Canada As You Like It Blog
What to do in Atlantic Canada
- by Maggi Smit
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- 13 Mar, 2018
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Atlantic Canada is located on the east coast of Canada, and is made up of the scenic provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Travel to the region is easy, with non-stop flights year-round to both Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is also the closest North American destination from Europe with flight taking just 5-6 hours from the UK.
The picturesque fishing villages, rugged coastal landscapes, wildlife and the Scottish, Native and Acadian heritage of the region makes Atlantic Canada a perfect location for outdoor activity, wildlife viewing and sightseeing! Here is a list of the top things to do in each of the provinces:
Prince Edward Island:
PEI’s Bar Blamming Experience: Join Captain Chancey Norton on board the Fundy Cruiser, a 42', Transport Canada approved vessel. Travelling “on the tide”, the fully-licensed Fundy Cruiser is your floating base for the most interactive and memorable PEI experience. Leaving the downtown, Charlottetown Yacht Club, the four-hour trip is timed to the turn of the tide and includes sights like an historic lighthouse and ocean wildlife. Arrive at the clamming beach in a small boat, suit up in wet suits and masks and wade with your clamming guides to gather the feast and cook it on board for the tastiest fresh clams in PEI!
Green Gables Heritage Place:
Green Gables, located in Cavendish
in the Prince Edward Island National Park, is a popular tourist destination.
Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world visit the
site which inspired the setting for L.M. Montgomery to create her beloved tale
of a red-haired orphan, Anne of Green Gables. In addition to the Green Gables
House, several museums and sites invite visitors to learn more about Anne and
Montgomery and a popular musical version of the story runs every summer at the
Charlottetown Festival.
New Brunswick:
Whale Watching: There are many ways to catch a glimpse of this magnificent creature from sea watching tours to high-speed whale watching excursions, they all are guaranteed to get you up close and personal.
Metepenagiag Heritage Park: Your personal, guided tour of the 3,000-year-old Aboriginal community and Heritage Park begins with the heavenly aromas of the cooking fire and traditional food. It continues with a stop at the Interpretation Centre to view the exhibits and learn more about the lives of the people who called this land 'home.' Gather fresh ingredients for the tea that will be served with food prepared in an outdoor cooking shelter. Sit down to listen to stories of Metepenagiag before sampling seasonal fish or summer game with wild rice, traditional bread and fragrant cedar tea. Don't forget to linger around the campfire to hear more stories about this ancient way of life.
Nova Scotia:
Peggy’s Cove: Nova Scotia is home to over 160 historic lighthouses, but no beacon is as photographed as the one in the vibrant fishing village of Peggy’s Cove. Built in 1915, Peggy’s Point Lighthouse still keeps watch over surging ocean waves and working lobster boats. Scramble over giant rocks worn smooth by the sea and share in the view.
Cape Breton: Hike and camp in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, play a round of golf at the famous Highlands Links, peruse artisan shops along the trail, or just drive and stare as you experience this 300 kilometre (186 mile) highway that offers spectacular coastal views, highland scenery and warm Celtic and Acadian hospitality.
Halifax Waterfront: Discover the historic port city of Halifax. Start at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 – the gateway into Canada for one million immigrants – and then explore eclectic shops and galleries, some of the city’s best restaurants, and ships including the last of the WWII convoy escort corvettes.
Discover the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in North America, and the seafaring history through exhibits at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic which include displays on the city’s link to the Titanic disaster. End at the timber-frame & stone warehouses of Historic Properties, originally built to safeguard booty captured by legalized pirates called privateers, and grab a spot on the patio at The Lower Deck Pub or find a spot inside to take in live local music.
Newfoundland and Labrador:
Iceberg Viewing: When it comes to viewing icebergs, this is one of the best places in the world. On a sunny day, these 10,000-year-old glacial giants are visible from many points along the northern and eastern coasts. They come in every shape and size, with colours from snow-white to deepest aquamarine. Despite their arrival from the Arctic every spring, the awe of them remains new, year after year.
Dining Out: Recent years have witnessed an explosion of food culture in Newfoundland and Labrador. Long known for seafood, wild game, and delicious traditional meals, the province has garnered a new reputation for mouth-watering culinary experiences by world-class chefs.
Hike Gros Morne National Park: Experience a 360º loop of the hill with several picnic areas and viewpoints. This beautiful, scenic trail provides lots of photo opportunities. Perfectly suited for a leisurely evening or morning stroll.
In the northwest of Canada where eighty percent of the area
is wilderness, lies the Yukon. With friendly locals, wildlife to observe,
activities to immerse yourself in and fascinating history to explore, this destination makes
for the perfect fly-drive holiday.
Lace up your boots and hit the back country. With trails at your doorstep for exploring, hiking is the best way of seeing the province on a fly drive holiday. There are areas suitable for all levels of hiking, from the congenial leisure walk to the avid hiker. Head to Saskatoon at the Meewasin Valley, this area offers over 105 km of trails across 67 square km of land. It provides year-round adventure and sightseeing opportunities in the heart of beautiful Saskatoon. Benefit from the well-maintained, multi-use pathways to cycle, jog or walk the scenic riverbank trails. Sections of the Meewasin Trail are also part of the Trans Canada Trail which extends almost 24,000 km across Canada from coast to coast. Keen for a challenge? Look at some of the best back country hiking at places like Prince Albert National Park, Lac La Ronge, Meadow Lake- and Narrow Hills Provincial Park in the north or Grasslands National Park and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in the south.
With three different water ways and an UNESCO heritage site, Ottawa is the place to explore. Take a trip down the Rideau Canal or explore the ByWard market. Walk along Parliament Hill and through acres of woodland and royal trees planted by dignitaries.
Imagine swimming thousands of miles to find that special someone. Whales complete this every single year, known as a whale migration, to find suitable habitat for feeding and reproducing. In British Columbia, these stunning orcas, also known as killer whales, are a prominent site and seeing them is a once in a lifetime experience. As well as orcas, expect to find humpback whales, grey whales and minke whales. These amazing creatures call BC their home from April to October. When the sun is out the whales come to play. From tail flukes to pectoral slaps, go for a whale watching trip and you can bask in their playful nature and enjoy the sunset with a relaxing drink, perfect for families and solo travellers. You can also go paddleboarding with orcas for a unique perspective from the water to see these magnificent creatures. You must, of course, always keep four hundred metres away from them for their safety and yours.
Welcome to the province of Saskatchewan, Canada – a place of breath-taking landscapes, wide-open spaces and hospitality that is second-to-none. This province is big – 651,900 km2, in fact, and has nearly 100,000 lakes and waterways. Natural beauty is not the only thing this province is known for though. Join us on a culinary journey of Saskatchewan, where food and drink abound, and you will find something good to eat around every corner!
Welcome to the fourth largest province in Canada. With five National Parks and six UNESCO Heritage sites, Alberta is a wonderful and varied place to visit. This blog will explore this great province and expose you to the unique qualities that make this area a location sure to be your next travel destination. A playground for outdoor adventure, popular summer activities include hiking, biking, horse riding, rafting, and fishing. As the seasons change and snow begins to fall, head to Alberta for world-class winter activities including skiing, snowboarding, dogsledding, snowshoeing, heli-skiing, ice climbing and more. From wildlife in the Rockies to Waterton Lakes National Park, and art and culture to explore, Alberta is a wonderland packed with options for every traveller.
Atlantic Canada is famous for its fresh and abundant seafood, from succulent lobster, to scallops, mussels, oysters and cod – but it offers so much more. Dine at a seaside restaurant, take a stroll through a local farmers' market, or take in one of the many culinary festivals. It’s truly a foodie’s paradise.
Here's a round up of a few amazing foodie events and experiences that we thought you might want to try:
Head to Northern Manitoba for a wild and exciting trip. Waterways provide refuge to an abundance of wildlife and the land holds the stories of Indigenous peoples.