The Maritime Provinces

Explore Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, and take a stroll along the historic waterfront. Set sail into Halifax Harbour and look out for minke and humpback whales, as well as dolphins and seals and numerous seabirds. Founded in 1749, Halifax was used as the entry point for 19th and 20th century European emigrants entering Canada. You can learn all about this and more at Pier 21, where the Canadian Museum of Immigration tales the tales of those who left their lives behind for a fresh start.

Slow down the pace along the craggy Western Shore coastline. Here you can kick back as you explore the quaint seaside villages and perhaps venture into the forests of Kejimkujik and Ovens national parks. Back at your hotel, choose to play a game or two of tennis, hire a kayak or a bike and paddle or ride along the seashore or, for something more relaxing, try out the hotel sauna or hot tub or challenge each other to a friendly game of tennis.

Trek the coastal hiking trails and feast on seafood in Digby, a town known for its glorious waterfront, where you can watch the fishing boats come in with their daily catch, usually scallops. Scallops are also the staple in the town’s seafood restaurants, and are celebrated annually on Digby Scallop Day. Take a look at the Maud Lewis Memorial, five minutes’ drive south of Digby. This steel structure, in the shape of a little cottage, is built on the original site of this much-loved artist’s house.

Sail across to peaceful Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island. It’s a peaceful place, where leafy streets, brightly decorated seafood restaurants and tempting local bakeries create come together to create a pretty, small town feel that’s worth a few days’ exploration. When not sampling the local lobster, head down to St Dunstan’s Basilica, the town’s striking cathedral and a National Historic Site of Canada, or set sail on a seal watching tour of the harbour.

Sail back to Nova Scotia and check out the sandy beaches of Northumberland Strait in Antigonish, a studenty town home to St Francis Xavier University. Take a look around the historic Saint Ninian Cathedral or take a wander around the Old Barn Gallery, a barn filled with local artworks, fashions, and two Norwegian fjord horses. If you’re here in July, don’t miss the Highland Games, a Scottish themed event complete with bagpipes, drumming, weightlifting and plenty of kilts.

On the northeast tip of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia stands Ingonish, a convenient gateway for the picturesque mountain and sea views of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The 185-mile Cabot Trail, a scenic drive or bike ride, runs through here, but you don’t have to cover it all – use it as a starting point for hiking routes, wildlife watching and scenery gawping, and for visits to the picturesque vistas of Cape Smokey.

Cape Breton’s largest town, Sydney is a good base for exploring Nova Scotia’s national parks and more remote villages. A former steel and coal mining town, there’s a little bit of history to discover, and some wonderfully cosy cafes and grills too. You can look around the Jost Museum, the oldest house in town, but really everyone who visits Sydney wants to see the Big Fiddle, an enormous fiddle displayed on the waterfront, with a lovely boardwalk promenade to reach it.

Discover the wild rivers and forests of Liscomb Mills from your secluded lodge, set deep in the Nova Scotia countryside. If you like walking try the Mayflower Trail, a rugged coastal path along the Liscomb River, or for something a little easier, bring the kids and paddle the river, keeping an eye out for woodpeckers, finches, eagles and osprey, or perhaps even deer, groundhogs or the occasional black bear.