Flights into Halifax are pretty cheap for us right now, so we decided to book 2 weeks with the family at the end of summer (2 adults, 18yo girl, 16 & 15 yo boys). We had everyone on board until we actually pulled the trigger and now my 16yo is panicking because he has himself convinced that he does not enjoy the ocean and fish, and he's going to have a miserable time. We are still early in the planning process - would appreciate any ideas people have on things to do while travelling through the Maritimes that are history or military (esp WWII) related, or good spots to go camping if we can't lug a lot of gear.

So what province are you visiting PEI, NS, NB, NF?

Pretty open at this point. Was thinking to drive PEI, NB and NS. But aside from flying in and out of Halifax, we are still preliminary planning stage

Madsen

Did you see this post on PEI I listed a lot information on our experience visiting PEI.


Halifax and PEI

Once you have reviewed the post let us know what questions you have about PEI.

Tom

You could totally dodge the ocean stuff - there’s neat history all over the Maritimes, like Halifax Citadel and war museums, and some chill spots for camping that aren’t a gear nightmare.

Been a while since I was there, but the citadel in Halifax and the Fortress of Louisburg on Cape Breton should satisfy the desire for military and historical sites.

I wish we could know what other sorts of things the 16yo panics about... so we can calibrate our audience.

(I am guessing that they might be too voluminous to list here)


BUT anyway... (despite it being OCEAN-related)... teach him about THE TIDES in the Bay of Fundy.


Tell him that all of the rivers in a certain area TURN AROUND and flow in the opposite direction each time the tide comes in (twice a day).

Tell him that as much water flows in the narrow channel between Parrsboro and Cape Split during an average day, as flows through all of the rivers ON EARTH combined during that same, average day.


Point out that multiple people have died for having been trapped by the strong and unparalleled tides in the Bay of Fundy.

See if he wants to walk around on the ocean floor at low tide, at the place where the highest tide ever recorded took place... in 1869. ("Burntcoat Head") (that's a little out of the way, on country highways and roads, but it is quite unique to see, once you're hundreds of yards from the shoreline and looking back)

Maybe he would be amused by the cemetery in Halifax in which a vast number of those who died on the Titanic are buried.

Perhaps somebody in his life would be impressed if he had his photo taken beside the grave of "J. Dawson" (though of course the "Titanic" movie is before his time)


If you take him to the right spot in Moncton, New Brunswick (Tidal Bore Park)... you can watch people SURFING on the earliest waves once the river turns around and flows UPstream.


Maybe if you go to PEI, he will marvel over the FIFTY-DOLLAR TOLL BRIDGE on the way back (you only PAY $50.25 in ONE direction {thankfully} )

Halifax itself is a fun little city, plenty safe and largely walkable... (other than the fact that much of it is on the side of a hill)


Oh, also, there are multiple spots where one can go and see an ocean-going ship, tied to a dock, and SITTING ON THE OCEAN FLOOR while awaiting the next tide to come in.

(It definitely plays tricks on your eyes/mind)


I must admit that nobody goes anywhere very fast in Nova Scotia, because it isn't on the way to anywhere, so you don't find the world zooming through it to get someplace.

Lots of countryside settings... and life at a pace that helps big city dwellers slow down just a bit to take it all in.

Maybe look around at some of these webcams and see if anything catches the eye:


www.novascotiawebcams.com


See if the kid has any interest in going to the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove. (scenic spot for dinner, on the Atlantic Ocean)


So lets see, two (other) siblings... maybe the others will find enough to catch their interest so that this challenging son can gain some tangential fun from the ideas and desires of the others.


I'm sure that if this son is reciting: "we're gonna have a rotten time" (from the moment you get to the airport near home)... he can make that come true for one and all...

but there are a few thoughts/ideas to put in front of him to see if he can be at all entertained. (maybe a 5-hour round trip hike out to the end of Cape Split ???)


If anybody could be entertained by a night or two spent right AT a lighthouse on the shore of the Bay of Fundy...

There is a great opportunity at the place called "Cape D'or"...

just off the shore is the only spot in the world where three distinct tidal forces crash into one another at certain times of the day (choppy waters that you wouldn't want to traverse in a rowboat)

Think long and hard before staying there on a FOGGY night... because the FOG HORN adjacent to the light house is REALLY LOUD.

I stayed there - just not on a foggy night.

(The Fundy fog is notorious)


I think the group will have a fun time, and I hope the one son doesn't drag everyone down with his outlook.

Be sure to order the "Doers and Dreamers Guide" from Nova Scotia tourism... (and order it SOON... cuz it can take forever to arrive) (it's free)

(maybe you can even download it, for early study... and then pick one up at the Halifax airport upon arrival - the airport is NOT big or busy, so getting things done there is more reliable than in some hectic spots)

ALSO, IF you are renting a vehicle... price the option of flying into Halifax airport, and then staying the first night very nearby, before going into town to get your vehicle from a central location, and then going to pick-up the troops from the airport hotel.

Prices can be much lower "OFF-airport" where you won't have large tax add-on's.

The city bus from the airport into central Halifax might take an hour or so, but just one or two people can go together and get the vehicle, without needing to hold bags of any sort.

Then, ideally, upon your return to the same spot... drive the gang to the airport hotel on the day OF the "last night"... and then offload the bags, and return the car downtown, and take the bus back.

(price the options in case it could save a chunk of $$$$)

When you get really good at your planning, it would be wise to print on paper a list of various high and low TIDE TIMES for spots you think you'll be near (only on the "Bay of Fundy" side.

because it can be really remarkable to your eyes and mind to see the giant differences between high and low tides there.

BUT most people don't want to waste SIX HOURS to get back to see the contrast...

SO if you play your cards right in a couple of spots you might pass by the same spot while driving to and fro around the province, and you can get "before" and "after" sort of pictures when it is convenient that way.

(but a list of times, on paper, in the glovebox, can really help make that smooth)

Here is a website for tide times, and I think you can figure out how to create the list you'll need:

tides.gc.ca/en/stations



Hope this helps in some small way.


LOL at your challenge.

Where on PEI do you plan to stay?

HI there,
Just popping in to add some Nova Scotia-specific ideas. The National Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax is fantastic. There's quite a lot in their permanent exhibition about the impact of war on immigration to Canada. My recollection is the exhibits were quite interactive and suitable for teens. Down the road, the Mareitime Museum of the Atlantic has an extensive Titanic section that your kids may find interesting.
Bear in mind the benefits of the Canada Strong pass this year if you quality. That would give you free entry to the Citadel and Pier 21. (I can't add the link but it's easily googled)
Further from the city, you might consider the Joggins Fossil Cliffs -- particularly if your family has any interest in dinosaurs. True, the cliffs are ocean-adjacent. But the wonder is in the cliffs themselves.
Finally, a small correction to a previous post: the Confederation Bridge toll is now just $20, paid upon leaving Prince Edward Island.
Best wishes for a great trip.

We visted PEI several summers ago, and you don't have to swim in order to enjoy PEI. There are easy hikes/walks on PEI. You can visit the Greenwich Dunes which are part of the PEI National Park. The walking trail is beautiful and easy. You walk on a boardwalk over the dunes, and there is a floating boardwalk over the pond. You can visit lighthouses, the Basin Head Provincial Park, Cavendish Beach and the Dunelands Trail. Do your teens like gardens and art? There is the gorgeous Dunes Gallery, Gardens, and Cafe, and the Les Maisons de Bouteilles, the glass bottle houses. And delicious seafood.

It's been awhile since we've been to Nova Scotia, but I agree with others that your teens will like the citadel at Halifax and Fortress Louisbourg on Cape Breton. And hiking on Cape Breton, too.

Here is the link to my trip report.
Trip Report Pretty Prince Edward Island and a Taste of New Brunswick - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums