• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Contact
Ordinary Traveler

Ordinary Traveler

Adventure Travel Blog, Luxury Escapes

  • Blog
  • Destinations
  • Resources
  • Videos
  • Travel Photography
  • Retreats
Ordinary Traveler / Blog / Canada / 15 Amazing Places to Visit in Nova Scotia, Canada (And Where to Stay!)

15 Amazing Places to Visit in Nova Scotia, Canada (And Where to Stay!)

By Christy Woodrow, Last Modified: June 5, 2019

15 Amazing Places to Visit in Nova Scotia

Visiting Nova Scotia, Canada should be on your bucket list. We’ve covered the 15 best places to visit in Nova Scotia — with tips on where to stay!

It seems Canada doesn’t get the attention it deserves, especially the green province of Nova Scotia. Known for its iconic lighthouses, bountiful lobster and serene coastal locale, this is a must-see destination! Here are 15 places to see when planning a trip to Nova Scotia.

 

Table of Contents

  • Best Places to Visit in Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Bay of Fundy
    • Cape d’Or Lighthouse
    • Peggy’s Cove
    • Old Town Lunenburg
    • Cape Chignecto Provincial Park
    • Mahone Bay
    • Parrsboro
    • Arisaig Lighthouse
    • Train Station Inn in Tatamagouche
    • Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island
    • Blue Rocks
    • Annapolis Valley
    • Halifax Waterfront
    • The Skyline Trail on Cape Breton Island
    • Joggins Fossil Cliffs
    • How to Get to Nova Scotia

Best Places to Visit in Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Bay of Fundy

The beautiful Bay of Fundy is a home to the world’s highest tides, typically reaching over 40 feet! Not only is this an amazing place to spend a few hours watching the tide come in, but this spot is also known for whale watching and kayak tours.

Bay of Fundy - Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Cape d’Or Lighthouse

Tucked away in the small town of Advocate Harbor is Cape d’Or, with a stunning 360 view of the Cape d’Or lighthouse and towering cliffs over the Atlantic. Stay at the Lighthouse Keeper’s Guesthouse, just a short walk from the lighthouse, and have a meal nothing short of fine dining quality at the restaurant a few feet away.

Cape d'Or Lighthouse - Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Peggy’s Cove

Perhaps one of Nova Scotia’s most well-known tourist attractions, Peggy’s Cove is a picturesque lighthouse location surrounded by huge boulders and a charming fishing community. There are plenty of surrounding B&B’s, so stay a day or two!

 

Old Town Lunenburg

Take a walking tour of this colorful bay-side town and witness everything that makes this UNESCO World Heritage site unique. Horse-drawn carriages stroll the streets of brightly painted buildings, and the plentiful boutique stores and restaurants offer plenty of opportunities to pick up a souvenir and grab a lobster roll!

Where to stay: Lunenburg Arms Hotel

St. John's Anglican Church - Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

 

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park

Nova Scotia draws a lot of outdoor adventurers, so if you’re looking for lush hiking trails with incredible views, Cape Chignecto is the perfect place to spend the day or camp out! There are plenty of lookout points along the trails with ocean views, but the Three Sisters sea stacks that appear to rise in and out of the water with the tide is an absolute must-see during your wandering.

Where to stay: We recommend either staying at the Lighthouse in Cape d’or or Gillespie House Inn in Parrsboro.

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park - Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Mahone Bay

Another quaint Nova Scotian town with a long history rich in culture, Mahone Bay is just a short drive from Lunenburg and shares all the appeal of its sister town. Awe at St. James’ Anglican Church, take a boat tour, do some yoga, and check out the local brewery.

Read more: What to Pack for a Winter Trip to Canada

 

Parrsboro

The town of Parrsboro is an obvious artist community, with small, colorful lighthouses at every corner and local art decorating the walls of the town inside and out. Just slightly off the beaten path (about 15 minutes east towards Cape Chignecto) is an old bus settled into an oceanfront hillside with bright snowmobiles stacked on top, which — while being a cool photo op — embodies the spirit of Parrsboro. Try to visit during one of the town’s art festivals or annual ukulele workshop!

Where to stay: Gillespie House Inn

15 Amazing Places to Visit in Nova Scotia

 

Arisaig Lighthouse

Take a short day trip and stop by the picturesque Arisaig Lighthouse! The small ice cream shop inside is perfect for a sweet treat by the sea.

Arisaig Lighthouse - Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Train Station Inn in Tatamagouche

Staying at Tatamagouche’s Train Station Inn is a super unique, one-of-a-kind experience with all of the amenities of a standard hotel and the added charm of historic box cars. Be sure to talk with the owner, James, to learn about the unique history of the station!

Train Station Inn - Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia

 

Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island

A scenic road trip up and down Cabot Trail on the western coast of Cape Breton Island is a year-round activity that every kind of traveler will enjoy. Foodies will eat up the fresh lobster found in nearly every restaurant along the trail, while adventure seekers will find days full of hiking, whale watching, horseback riding and shore-side water sports. This is the ultimate Nova Scotia experience!

 Read more: The Best Canadian Destinations for Solo Travelers

 

Blue Rocks

Just a short 10-minute drive from the town of Lunenburg is Blue Rocks — a small fishing village concealed in a residential area off the main road. This is a very reasonable bike ride in a quintessential Nova Scotia setting for those of you who want to experience the outdoors firsthand, not just at your destination but your entire way to it!

Blue Rocks Fishing Village - Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Annapolis Valley

Located along the Bay of Fundy, the Annapolis Valley is home to many award-winning wineries. While visiting this area of Nova Scotia, you’ll have the opportunity to taste some of Canada’s best wines!

 

Halifax Waterfront

Nova Scotia’s capital really embraces the province’s “New Scotland” heritage with men in kilts and cobblestone streets. Halifax’s walkable waterfront area has everything from the massive Farmers Market boutique eatery center (North America’s oldest farmers market!) to museums that delve into the city’s role in the Titanic disaster.

Where to stay: Westin Nova Scotian

 

The Skyline Trail on Cape Breton Island

One stop travelers headed to Nova Scotia looking for dramatic views should not miss is the Skyline Trail on Cape Breton Island; this spot is known for its awesome lookouts and wildlife viewing, including whales, moose, bears, and even bald eagles.

 

Joggins Fossil Cliffs

Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Joggins Fossil Cliffs are exactly that — fossils embedded in cliffs dating back to over 300 million years ago. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see fossils in their natural, untouched state!

 Read more: The Perfect Road Trip Itinerary in Nova Scotia

 

How to Get to Nova Scotia

With quick and direct flights from the New York area to Halifax via Delta and United, it’s now easier than ever for Americans to visit Nova Scotia, so planning your road trip to this gorgeous destination should be high on your bucket list!

Check out our Nova Scotia Road Trip video below and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

 

Pin it!

15 Amazing Places to Visit in Nova Scotia, Canada

Disclosure: Tourism Nova Scotia hosted my road trip through Nova Scotia, however, all opinions are my own.

About Christy Woodrow

Christy Woodrow is a travel photographer and professional blogger based in San Diego. She has been traveling around the world with her partner, Scott, since 2006. Join them in their quest to find off-the-beaten-path destinations by signing up for weekly emails. You can read more about her on our about page.

Filed Under: Canada

Previous Post: « Travel Guide to Geneva, Switzerland
Next Post: Top 10 Reasons to Travel Abroad »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sabrina Gardiner says

    I went to Nova Scotia in February 2016, but I only stayed around Halifax, with a short trip out to Peggy’s Cove. I should go back, but this time in the summer, so I can see more places around NS like Lunenburg.

    Reply
    • Ordinary Traveler says

      Yes, I definitely recommend going back. I’ll have a road trip guide up soon too!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Meet the Team

Christy&Scott
Welcome to our adventure travel blog! We are Christy and Scott and we've been traveling the world together since 2006. Our goal is to inspire others to live an adventurous life, as well as provide trip ideas and helpful travel tips for people with limited vacation time.
-- READ MORE --

Affiliate Information

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I’m also a member of other affiliate programs. For more info please read my Policy Page

Footer

Traveling Tips & Hacks

  • Camping Hacks
  • Travel Tips
  • Cheap Honeymoon Destinations
  • Best Travel Camera
  • Best Weekend Getaways
  • Travel Packing Tips
  • Travel Photography Tips
  • Spiritual Travel

Popular Travel Guides

  • Cinque Terre Travel
  • Rome Travel
  • Venice Travel
  • Havasu Falls Travel
  • Norway Travel
  • Switzerland Travel
  • Big Island Hawaii Travel
  • Kauai Travel

Ordinary Traveler

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Work With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2021 · Ordinary Traveler