Canadian Maritimes and Coastal Wonders

Explore the picture-perfect region known as Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Venture along its rugged and pristine beauty, all while getting to know its Acadian, Mi’kmaq, and Gaelic cultures. As flight arrival times into Halifax will vary throughout the day, there are no scheduled activities today.

Stunning landscapes await. Head to one of the most picturesque spots in all of Canada – Peggy’s Cove. Set along the Atlantic coast, the cove is home to a historic lighthouse that offers incredible views of the surrounding area. Continue to Halifax, exploring its charming downtown on a tour highlighting the waterfront, Public Gardens, Spring Garden Road, and the famous Citadel.

Experience the small fishing village of Mahone Bay before travelling along the beautiful Lighthouse Route towards Lunenburg. Choose how you explore this town because <B>it’s your choice!</B> Delve into the local heritage at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic <B>-OR-</B> embark on a locally guided walking tour to discover Lunenburg’s unique architecture. End your day back in Halifax for an evening on your own.

Start your morning at the Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Centre to learn about the Mi’kmaq lineage and Glooscap legends. Travel the Canso Causeway on the way to stunning Cape Breton Island. You’ll spend time at Gaelic College, where you’ll see a brief kilt-making demonstration and learn a few handy Gaelic phrases. Join in the fun of a “milling frolic,” singing a Gaelic song and tapping to the rhythm. This evening, enjoy a dinner of local flavours.

Set off for a full-day exploration of Cabot Trail. Fall in love with its rugged terrain and spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Visit the famed St. Peter’s Church in Cheticamp. Enjoy a picnic lunch in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Take in the quaint charms of nearby fishing communities along the coast, including the lovely Pleasant Bay.

Explore the amazing range of inventions on display at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum. Afterward, take a short ferry ride to Prince Edward Island, the “Land Cradled on the Waves.” Arrive in Charlottetown with time to explore this fascinating city on your own.

Get to know the rolling landscapes of Prince Edward Island, the backdrop of the acclaimed novel, <I>Anne of Green Gables.</I> Arrive in Cavendish and view Prince Edward Island National Park’s pristine beaches. Visit the Anne of Green Gables Museum to learn the craft of potato farming from a farmer, with a first-hand lesson on the island’s leading agricultural industry. This evening, pick up your shell crackers for an essential lobster supper including PEI mussels. Hone your technique with a lesson on how to crack and eat lobster.

Leave Prince Edward Island behind as you cross the Confederation Bridge. Travel along the shoreline to the amazing Hopewell Rocks.* A New Brunswick icon, these flowerpot-shaped rocks were carved by the Fundy tides and rise 4-stories high at low tide, only to disappear into tiny islands after the tide rolls back in. Continue to the city of Saint John where you’ll enjoy a 2-night stay in the bustling waterfront area.

Greet the awe-inspiring Fundy Trail early this morning. Stop along the way to take in an endless stretch of breathtaking vistas. Sample authentic Maritimes dulse (seaweed) and fiddleheads, accompanied by traditional fiddle music. Savour traditional seafood at a restaurant on the world-famous Bay of Fundy. On your way back, gaze out your window at St. Martin’s covered bridges. The rest of the day is yours back in Saint John. Perhaps you’ll decide to join an optional guided tour with a First Nations Storyteller to learn about the traditions of the Wabanaki peoples.

Onboard a ferry for Nova Scotia, make a stop at the Grand-Pré National Historic Site. Uncover the complex history of the Acadian people. Continue on to Halifax and enjoy time for yourself before a farewell dinner, toasting to the end of your Maritimes journey.

Today you depart the Maritimes, taking home countless memories of this coastal wonderland.