Discover the heart of Canada’s Atlantic seacoast on this wonderful vacation. Begin your trip with a visit to Peggy’s Cove, a charming fishing village, and a guided tour of Halifax before heading out along Nova Scotia’s majestic coastline to explore quaint fishing villages, beautiful resorts, and fascinating historical sites. On Cape Breton Island, keep your camera ready as you embark on the Cabot Trail, one of the most scenic drives in the world. Experience Acadian culture and enjoy Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a landscape that strikingly resembles Scottish coastal regions. Spend two nights on Prince Edward Island with an island tour, time in the provincial capital of Charlottetown, and visits to Prince Edward Island National Park and Green Gables farmhouse—setting for the popular Anne of Green Gables novel.Enjoy Digby, a popular summer resort, and visit Port Royal Habitation, founded in 1605 and the earliest permanent settlement north of Florida. In your free time, consider an optional whale-watching cruise on the Bay of Fundy! On your way back to Halifax, stop in Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major fishing port. Your vacation ends in Halifax.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Halifax. Welcome to Halifax! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
Day #2 Halifax. Excursion to Peggy’s Cove. Start this morning with a visit to PEGGY’S COVE, one of Canada’s most charming fishing villages. Have your camera ready for spectacular shots of this famous lighthouse and picturesque setting. We then return to Halifax, where your city tour led by a Local Guide includes a visit to the CITADEL with its early 19th-century, star-shaped fort, the shady walks of the Public Gardens, and the harbor area. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Consider a visit to the Maritimes Museum, which explains the area’s seafaring past, or perhaps take a very entertaining tour of Alexander Keith’s Brewery, which has been making the home-grown favorite since the early 1880s. (B)
Day #3 Halifax–Sherbrooke Village–Jeddore Oyster Pond–Liscomb Mills. Take scenic Marine Drive north along the Atlantic shoreline through picturesque fishing villages, stopping at the [LF] FISHERMAN’S LIFE MUSEUM in Jedore Oyster Pond. The museum showcases a typical Nova Scotia fisherman’s house from the early 1900s. Visit SHERBROOKE VILLAGE, once a thriving gold-mining town, whose renovated buildings recall the boom years of the 1860s. Your overnight is the attractive riverside setting of Liscomb Mills. (B,D)SPECIAL FEATURE: Your hotel is the Liscombe Lodge, one of Nova Scotia’s Signature Resorts. Often referred to as the “Nature Lover’s Resort,” it is nestled along Nova Scotia’s picturesque Marine Drive in one of the most beautiful riverside settings in Atlantic Canada.
Day #4 Liscomb Mills–Cabot Trail–Cheticamp–Ingonish Beach. Via Canso Causeway, cross over to Cape Breton Island, one of the first footholds of European settlement in the New World. Then, travel along the CABOT TRAIL, considered one of the most scenic drives in the world. At the Acadian village of Cheticamp, check out the famous hand-hooked rugs. Proceed north along the coast, savoring magnificent vistas of the rocky shoreline and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Enter CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK, a landscape that strikingly resembles Scottish coastal regions. (B,D)SPECIAL FEATURE: Your hotel tonight is the Keltic Lodge. Located on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with spectacular sunrises, Keltic Lodge commands a view like no other and beckons you to relax and enjoy the splendor of the Highlands.
Day #5 Ingonish Beach–Fortress of Louisbourg–Baddeck. Visit the ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL MUSEUM, where exhibits trace the achievements of the great inventor who spent his last years on Cape Breton. Then, travel to the fortress of LOUISBOURG NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE. Enjoy a personalized guided walking tour of New France’s historic fortress town and visit the grand King’s Bastion. Overnight in nearby Baddeck, located on the shores of beautiful Bras d’Or Lake. (B,D)
Day #6 Baddeck–Pictou–Charlottetown. This morning, proceed south across the Strait of Canso to Pictou, known as the “Birthplace of New Scotland.” It was here that the first boatload of Scottish Highlanders landed in Nova Scotia in 1773. Visit HECTOR HERITAGE QUAY, an attractively restored waterfront, and step aboard a full-sized replica of the three-masted vessel, the Hector. Then, board a FERRY that whisks you across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island. The next two nights are in Charlottetown, the provincial capital. (B)
Day #7 Charlottetown. Morning at leisure. Later, a guided tour of the island includes a drive to the fishing port of North Rustico Harbour to see the sand dunes and lovely beaches of PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND NATIONAL PARK. Also visit GREEN GABLES farmhouse, the setting for the famous novel Anne of Green Gables. Tonight, enjoy a [LF] LOBSTER DINNER at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day #8 Charlottetown–Grand-Pre’ National Historic Park–Digby. Drive across the 8-mile-long Confederation Bridge, then motor south to coastal Wolfville. Stop here to visit nearby GRAND-PRÉ NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK with its memorial church museum. American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow chose this setting for his famous poem Evangeline. Continue south to Digby, a popular Atlantic province summer resort. This evening, enjoy a private [LF] CULINARY DEMONSTRATION about the Digby scallop and learn how they are harvested, the impact of the tides on the scallop, and which wine pairs best with scallops. Later, dinner is included at the resort. (B,D)SPECIAL FEATURE: Your hotel for the next two nights is the Pines Resort, a world of casual elegance in the tradition of the grand hotels. Surrounded by breathtaking beauty, you will have an opportunity to enjoy the view, recreation, and internationally renowned cuisine in this Norman-style chateau.
Day #9 Digby. Excursion to Annapolis Royal. This morning is at leisure. Perhaps take an optional cruise into the Bay of Fundy on a whale-watching expedition. Later, travel along the scenic Annapolis Basin to visit PORT ROYAL HABITATION. Founded in 1605, it’s the earliest permanent settlement north of Florida. Enjoy costumed interpreters and demonstrations that bring to life the everyday life in the early 17th century. Before returning to Digby, stop at a local WINERY, where you’ll learn about the award-winning wines produced in this part of Canada as well as enjoy a tasting. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day #10 Digby–Lunenburg–Halifax. This morning we travel across Nova Scotia to the rugged southern shores, making a stop in Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your free time here, explore the quaint Main Street, shop for souvenirs, or spend time at the Fisheries Museum to learn more about this major fishing port. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with new friends, the perfect finale to your Maritimes vacation. (B,D)
Day #11 Halifax. The tour ends this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided. (B)
Hotels:
HALIFAX Westin Nova Scotian (SF)
LISCOMB MILLS Liscombe Lodge (F)
INGONISH BEACH Keltic Lodge (F)
BADDECK Silver Dart Lodge (MF)
CHARLOTTETOWN Delta Prince Edward (SF)
DIGBY Digby Pines Resort & Spa (SF)