Visiting Nova Scotia for the First Time? Here’s What To See and Do

You can enjoy some of the most exhilarating Nova Scotia outdoor adventures in the Cape Breton Highlands. Hiking trails such as the Skyline Trail take you across cliff tops and through moose-inhabited forests, and shorter trails such as the Mary Ann Falls or Gypsum Mines lead to pristine outdoor swimming spots. Tour the 185-mile (298-kilometer) Cabot Trail loop to access many of the best hiking paths in Cape Breton, stopping at Acadian villages and inviting beaches along the way.

One of the most popular things to do in Nova Scotia is to drive along the province’s South Shore. Highlights include Mahone Bay, home to three historic churches that dot the waterfront, and Lunenburg, established in 1753 and awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status, thanks to its brightly-hued wooden houses and buildings clustered around a harbor full of fishing boats and sailboats.

From restored 18th-century stone warehouses to stunning new architecture and plenty of fun bars and restaurants, you could easily spend a full day wandering around the Halifax waterfront.

There’s plenty of public art to admire, such as the blue wave sculpture that kids love to climb (despite signs warning them to stay off) and the highly Instagrammable drunken lampposts, whimsical artsy structures. Once you're done exploring independently, take a food-focused walking tour, roll around on a Segway, or take in the views from the water from a luxury catamaran.

Small groups of immigrants arrived steadily from Scotland and Ireland starting in the 1770s, bringing a Celtic flavor to Nova Scotia that stays strong to this day—especially on Cape Breton Island (attached to the rest of the province by a causeway). Many Cape Breton activities are inspired by Celtic culture and history, such as the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Baddeck, the Highland Village Museum in Iona, and the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s, which hosts regular music nights.

When it comes to coastal exploration, Nova Scotia offers so many incredible destinations, but visiting the Bay of Fundy is a one-of-a-kind experience where you can walk on the ocean floor. Here, the tides rise and fall 53 feet (16 meters), creating a rich feeding ground for marine life amid its unique geological features and craggy cliffs.

Along the bay, discover fishing villages, wineries, and Fort Anne at Annapolis Royal, which was first settled in 1605 by the French and is one of North America’s oldest European settlements.

Insider tip: Double check the tide times and make sure to venture back to shore well before high tide rolls in.

There are so many interesting Nova Scotia historic sites to visit, from the Halifax Citadel, a star-shaped fort completed in 1831 and built to protect from a US invasion that never came, to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, where more than 100 unidentified victims of the Titanic disaster were laid to rest. A half-day historical tour of the city is an easy way to explore the area, or you could navigate your way around on a self-guided audio tour.

The red-and-white striped Peggy’s Point Lighthouse may be what draws most visitors to Peggy’s Cove, but the brightly painted traditional saltbox houses perched on the rocks with wooden lobster traps stacked outside simply ooze charm. Grab a tasty lobster roll or an ice cream and watch the waves crash against the rocks from the accessible viewing area, or take a tour to absorb all the history of this quaint town.

Interactive exhibits rule at Halifax’s museums. Trace your family history at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (if they arrived in Canada by sea between 1928 and 1971). Or, head to the Halifax Citadel National Historic site, where you can shoot historic muskets and live as an 18th-century British soldier. You can even sit down for a break in replicas of the deck chairs used on Titanic (and view an original among dozens of rescued items displayed) at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

The Annapolis Valley has fast become one of Canada’s most exciting wine regions. There are now around 20 wineries in the province, with most located in this area nestled against the Bay of Fundy.

Some wineries have exceptional restaurants (this wine and lunch escape is the perfect culinary plan), and most have welcoming tasting rooms. While here, take some time to learn about Nova Scotia’s tragic and much-romanticized Acadian history, when the French came over from Europe and settled in the region.

It’s not surprising that the seaside city of Halifax is known for its lobster rolls, scallops, and fish and chips, but there’s far more to its food scene than just seafood. In recent years, up-and-coming chefs have started multi-award–winning restaurants serving up modern Canadian cuisine. You could also opt to take a sunset cruise around the Halifax Harbor, sampling local wines and cheeses, or go on a foodie walking tour.