My family and I decided to venture a bit farther north this summer than our usual Maine trip. We love any place that’s surrounded by ocean air and fresh seafood, and Nova Scotia did not disappoint! As my husband’s family is from Nova Scotia, he had always wanted to visit. So we set out on an eight-day adventure.
Getting there
We left Boston early in the morning and planned to stay a few nights in lovely Bar Harbor to break up the trip —it’s about a 4.5-hour drive from home. We spent three nights at the beautiful Salt Cottages located close to the entrance of Acadia National Park.
We explored Cadillac Mountain, enjoyed a family boat trip with Diver Ed who brought sea life up from the ocean floor for kids to enjoy, and also ventured into downtown Bar Harbor.
When we were ready to depart for Canada a few days later, we easily drove our car aboard the CAT ferry and took a 3.5-hour smooth trip directly to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. We even spotted a few whales on the trip over!
What to do in Nova Scotia
There are so many quaint seaside towns to explore! After the ferry arrived in Yarmouth, we ventured to Ye Olde Argyler Lodge in the nearby town of Argyle for our first night’s stay. After the best pancake breakfast, we headed off to visit my husband’s family town of West Pubnico — it’s a small fishing village that is so tiny it’s probably not worth the stop for anyone without a personal connection!
It’s very easy to get around Nova Scotia, as the main roads and highways are traffic free and easy to navigate. We traveled the southern route of Nova Scotia at the start of our journey, stopping at the beautiful town of Lunenburg. Lunenburg is one of only two UNESCO urban world heritage sites in North America, and it’s a cute place to stop for lunch and to explore the waterfront. You can also visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic there. (For reference, from the ferry in Yarmouth to Lunenburg it’s a bit over two hours.)
From Lunenburg, it’s an easy drive to Halifax — the capital and the only big city in Nova Scotia. We also stopped at the famous Peggy’s Cove (which was full of tour buses) to see the lighthouse and take some pictures.
Where to stay and what to do in Halifax
Hotel options are plentiful in this large city, many within walking distance of the downtown harbor walk, shops, and museums. We stayed at the Hotel Halifax, but there are other great options including the Prince George Hotel and the Marriott Harbourfront (all with pools).
Halifax is a very walkable city. We explored the Citadel and also really enjoyed the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. At this museum there are a lot of artifacts and a great exhibit on the Titanic; it sank off the coast of Nova Scotia! We even visited a nearby Titanic grave site.
At the museum we learned about the Halifax explosion of 1917, which actually has Boston ties. When the explosion occurred, help was sent from Boston. In return, the city of Halifax delivers a Christmas tree each year to the city of Boston. (You know that holiday tree in Boston Common? It’s from Halifax!) Other things to explore are the Halifax Public Gardens, the Halifax waterfront, and a harbor cruise or bike tour.
Where to eat
Halifax is known for its amazing seafood, but if that’s not a family favorite there are tons of options for every palate. The Bicycle Thief was our favorite, but many other great options include Salty’s, Waterfront Warehouse, the Cable Wharf, and Salt & Ash Beach House. Also be sure to grab ice cream at Cow’s and pick up one of their funny T-shirts!
Other places to visit in Nova Scotia
When we left Halifax, we took the northern route back to Yarmouth. This can be done in one day (it’s three to four hours), but I recommend stopping along the way.
Burntcoat Head Park was at the top of our must-see list — it’s part of the Bay of Fundy and has the world’s highest tides. I recommend it if you have an extra day! Other worthwhile stops along the northern route include the Gaelic town of Antigonish, or Wolfeville, home to wineries, orchards, and lots of Acadian history. We stopped in Digby, the scallop capital of the world and a big fishing port, and of course had scallops for lunch. Digby is also a great place for a whale watch. Our final night was spent in Yarmouth so we could catch the morning ferry home.
Nova Scotia is truly a relaxing and enjoyable family getaway for any ocean-loving family!
