On the Roads of Nova Scotia

Welcome to the capital of Nova Scotia! Once you have picked up your rental car, take a stroll along the Halifax waterfront. This mile-long downtown boardwalk is one of the longest in the world.

Halifax is a city on a human scale and has many places of interest in the heart of the city, starting with its pretty historic waterfront district and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which houses many of the remains of the Titanic, which ran aground off the coast in 1912.

You can also visit the Citadel, situated on a hill overlooking the harbour, to learn about the history of this remarkable star-shaped bastion.

Take the Sunrise Trail, a scenic route along the province’s northern coastline, and enjoy beautiful scenery along the way.

On the way, you can take advantage of the lunch hour to stop in Pictou, the birthplace of Nova Scotia. In 1773, the first Scottish immigrants arrived in this town on board the ship Hector, a replica of which can be seen in the village harbour.

After stopping in Pictou, continue on to Cape Breton. By the time you arrive on the island, you will have driven along the scenic Ceilidh Trail for the second time today.

In the late afternoon you will begin driving the Cabot Trail, a road known to be one of the most beautiful in the world, on your way to the park’s must-do sunset hike: the Skyline Trail.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is considered one of Canada’s most exceptional parks. It is home to a succession of wooded areas, tundra and peat bogs, whose colours are generously set ablaze when autumn sets in on the slopes. From lookouts and numerous hiking trails, you will be struck by the splendour of this carpet of leaves, waterfalls, beaches and old-growth forests that extends into the distance, along the rocky coastline.

The first part of the day is spent walking the last few kilometres of the Cabot Trail. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and the stunning views of the deep blue sea as far as the eye can see! You will cross the last few kilometres of the Cabot Trail before reaching Port Hastings and continue on to Peggy’s Cove, a must-see in the province, where you will enjoy the sunset.

Located in St. Margarets Bay, Peggy’s Cove is a picturesque fishing village. With its lighthouse, it is even one of the most photographed places in Canada. Perched on a bed of huge rocks, this village is incredibly beautiful!

Mahone Bay is a small, colourful, postcard-perfect village on the water! The village is known for its many annual festivals such as the Mahone Bay Home & Garden Tour in July, which gives you an inside look at some of the village’s historic homes, and the Scarecrow Festival and Antique Fair in September!

On the scenic route to Lunenburg you will have the opportunity to contemplate the sublime scenery of capes and cliffs which will envelop your arrival in a bracing iodine climate. Between small hamlets, bucolic fishing harbours and picturesque villages, the “lighthouse road” is a must for enjoying the coastal horizon. Lunenburg is one of the most beautiful places on the coast, but also the most interesting thanks to its fascinating Museum of Atlantic Fishing. The village is perched on a hillside and the colourful houses are magnificent. The old town is a Unesco World Heritage Site and has all the makings of a small maritime postcard.

In the morning you will return to your car and make a short stop in the village of Shelburne. It has a waterfront with some historic buildings. Some films have even been made here, including New World Lovers with Gary Oldman and Demi Moore.

You will head back to Cape Forchu in Yarmouth County. In the 19th century, the port of Yarmouth was one of the most important in the country. However, shipwrecks were commonplace and soon a lighthouse had to be built. The original lighthouse had a slightly different architecture. It was built in 1839, demolished in 1961 and finally replaced by this one in 1962.

In the morning, after breakfast at your bed and breakfast, head to Brier Island for a whale-watching trip before strolling into the home port of the world’s largest scallop fleet.

Then head to the Annapolis Valley. Spend half a day exploring Annapolis Royal and the surrounding area of fields, dykes, orchards and vineyards.

Halifax has many public gardens dating from the Victorian era. These are beautifully maintained by a number of gardeners and horticulturists whose mission is to preserve the spirit of the gardens of the era. You can walk through the largest garden in the city, the Halifax Public Gardens.

Afterwards, you have the opportunity to stroll through the shopping streets of the city centre, especially Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road. These are very busy streets with lots of shops, but there are also many restaurants, pubs and cafes.