Use this Vacation Guide and allow me to point out some of the fun and interesting attractions, from the natural beauty of the landscapes and ocean coastlines, to the many exciting events that are available for the active family.

Nova Scotia (originally from Latin for New Scotland) is the second smallest province of Canada (about half the size of the state of Florida), and is bound on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, which gives it a strong maritime feeling throughout.

It is a land of quiet seductive beauty and charm. And at the same time it boasts a wide variety of things to see and do that will appeal to all ages and abilities. such as the fun and excitement of whale watching, sea kayaking among the many islands and coves found offshore, hiking, biking or just spending a leisurely wine tasting day at Nova Scotia's wonderful wineries.

Use this Nova Scotia Vacation Guide to locate the spectacular coastlines, ranging from rugged seaside coasts to sandy beaches that will appeal to all ages.

You can also use this guide to get an understanding of the historical background that fills this province with such great history, and get to feel the balance between urban, rural and wilderness activities that such a small place has to offer.

There are plenty of outdoor adventures for the active types in your family- such as deep sea fishing in the nearby Atlantic, whale watching in the Bay of Fundy, kayaking to the many offshore islands, a full range of hiking and camping locations, and mountain biking or bicycling tours are plentiful.

And if golf is your game, enjoy a round at one of the many public golf courses that inhabit the area. After all, the modern game of golf did start in the mother country of Scotland !

A listing of these activities can be found in the pages of thisNova Scotia Vacation Guide.

Sights and Sounds of Halifax City

If you wish for a change of pace and yearn for the sights, sounds and activity of the cosmopolitan life, then Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia is the place to go.

Halifax has been an important port city since being founded in 1749, and the waterfront continues to be a hot spot, displaying some of the city’s most exciting entertainment.

A welcomed recent change has been an increase in the number of fine eating restaurants that have opened in Halifax. There are now enough good restaurants that you could dine at a different one for a week or more and still not tried them all.

A nice improvement, in my opinion.

You can spend an evening and catch a show at the Neptune Theatre, that was recently re-built in 1997, and which presents dramas, musicals, and original productions.

Or if you prefer the Old Bard himself, try to catch a performance at the Shakespeare-by-the-Sea, set at Point Pleasant Park, with an outstanding backdrop consisting of views of the nearby ocean, forest and abandoned forts.

There are several outstanding art galleries and museums for you to see and experience on any given afternoon.

Take in the moving displays of the historic ships at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic before heading to the nearby Historic Properties, where 19th-century privateers’ warehouses have been changed into a pleasant display of specialty shops and wonderful cafes.

Day and night, the downtown area vibrates with the rhythms of local music and the excitement that characterizes life in a cosmopolitan center.

While here you can also enjoy a boat tour of the harbor, or indulge in a wealth of entertainment and excitement at the nearby Casino Nova Scotia - Halifax.

Located in the eastern part of Canada, Nova Scotia can easily be reached by air travel, or by car, by either driving through the province of neighboring New Brunswick, or crossing the Atlantic by ferry ride, by cruise ship or via the train line of Rail Canada.

Use this Nova Scotia Vacation Guide to discover the many different features and attractions that will turn on your adventuresome spirit, and you too shall discover the hidden beauty that Nova Scotia has to offer.

When to Go

The climate of Nova Scotia is strongly influenced by the neighboring seas. The province is practically a peninsula surrounded by three large bodies of water: the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the north, the Bay of Fundy to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east.

Because the Atlantic and Fundy waters are relatively cold, they help to keep the air temperature over southwestern Nova Scotia on the cool side in spring and summer. But these same waters moderate the harshness of winter.

In the more northern parts of Nova Scotia, the land is influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the summer, but is colder in the winter as the Gulf waters freeze. But the fall season is extended, much to the delight of leaf watchers.

Still, summers in Nova Scotia are short, and are relatively cool. Afternoon summer temperatures reach 25C/77F in the interior, but along the coast are frequently 4 to 6C cooler. At night the ocean remains a cooling source, keeping minimum temperatures along the coast about 2 to 3C below those inland.

The Fall season is noted for its spectacular color changes of the local foliage, and the temperatures, although falling, are still comfortable until the first week of October. It is a comfortable time to visit, with the added benefit that the summer crowds are now gone.

Be sure to use this Nova Scotia Vacation Guide to help you in planning for your trip to this great playground on the Atlantic!

And, like me, maybe you'll be so charmed by your visit to this wonderful province that you will want to return over and over again.