National Parks of Atlantic Canada

Arrive in Halifax, Canada's main east coast port has been the country's traditional gateway to the world. It combines fine Georgian wooden homes, Victorian parks and green spaces with modern high-rise buildings. Founded in 1749 as the seat of British strength in North America, it sits on a rocky peninsula on the Atlantic coast. It is a delightful city to explore on foot. Dominating Halifax is the Citadel (1828), the grassy earth fort on the hill, around which the city is built. Another feature of the city, is the district of old buildings along the harbour side.

Stay: Hampton Inn, Halifax

Collect your rental car and start the drive. Nova Scotia's south shore is known for fresh local seafood, and white sandy beaches, plus the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl with more than 100 lobster experiences celebrating the famous crustacean. From the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town of Lunenburg, with its colourful waterfront and narrow streets, to the inspiring vistas of the coast and over 40 lighthouses. You might want to stop at the "Ovens Natural Park". Lookouts invite you rest to enjoy the beautiful vistas including caves and grottos. Risser's Beach Provincial Park has a walking trail along the ocean and an excellent beach.  

Stay: Oak Island Resort, Western Shore (Standard)

Kejimkujik National Park preserves the inland forests and waters of Nova Scotia and the largest diversity of amphibians and reptiles in Atlantic Canada. Home to Indians for 5000 years, this was also the first part of Canada explored by Europeans by canoe. Walking trails lead through 400 year old hemlock stands, past quiet sparkling woodland streams, and mirror-like lakes. The road will take you through maple, poplar, and oak forest that turn in the autumn to the beautiful colours.

Stay: Mersey River Chalets, Kejimkjik (Standard)

Welcome to "The Scallop Capital of the World": Digby, Nova Scotia. Located in the southwest of Nova Scotia, Digby offers the best whale watching opportunities in North America, with 15 species, including some of the largest and rarest. including the North Atlantic Right Whale. Explore the two islands of Long Island and Brier Island on one of the beautiful coastal hiking trails. Particularly noteworthy are the impressive basalt formations and the "Balancing Rock" on Long Island. Another possibility is to explore the French Shore, following Highways 101 and/or 1 along St. Marys Bay. The Stella Maris, the single-starred, tri-colored Acadian flag will follow you along your route. Admire the many elaborate Catholic churches, stop at a roadside eatery to sample Acadian rappie pie and take a walk along a finesand beach. 

Stay: Harbourview Inn, Digby (Standard)

Experience the world's highest tides here, combined with pristine forests,  walk the seabed at low tide. The Fundy Trail is a park with a parkway that forms the south shore of New Brunswick. Here you have a view of the world famous Bay of Fundy. Explore trails that lead to pristine beaches, see thundering waterfalls and Precambrian rocks. Fundy Trail is part of two UNESCO designated sites: the Fundy Biosphere Reserve and Stonehammer Global Geopark and home to the start of the Fundy Footpath, one of the Top 50 Hiking Trails in the World. 

Stay: Innisfree B&B, Hopewell Cape (Standard)

The Kouchibouguac National Park is New Brunswick's largest national park. Virtually deserted sandy beaches and dunes stretch along the warm Northumberland Road. The name of the park comes from the language of the Mi'kmaq Indians and means something like "river of the long tides". The salt marshes in the park are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. In summer, the long sandy beaches invite you to swim, sunbathe and hike, in spring and autumn seals and numerous water birds can be observed here. 

Stay: L'Ancrage, Kouchibouguac (Standard)

The Prince Edward Island Park is a fragile seascape of red sandstone cliffs and sweeping beaches, backed by shifting sand dunes held together by the delicate roots of slender grasses. Inland are forests of spruce and birch inhabited by raccoon, skunk, red fox, muskrat and mink. Saltwater marshes and inland ponds are havens for migrating shorebirds. Many species, like the great blue heron and the rare piping plover, nest here. About 200 years later settlement occurred and farming and shipbuilding gained importance. If you are interested in natural beaches and dune systems that are the heart of Prince Edward Island, you may want to spend some time in the Dalvay/Rustico area. 

Stay: Rodd Crowbush, Prince Edward Island (Standard)

Baddeck is an idyllic town, especially in the summer. An ideal place to eat fish or go sailing on the Bras d'Or Lakes. The name Baddeck originated from abadak (place near an island), as the Mi’kmaq called the village so, referring to Kidston Island. Kidston Island is home to the Kidston Island Lighthouse. Just a short drive from Baddeck is the Uisge Ban Falls Provincial Park. The park is known for its scenic round trip hike that takes you by a waterfall in a granite gorge. Almost every turn offers a new breathtaking view in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Mountains rise up from sea level to a plateau with roaring winds, raised bogs and vegetation similar to the arctic. The National Park is considered as a very important forest area with up to 80% maples trees in some places - an ideal setting for brilliant autumn colours.

Stay: Inverary Resort, Baddeck (Superior)

A historic 18th-century city, Sydney collides with modern life as city dwellers fill their shops with new things. Here you are just a short walk or drive away from some of our best experiences such as Fort Louisbourg, barracks and museums galore. Discover local festivals, events and traditions in Nova Scotia's second largest city. As the largest urban area on Cape Breton and the island’s historical capital, Sydney is the perfect mix of metropolitan charm and down home hospitality. 

Stay: The Simon Hotel, North Sydney (Standard)

Today,  journey to the southwest coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Fishermen and farmers make their living between the Long Range Mountains and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. You’ll discover the likes of granite lighthouses, sawtooth coastlines, and jungle-like hiking trails in every corner of this region. Sitting on the tip of the island of Newfoundland’s most westerly point, the Cape Anguille Lighthouse has long protected ships navigating the St. Lawrence. 

Stay: Cape Anguille Lighthouse Inn, Cape Anguille (Standard)

At Bonne Bay, lies the most beautiful and spectacular national park in eastern Canada - the Gros Morne National Park. The park stretches approximately 72 km from north to south. The interplay of deeply cut lakes (former fjords, some of which are separated from the sea) and steep, towering table mountains shaped by glaciers give this region its unique beauty. The rocky coast is repeatedly interrupted by sand and pebble beaches and sheltered bays nestled by small fishing villages. Gros Morne is part of the Long Range Mountains, a relic of a mountain range that formed over 1.2 billion years ago. However, this is not the only geological feature. The golden-brown shimmering and almost vegetation-free tablelands stand out from the lush green of the surroundings.  

Stay: Oceanview Hotel, Rocky Harbour (Standard)

Twillingate is located at the end of a series of islands and causeways, where each twist in the road brings a new vista. You can often see icebergs from the shore. The best time for iceberg watching is from April to early June, by the beginning of August the last one is usually gone. Visit the nearby lighthouse at Long Point to watch the sunset, and just enjoy the view. This light was built of stone in 1875, because of the very high winds that occur here, an enclosed walkway was built to join the lighthouse to the keeper's home. 

Stay: Harbour Lights Inn, Twillingate (Standard)

St. John's is a unique city, although really little larger than a good-sized town. The city's harbour is still home for the fishing fleets of all the nations which fish the North Atlantic, as well as for arctic and ocean exploration vessels. The brightly lit harbourfront offers a splendid evening stroll. The many restaurants in downtown St. John's invite you to sample Newfoundland's wealth of fresh seafood. A climb to Cabot Tower on Signal Hill lets you gaze out over the wild coastline and the harbour that the mariners from Portugal and England discovered when they first crossed the ocean. In the evening, view the sparkling lights of the city on one side, and on the other, the unchanged Atlantic coast, much as it was in the days of Columbus and Cabot. 

Stay: ALT Hotel, St.John's (Standard)

Today board the overnight ferry from Argentia in Newfoundland and Labrador to North Sydney, Nova Scotia 

Stay: MV Atlantic Vision - 2 berth cabin 

In the northeast corner of mainland Nova Scotia, you will experience the rugged beauty of Canada, where land meets sea: forested hills and valleys stretching to the horizon, and quiet little villages nestled in safe havens. The history of seaports dates back to the earliest European arrivals in North America. Taylor Head Provincial Park is located on a rugged, windswept peninsula that extends 4 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Trails and walks provide access to a variety of natural habitats, geological features, scenic overlooks and secluded beaches. The provincial park is southwest of Sheet Harbour. 

Stay: Seawind Landing, Guysborough (Standard)

Travel south along the Gulf of St. Lawrence through the coastal communities. Take in a tour & whisky tasting at the Glenora Distillery in Glenville. Drive to the Canso Causeway to re-enter mainland Nova Scotia. At Antigonish, travel southwest along Marine Drive to experience the stunning sandy beaches and wild islands dotting the eastern shore. 

Spend your final day in the delightful city of Halifax. Perfect for exploring on foot with its treelined streets, galleries, libraries, museums, cafes, and pubs. Sightseeing suggestions include visiting the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. Completed in 1856, this national landmark features soldiers in period costumes and where the “noonday” gun is fired every day from this star-shaped fortress. Take a leisurely stroll along Spring Garden Road for last minute shopping and fantastic restaurants or explore the Halifax Public Gardens, a rare example of a formal Victorian garden in the heart of this cosmopolitan city.

Stay: Hampton Inn, Halifax (Standard)