Discover Nova Scotia’s Tourism Regions
Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley
The Bay of Fundy’s unique landscape is shaped by the highest tides in the world; its waters are home to 15 species of whales. It’s like nowhere else on earth – and that’s not just some marketing slogan.
The Annapolis Valley is shaped by fertile soils that nourish lush farms and vineyards, where markets and wineries have taken root alongside Mi’kmaq legends and heritage sites celebrating the earliest European settlements in North America.
Discover more about the Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley region »
Cape Breton Island
Ceilidh is the Gaelic word for ‘gathering,’ and the #1 must-see island in North America welcomes visitors from around the world. Skyline hiking trails, the Bras d’Or lake inland sea, dramatic coastal look-offs and the world-renown Cabot Trail…Cape Breton is a sight for all eyes.
Eastern Shore
Home to Nova Scotia’s longest sand beach, the Eastern Shore offers year-round surfing, sea kayaking in the island-strewn waters, and the chance for birders to cross Great Blue Herons, Atlantic Puffins and Sandpipers off their list. It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s sandbox.
Starting at the edge of the Halifax Metro Region, the meandering Eastern Shore is also rich in historical diversity, with living museums and heritage sites devoted to fishing, farming and gold-mining.
Halifax Metro
Halifax Metro combines the sometimes turbulent history of a strategic port city with the youthful spirit of a modern university town.
By day, check out eclectic shops, artisan studios, museums and galleries. By night, take in a show, get an earful of music, savour award-winning cuisine, and hoist a pint in a place with more pubs and clubs per capita than almost anywhere else. For those not spooked by the shadows, a ghost walk explores our graveyards and haunted houses. Even the dead come alive around here.
Northumberland Shore
Birthplace of New Scotland, Gaelic culture lives on in the Northumberland Shore region. The skirl of bagpipes mingles with the cries of eagles, osprey, and cormorants hunting for food in tidal salt marshes.
On the Northumberland shore sit back and relax, this region is known for long sandy beaches with some of the warmest beaches in Atlantic Canada. The coastal drive winds over 200km, stop at a wharf and buy some of the tastiest lobster in the world or discover one of the many finely skilled arts on the Artisan Way.
South Shore
Navigate the sea-sculpted coast of the South Shore past weathered fishing villages, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Old Town Lunenburg, beaches & bays, and some 40-plus lighthouses – including the famous beacon at Peggy’s Cove.
Discover privateering legends, tales of pirate treasure, and artisans who craft treasures of their own. Then head to Kejimkujik National Park for a natural adventure, come face to history with Mi’kmaq petroglyphs, and see the stars like you didn’t think was possible thanks to a Dark Sky Preserve.
Yarmouth & Acadian Shores
Squint through the fog and you might see a ghost ship on the horizon. Or maybe it’s just a lobster boat, because in the Yarmouth & Acadian Shore region, both the English and French have long earned a living from the unforgiving ocean.
Walk a day in their rubber boots at one of many ‘Living Wharves’ where real-life fishermen show you how they make their haul. Afterwards, reward your hard work with fresh seafood and traditional Acadian dishes.
