall ship festival..crafts, food, etc? is a trip to pei worthwhile? can't wait for cool weather...thanks

Hi Donna, <BR> <BR>That is great to hear that you are coming back to Nova Scotia! The drive from Yarmouth to Halifax should be much better in mid-July than in September. We usually have nice weather in July and August. As for the Tall Ships, mainly what you will get with that festival is lots of people, waterfront activities for all ages, a big concert on the side of Citadel Hill (probably with well known acts - they haven't been announced yet), and of course ships galore. If you are not into crowds or ships, I would suggest that you avoid Halifax between the 19-24. If you are into that then the website is www.tallships2000.ns.ca. <BR> <BR>As for PEI, as my mother's family are from there and I visit there quite a bit, I can highly recommend going over there for a visit, expecially if you have never been there before. The beaches are gorgeous and the scenery is amazing. If you can sacrifice a couple of days to go over then you will not be disappointed. It takes about 4-5 hours to drive from Halifax to PEI via the Confederation Bridge. If you take the ferry in Pictou, NS, then it will take a little longer. It is worthwhile to take the ferry though as it is a nice break out on the water. Cavendish is really touristy but other nearby areas such as Rustico and Stanhope are wonderful. <BR> <BR>Let me know if you have anymore questions. Have a great trip! <BR> <BR>Jody

Hi. Travelling to NS in early August with two small children (+ 3 adults) and looking for a cottage/cabin in which to spend about two weeks. Wondering which part of NS would be best bet. Also, of course, would welcome any specific cabin recommendations -- looking for 3BR with a kitchen, with some seclusion. <BR> <BR>Oh and while we're at it, anyone have perspective about which, if any, beaches in NS are swimmable/pleasant in August? <BR> <BR>Very grateful for any help! <BR> <BR>

Hi Tom, <BR> <BR>As I live here, I have never stayed in any cabins in NS. However, on a quick look at the NS Tourism web site (at the address listed above) there are quite a few listings for cabins/cottages in NS. Many of them are in Baddeck, Cape Breton, which is a beautiful area. If you want to stay closer to Halifax and near beaches then I would recommend the South Shore. There are cabins in Hubbards, Lunenburg, etc. Hubbards, Queensland, Liverpool, all have nice beaches where you can still swim in August. August is usually one of our hottest months so that is the month when you would swim in the ocean in NS. Just check the web site and I am sure you will find lots of choices.

Wow! I'm leaving on June 10th from Toronto for 2 weeks in NS, NB and PEI. I just printed out all your recommendations to take along with me. Sounds like we'll have lots to see and do.

Hi Vanessa, <BR> <BR>That is great that you are coming to visit the Maritimes. As you can tell, I love living here so I tend to promote it quite a bit. I am sure that you will have a wonderful vacation. There are definitely lots of things to do and see. Have a great time! <BR> <BR>Jody

Jody, <BR> <BR>We are visiting NS third week in June and hope everyone we meet is as friendly as you. What kind of weather can we expect? Are any of the beaches warm enough for swimming?

Hi Ellie, <BR> <BR>You will have a great vacation here in June. However, I am not sure about swimming in the ocean at that time of year. It could be quite warm (we are hoping) but the water won't be. The temps have been slowly climbing the last couple of weeks. The Atlantic Ocean never gets really warm at the best of times. So unless you are used to swimming in cold water I wouldn't think that you will be swimming very much. You may be able to lay out on the beach though. The beaches along the South Shore get nice warm weather a lot of the time. The farther north you go the more likely it is to be cooler. Even if you don't end up hanging out on beaches a lot you will find many things to do while here, I am sure. And yes, I am sure that you will meet many friendly people like me!

I am planning my first trip to Nova Scotia in July. I plan to be there for about eight days. I would like to see Halifax and theCabot Trail. Can you provide any suggestions hotels etc. other places to visit. Any information you could provide would be appreciated.

Hi Jim, <BR> <BR>If you check the website for NS Tourism there will be listings of accomodations. For hotels in Halifax, I would recommend the Delta Halifax or Delta Barrington and the Citadel. They are all very nice hotels right in the downtown area near the waterfront and are reasonably priced. There are others which are very nice but more expensive. <BR> <BR>On the Cabot Trail, the nicest and most expensive is the Keltic Lodge. It is in a beautiful location right in the heart of the Trail. In Baddeck there are many nice hotels and Baddeck is a good starting point for doing the Trail. Since you only have eight days if you plan on seeing any other spots around Halifax, like the South Shore, I would use Halifax as your base rather than changing hotels. I would set aside at least 2 days for the Cabot Trail with half a day of travel from Halifax to the Trail. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. <BR> <BR>Jody

Jody..I have an unusual question...I collect Royal Crown Derby Paperweights and want to know what shops in Halifax would sell them..probably a china/gift shop.. We will only be in Halifax one day..July 25..and will we have missed the Tall Ships completely?

Hi ParrotMom, <BR> <BR>Unfortunately you are correct in that you will just miss the Tall Ships. They leave on the 24th. But the upside is that you will also miss all the crowds which can annoy a lot of people. As for china shops, the best place to look would be Rob MacIntosh in the Halifax Shopping Centre. There are other gift shops on Spring Garden Road and in Historic Properties but as I am not familiar with what you are looking for I am not sure if you would find them there. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. <BR> <BR>Jody

Ihave received the NS Visitors Guide <BR>which describes in great detail seven scenic travelways. But since the Guide'purpose is to promote all of NS,they make them all sound equal. Iwill have almost two weeks to tour NS by car, primarily to see the scenic highlights, I would like to know what you have to say about which of the travelways would be the best bets.

Hi Leo, <BR> <BR>I can't remember what the travelways are called but I can tell you which areas are the best for scenery and then you can match them to the travelways. My two favorites are the South Shore drive down through Lunenburg and the Cabot Trail. All of Cape Breton is quite beautiful so you may want to spend half of your time in NS there. After that I would recommend the Annapolis Valley drive and continuing on down past Digby into Acadian land. I am not a big fan of the Eastern Shore although it is much less touristy. The same goes for the Northumberland Strait area, near Pugwash and Amherst. If you run out of time to see these last two areas but you have seen the rest then you have seen the best of NS. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip! <BR> <BR>Jody

It is very kind of you to offer info. to travellers. We will be travelling with our two teenage children from Maryland to the Quebec area. We're not certain we will be making it to Nova Scotia, but hope to - it looks lovely! Would you know anyone who might be able to furnish some insight to the Quebec area.

Hi Vicky, <BR> <BR>I unfortunately do not know really anyone from Quebec. Not many people from Quebec move to Halifax as the culture is very different in these two provinces. I have been to both Montreal and Quebec City and I love both of those cities. They have a lot of character, especially Quebec City. Also, the Gaspe Baie is supposed to be beautiful. <BR> <BR>Jody

Hi Jody, We are planning to visit NS in late Aug or early Sept., and have been considering using the Altantic Gray Lines Tour as a way to see NS,NB and PEI. It is a 10 day tour. Do you recommend a guided tour for first time visitors? Thanks. Debbie

Hi Debbie, <BR> <BR>I think that if you do not want to worry about renting a car, it is a good idea to use the bus tour. There are many beautiful areas to see in Nova Scotia and you have to drive there to see them. By doing the bus tour you will lose some of the ability to just stop somewhere if you like the scenery or town, but I am sure that the bus will take you to all the popular spots. You also will not have to worry about driving on our highways, which are mostly safe but we have had our fair share of bad accidents on them. <BR> <BR>I would just make sure that this tour is taking you to the spots that you really think would be interesting. You may want to check the Tourism web site and determine which parts of NS appeal the most to you. Enjoy! <BR> <BR>Jody

Hi Jody, Coming from San Francisco, how would you recommend getting to Halifax? We don't especially want to see any part of the U.S., just Nova Scotia. Thanks.

Hi Jody, <BR>Also coming from San Francisco - was wondering if there are any autumn festivals that coincide with the height of fall colors. Generally, what window of time is the foliage best? <BR>[Kam - NWA can get you there from SJC or SFO; connecting from Boston for sure or Toronto I think. Also Air Canada/Canadian Airways from SFO]

Hi Kam, <BR> <BR>If you are coming from San Francisco, I agree with Paul. You can connect through Toronto easily with a variety of airlines. You could also connect through New York or Boston quite easily too. Just check with your travel agent for the best fares. Air Canada may be going on strike in the next week so be careful about booking with them. <BR> <BR>Jody <BR> <BR>

Hi Paul, <BR> <BR>The best time of the year to see the fall colours in NS is beginning of October to mid-October. The Cabot Trail is especially beautiful at this time of year. One big festival that is going on in Cape Breton to correspond with this time of year is Celtic Colours International Festival. It involves 250 musicians, dancers, singers, etc. It takes place all over CB. The web site for it is www.celtic.colours.com. Fall is a great time to visit NS. <BR> <BR>Jody

Hi Jody !!! <BR> <BR>my name is liron and i will come to nova scotia in mid august all the way from israel . <BR>i want to travel there for 7-10 days , what are the best things to see ? <BR>btw: i will start my trip in n.y.c and i will take the ferry from bar-harbor maine.

Hi Liron, <BR> <BR>If you are taking the ferry then you will be landing in Yarmouth. I would drive up the South Shore from Yarmouth to Liverpool, Lunenburg, Bridgewater, Mahone Bay, Chester. You may want to stop overnight somewhere along there and stay in that area a couple of days. it is so beautiful along that coast. Then you probably will want to visit Peggy's Cove and Halifax. There is a lot to see in Halifax so you could stay there a couple of days. Then if you have time you could go to Cape Breton. The fortress Louisbourg is good to see, as well as the Cabot Trail. It would be a long drive back to Yarmouth though from Cape Breton, if you heading back on the ferry. It is five hours from Halifax to the Cabot Trail and about three or four to Yarmouth from Halifax without any stops. If you look up the NS Toiurism website as well as Destination NS you will get a lot of good information. Both of these addresses are in one of my earlier posts here. <BR> <BR>Jody

I E-mailed a letter direct to your <BR>E-mail address instead of through your Nova Scotia Guide on the Fodor's web site. Should I re-send it through <BR>Fodor's? <BR> <BR> Leo

Jody, <BR> <BR>I am planning a 10 day trip for the end of Sept or beginning of October. When do the fall colours usually start? How cool is it in early October? I am from Florida so packing for 10 days of cold weather is a challange. <BR> <BR>Also, we would like to go whale watching. Are different whale species in th Bay of Fundy all year? Is fall a good time for whale siting? <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR>Aileen <BR> <BR>

Hi Aileen, <BR> <BR>The end of September and beginning of October is a perfect time to visit NS. The fall colours will start right around then. Exactly, how far along they are will depend on how warm September is. Some years we have a very warm September which pushes the start date back a little. However, I really believe that you will be fine at that time of year. It should not be too cold, but since you are from Florida you will find it colder than me. I would say around 10-15 celcius during the day and cooler at night so bring long pants, sweaters and definitely a rain coat (we always get rain). <BR> <BR>As for whale watching, I am not sure if there are many different species of whales around here. The one thing you should consider is the weather. If it is rainy or foggy then the whale watching cruise will not run. You can go whale watching off the Digby area, in the Bay of Fundy or in Cape Breton. Cape Breton may be colder but it may not be as foggy so you might have better luck going whale watching there. The whale watching cruises would not operate if there was no chance that you would see a whale. <BR> <BR>Jody