Nova Scotia, Canada’s adventure capital

Weaving its way through The Cape Breton Highlands National Park, this highway offers spectacular valley and coastal views for all of its 298km, plus the scope to stop off for activities that vary by season but include kayaking, biking, hiking, golf, whale-watching, downhill and cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling, plus shopping for artisan crafts.

This bay, which Nova Scotia with some other provinces, was created 300 million years ago when the vast ancient continent of Pangea split apart, creating the Atlantic Ocean. Today it’s home to the highest tides in the world, thanks to a billion tonnes of water rushing through here twice a day. The geology is stupendous: in the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark, you can stand at the top of 90m cliffs as whales pass by and, when the tide has dropped the height of a four-storey building, walk on the ocean floor. Kayaking and tidal bore rafting are both exciting things to do here.

Along with the Cabot Trail (3–4 days) and the Bay of Fundy (2–3 days), there is an array of great road-trip options in the province, including Yarmouth and Acadian Shore, the South Shore and the Eastern Shore. One of our favourite possibilities is the Annapolis Valley, which takes you across a landscape of farms and vineyards over the course of 2-3 days, with the Bay of Fundy as a backdrop. Arty Wolfville is surrounded by wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries to visit and there are several National Historic Sites here as well as more than 120 heritage buildings in Annapolis Royal alone.

Unfurling for more 13,300km, Nova Scotia’s magnificent and pristine coastline with its countless inlets, coves and harbours is a dream sailing destination, whether that’s aboard a boat you charter for yourselves or on one of the wide choice of sailing tours available across the province. With every part of region offering its own charm and its different activities and experiences, sailing is the perfect way to get under the skin of this remarkable province.

Twelve species of whales visit Nova Scotia each year, making the province one of the world’s most exciting places to come looking for the creatures and hoping to see one breach. The best times of year are summer and autumn. An extensive choice of boat companies run tours accompanied by live commentary and local anecdotes.

This coastline is often best appreciated from the water, and kayaking is one of the best ways to do that – you can paddle along Nova Scotia’s historic waterfronts for a history lesson in action, chat with local fishermen or cross the waterways of the Mi’kmaq. Whichever you choose, the view will take your breath away, whether it’s the cliffs, arches and pinnacles of northern Cape Breton and Cape Chignecto or the glacial barrens, sheltered waterways and remote white-sand beaches of Prospect and Tangier.