Maritime Highlights: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island

Upon arrival, you will be driven from Halifax airport to your hotel in a private vehicle. Later, make your own way to the Halifax, NS centre and pick up your rental car.

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is a lively port city with a rich historic and maritime heritage. There is plenty to see here, from the iconic Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and Halifax Citadel to the charming Old Town Clock. The picturesque waterfront, dotted with lively restaurants, museums, shops, and public art, is a great place to spend the evening.

Group Tour of Halifax Highlights with Peggy’s Cove

Delve into Nova Scotia's fascinating past and marvel at its natural beauty on this group tour. You will be driven in a shared vehicle from your hotel to Peggy's Cove, a picturesque fishing village. Your first stop is the iconic Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, which was built in 1868 and is one of the region’s most famous landmarks.

Next, explore Citadel Hill, a national historic site in downtown Halifax, where costumed re-enactors bring the fort's history to life. The site is an excellent vantage point for stunning views of the harbour, and offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of soldiers and their families in the late 1800s.

More interesting landmarks await you in the downtown area, such as Fairview Cemetery, the final resting place of over a hundred victims of the Titanic disaster. Along the way, you will also pass by Pier 21, Canada’s last surviving seaport immigration facility, and the Halifax Farmers’ Market.

Drive yourself from Halifax to Lunenburg in your rental car. The journey will be around one and a half hours.

Founded in 1753, Lunenburg is a historic port town in southern Nova Scotia, and is famous for its 19th-century architecture. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, still has most of its original colonial-era buildings, including the Knaut-Rhuland House Museum. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic showcases the region’s maritime legacy. To experience the local flavour, visit the Farmer’s Market and the Grand Banker Bar & Grill to try the Lunenburger, and sample artisanal spirits at the Ironworks Distillery.

Group Walking tour of Lunenburg

Discover North America's best-preserved British colonial settlement on an insightful walking tour. Make your way to the Lunenburg Academy on Kaulbach Street, where you will meet your guide. You will be exploring the historical Old Town Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Admire the beautiful Victorian and 18th-century architecture, walk along streets lined with colourful old homes, and see the ships in the town's port. Your guide will tell you interesting facts about the city’s history, highlight unusual architectural features such as Lunenburg bumps and ship's knees, and share some local folklore as well.

Explore Digby/Smith’s Cove on your own

If time isn’t a constraint and the weather is good, we recommend exploring the coastal Digby/Smith’s Cove region. As you drive out of Lunenburg, you can choose between two scenic routes. If you are looking for history and culture, take the coastal route across the Annapolis Valley, passing charming towns that overlook the Bay of Fundy.

At Annapolis Royal, the oldest European settlement in North America, visit Fort Anne National Historic Site. Here, learn how French, British and Mi’kmaq influences have shaped the region's culture.

While here, you should also stroll through the beautiful Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, and explore a reconstructed 17th-century French settlement at Port-Royal National Historic Site. Having experienced the assorted charms of the area, continue along Highway 101 to Digby/Smith’s Cove.

Alternatively, you can take the inland route through the UNESCO-listed Kejimkujik National Park. Immerse yourself in the park’s rich ecology, indigenous history, and wildlife. From here, you will need to head west towards Digby. Once you reach this charming town, unwind at a restaurant on the waterfront and enjoy some fresh seafood.

From Lunenburg, drive yourself to Digby/Smith's Cove in your rental car. The travel time is around two hours.

Digby, known for its scallop and lobster fleet, sits along the Annapolis Basin, near the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. This lovely town is a great base from which you can explore the Annapolis Valley and Digby Neck. Nearby, Smith’s Cove is a scenic village with beautiful beaches. At the Smith’s Cove Old Temperance Hall Museum, you can browse through interesting exhibits from the 18th century. Some of the popular outdoor activities here include whale watching, fishing, sailing, kayaking, surfing and more.

Explore Digby on Your Own

Step out to experience the sights and sounds of Digby. Start your day at the Admiral Digby Museum, where you can learn about the region's fascinating maritime history. Then, take a stroll along Admirals Walk, where you’ll pass quaint shops. Stop to watch the scallop fleets return to the wharf.

Visit the replica of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis’s house, and go on a whale watching cruise in the Bay of Fundy. If you prefer something more leisurely, you can go beach combing. Later, catch the sunset from Point Prim, where you will see one of Digby’s three lighthouses. Round off your day with a drink and a plate of fresh scallops at one of the waterfront restaurants.

From Digby, board your ferry for a two and half hour journey to Saint John, across the Bay of Fundy. Once you reach Saint John, drive yourself in a rental car to St. Andrews. The travel time is about an hour and a half.

St. Andrews is a scenic resort town in southern New Brunswick, Canada, overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay. Founded in 1783, this British colonial settlement is now a National Historic Site. A popular summer retreat, the town’s well-preserved Georgian and Federal-style buildings can be seen along Water Street and Kings Street downtown.

Group Bay of Fundy Whale Watch and Wildlife Tour

Enjoy sailing on the nutrient-rich Bay of Fundy to spot marine life such as humpback, finback, and minke whales. Make your way to the wharf at the scheduled time and board your vessel. As you sail past islands and passages, keep an eye out for seabirds, porpoises and seals.

The skipper and crew will tell you all about the aquatic life in the area. A variety of whales awaits you in the expansive bay. You can see humpbacks rolling, breaching, and arching their backs out of the water before diving in search of food. There are minke whales, which travel in small pods of two or three, and finbacks with their long spouts. On the way back, you might see a variety of seabirds such as gulls, kittiwakes, and eagles.

Explore St. Andrews on Your Own

St. Andrews is one of the most picturesque towns in the Maritimes region. Located by the US border, this seaside town is known for its old-world charm and beautiful architecture. St. Andrews is easy to explore on foot, thanks to its grid-like street layout.

Start your day at Minister’s Island, the erstwhile summer home of William Cornelius Van Horne, who built the Canadian Pacific Railway. You can walk on the seafloor if the tide is low to get there. In addition to several scenic trails, you can also stroll around Covenhaven, a splendid Edwardian residence.

Take a break for lunch at a popular local seafood spot such as The Chandler Room or The Clam Digger. Next, learn more about the town's history at the Ross Memorial Museum, which was once the residence of a wealthy family in the 1820s, and stroll through the stunning Kingsbrae Garden.

Other interesting things you can do in St. Andrews include whale watching, sunbathing at Katy’s Cove, and visiting the Fundy Discovery Aquarium.

Drive your rental car from St. Andrews to Moncton. The travel time is around three and a half hours.

Moncton sits in southeastern New Brunswick. Once a wooden shipbuilding hub, this fast growing city is known for its art and culture. Moncton is home to the Atlantic Ballet of Canada, the historic 800-seat Capitol Theatre, the Moncton Museum at Resurgo Place, and the Transportation Discovery Centre. Other popular attractions include Magnetic Hill, where cars seem to roll uphill, and Magnetic Hill Zoo.

Visit Hopewell Rocks and Walk the Ocean Floor (Tickets only)

Experience walking on the ocean floor at low tide in the Bay of Fundy, and explore the stunning sandstone formations of Hopewell Rocks. Use your included tickets to enter Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park and start your adventure. As you walk around, see the towering flowerpot-shaped rocks and touch the rough striations on the formation. Visit the interpretive center to learn more about this natural wonder.

Stop by one of the cafés for a meal, browse the gift shop, and take in scenic views from the lookout deck. You could also hike the park’s trails or visit the 300-year-old Acadian seawall at the north end. Other activities you can try out while waiting for the tide to turn include cave exploration, sunbathing, and birdwatching.

Afterwards, return to see the rock formations transformed into islands by the high tide. If you are feeling adventurous, you can go kayaking among the rocks!

Drive yourself from Moncton to Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. During this two hour journey on the spectacular Trans-Canada Highway, you will travel across the 8 mile-long Confederation Bridge.

Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of Prince Edward Island. It is known as the ‘Birthplace of Confederation’ as it hosted the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, where the idea of Canada was first discussed. Province House, the conference site, now serves as the provincial legislature and is a popular attraction. The historic downtown area features the original 500 lots surveyed in 1764 by Captain Samuel Holland, with many Victorian-era buildings still standing.

Group Tour of Prince Edward Island

Discover Prince Edward Island’s top attractions on this half-day tour. You will be picked up from your hotel in a shared vehicle.

Your exploration of Canada’s smallest province begins with a scenic drive through Charlottetown. Pass landmarks such as the Gothic-style Saint Dunstan’s Basilica, Province House, and the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Your guide will share interesting facts about the area and point out the Government House, the pretty Victoria Park Boardwalk, and the University of Prince Edward Island.

Visit Queen Street with its charming storefronts, and the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Site, the farm that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery. Stop at the PEI Preserve Company, and stock up on the homemade jams and local treats that it is known for. Finally, take in the stunning red sandstone cliffs of Cavendish and ocean views at Dalvay before returning to your hotel.

From Charlottetown drive for about an hour in your rental car to reach Wood Islands Ferry Terminal. At the terminal, board the ferry for Caribou across the Northumberland Strait.

After about 75 minutes, you will reach the Caribou Ferry Terminal from where you can hop into another rental car and drive yourself to Baddeck. This final stretch will take you approximately two and a half hours.

Baddeck is a village on Cape Breton Island, which lies off the northeastern tip of Nova Scotia, Canada. Known as Unama’ki by the Mi’kmaq People, the island is one of their seven ancestral territories.

The village is located on the shores of the Bras d’Or Lakes, and is considered the starting and ending point of the famous Cabot Trail. You will also find inventor Alexander Graham Bell’s summer retreat here, which is now home to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site.

Group Winstar Cruise

Set sail on the Winstar and explore the UNESCO-listed Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere Reserve aboard a comfortable, enclosed double-decker vessel. Head to the Baddeck Wharf where you will board your boat. As you cruise around this beautiful area, the crew will tell you about the fascinating history of Baddeck, from the early Mi’kmaq to the French and British settlements.

Pass by Kidston Island and the nearby villages of Washabuck, Boularderie Island, and Kempt Head. Visit the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell, a National Historic Site where the British Empire’s first airplane, the Silver Dart, took flight. Learn about Bell’s wife, Mabel Hubbard Bell, known for her work with deaf children. End your journey by watching the captain feed a family of bald eagles before returning to the pier.

Explore Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site on your own

The Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site is a museum dedicated to the life and work of Alexander Graham Bell. In addition to some carefully curated artefacts donated by the Bell family, the museum also has an impressive collection of memorabilia chronicling Bell's groundbreaking experiments such as the hydrofoil boat, the HD-4, and a full-scale model of the AEA Silver Dart aircraft.

Learn how his work in the field of deaf education inspired him to design the telephone. The museum also features interactive stations dedicated to designing tetrahedrons and flying kites, an engaging playroom with animated displays, and numerous exhibits detailing Bell's inventions.

Outside, on the museum grounds, you can visit Mabel's Gardens, an outdoor project aimed at recreating and showcasing Mabel Bell's unique garden and gardening techniques. Before you leave, pop by the museum’s gift shop to pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Group Cabot Trail Discovery Tour

Explore the Cabot Trail, one of North America’s most scenic drives. This 186-mile loop takes you through rugged coastlines and majestic mountains, including the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. On this guided tour, enjoy stunning views of valleys, coastal headlands and green hills while learning about the region’s Mi’kmaq, Acadian, and Gaelic cultures.

Stop at Wreck Cove General Store and the Cabot Trail sign before heading up the coast. Enjoy a short hike from Cape Smokey Picnic Park to the narrow peninsula. Walk through a forest to reach the end of the promontory where you can relax and watch the birds flying above. Take in breathtaking views of the ocean and Cape Breton Island.

Head back to the car park and drive to the quiet fishing village of White Point Harbor before returning to Baddeck.

Drive yourself from Baddeck to Halifax, which is a four hour journey. Once you reach, make your way to the Halifax, NS centre where you will drop off your rental car.

On the day of your departure, a private vehicle will take you from your hotel to Halifax airport, where you will board your flight back home.