 Evangeline Trail
From the historic seaport of Yarmouth to the fishing villages of the French Shore and on through the lush and lovely Annapolis Valleys the Evangeline Trail recalls the very beginnings of Canada. Here history has been preserved in old forts, old churchs, century-old sea captains' houses and in the stories of the brave pioneers and their struggles for survival. Learn about the Acadians and their tragic expulsion; the arrival of the New England Planters and the United Empire Loyalists. Go whale-watching down Digby Neck.
 Glooscap Trail
The mighty Glooscap, legendary figure of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaqs, held court atop Blomidon Mountain. From there he controlled the mighty Fundy tides, the highest in the world, which can peak as high as 52 feet and then fall to leave Freighters and fishing boats stranded on the mud. Along the shore are semi-precious agates and amethysts, and, in the cliffs and fields, the fossilised remains of clures which inhabited the land long before Homo sapiens. The incredible view from Blomidon Mountain, the dark world at the bottom of Springhill coal mine, the blueberry fields around Oxford--the Glooscap Trail is a land to be explored. Don't forget your camera.
 Sunrise Trail
The Northumberland Shore seems to be an endless stretch of gently sloping sandy beaches, washed by the warmest summer salt water north of the Carolinas. In the summer months festivals and special events of all kinds keep you in touch with Nova Scotia's proud Scottish heritage. The Sunrise Trail reaches from Amherst to the Canso Causeway that separates the mainland from Cape Breton Island. In earlier days, when the farmers and fishermen hitched up their wagons for a shopping trip to Truro, they headed into the early morning sunrise, and that's how the Trail got its name.
 Ceilidh Trail
Ceilidh, as you may know, is freely translated from the Gaelic to mean "gathering". The Ceilidh Trail is the road from Port Hastings on the Strait of Canso to Margaree, where it joins the Cabot Trail. You find yourself on a winding road and, if you judge by the place names, you'll believe you're in the Scottish Highlands: Creignish, Craigmore, Campbell and Glencoe, Strathlorne and Inverness. It's along here that you'll quickly discover how aptly named the Ceilidh Trail is. There are festivals of Scottish heritage, with dancing, fiddling and piping, and the "heavy" events of the Highland Games.
Cabot Trail
The Cabot Trail is recognized as one of the world's greatest scenic routes. In October, it draws thousands of main landers who come to glory in the brilliant colours of the changing trees. The Trail runs for 300 km (185 miles) through locks and glens, settled by Highlanders from Scotland but later joined by other groups escaping oppression in various parts of Europe. On a happier note, Baddeck was the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell and many of the works of this prolific inventor are on display at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum. Across on the westerly side, the French village of Cheticamp is famous for its intricately hooked rugs. To fully appreciate the beauty and majesty of the Cabot Trail, you should drive it in all seasons. The Cabot Trail takes its name from the explorer John Cabot who first set foot in Cape Breton in 1497.
|
|
Fleur-de-Lis Trail
Southeast of the Canso Causeway, the Fleur-de-lis Trail traces the coast around Isle Madame and S. Peter's Bay. Here you'll find Acadian fishing ports that have been here for almost four centuries. While away the day watching the boats come and go through historic St. Peter's Canal. St. Peter's is the Gateway to the Bras d'Or Lake, Cape Breton's great inland sea. The 960 km Bras d'Or coastline is a major breeding area of the magnificent bald eagle. Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site includes the reconstruction and reenactment of life as it was in this fortified French town of 1844. Louisbourg marks the end of the Fleur-de-lis and beginning of the Marconi Trail.
 Halifax / Dartmouth
You'll find world-class hotels, fine restaurants, bustling waterfronts, shopping and entertainment in the city of Halifax. While in Halifax visit the Citadel, Canada's most popular historic site, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Halifax and Dartmouth are separated by one of the world's great natural harbours. The city is a must when planning your Nova Scotia vacation. Reach beyond, and discover the thriving town of Bedford and its neighbouring communities.
 Lighthouse Route
The Lighthouse Route traces the ragged coastline on Nova Scotia's South Shore. This is the land of pirates' buried treasure, lighthouses and wharves piled high with lobster traps. There are historical old towns to visit (Shelburne, Lockeport, Liverpool, Bridgewater and Lunenburg) and quaint little postcard towns and villages such as Mahone Bay, Chester, Petite Riviere and Peggy's Cove. There are countless miles of white sandy beaches, rugged headlands with crashing surf, hidden coves with salt-caked fish houses. You can shop for antiques and watch artists trying to capture the everchanging beauty of the sea.
 Marine Drive
The Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia contains some of North America's last remaining natural habitat. The Marine Drive follows the rugged shoreline, calling at Guysborough with its charming tree-lined streets and stately old homes; pausing for awhile in Sherbrooke Village, now restored to the way it was 100 years ago when it was a rough and tough gold mining town. There are numerous stretches of road where the water--and sometimes humpback and fin back whales can easily be seen. Grassy Island, offshore from Canso, played an important part in the early history of North America.
Marconi Trail / Metro Cape Breton
Guglielmo Marconi, while not a native son. spent many years in Cape Breton experimenting with wireless signals. In 1902, he established a wireless telegraph station at Table Head in Glace Bay and, on December 15 of that year, successfully transmitted a signal to Poldhu in England. Like Marconi did with his experiments, the Trail covers the rugged shoreline of Cape Breton from Glace Bay to Louisbourg. In Glace Bay, you can visit the Miners Museum and go "down under" in the Ocean Deeps coal mine. The first coal mining in North America took place along the cliffs at Port Morien, when French troops from Louisbourg discovered the veins.
|
All Trails & Areas
