A local guide can’t resist taking apart old ideas about what “New Scotland” really is.
Jigsaw puzzles and maps can give you the wrong idea about Nova Scotia. On paper, the province practically looks to be an island, dangling off the tip of New Brunswick, due east of Maine, with nothing between the shore and France except 3,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean. On that evidence, it only makes sense that Nova Scotia would be all about stubborn fishing villages clinging to the rocks. In your mind (and on the jigsaw puzzles gathering dust in closets everywhere), brightly painted buildings crowd the harborside. Boats chug to and fro. Grizzled lobstermen perch on a pier and read the clouds to predict tomorrow’s weather. All very quaint and scenic.
“Well, good for you. You have us 10 percent!” That’s sly praise with a wink from our Nova Scotia native and Classic Journeys guide, when I share my vision. “The things folks don’t know is the fun part. I send them home with more Nova Scotia than they bargained for.” Her camaraderie is sincere and instant—and a deep trait in the local DNA. The one comment she hears most often is how friendly everyone is. “Sure. Our rat race is slower than your rat race. Up here you don’t duck your head. You look life in the eye and smile.”
Join us on our curated walking tour and picture yourself overlooking the Annapolis Valley. It’s the garden district of the province with a long ridge called the North Mountain borders one side with—you guessed it—the South Mountain on the other. In between, a lush sweep of fields and apple orchards is a spectacular display of agriculture. There’s not a fishing boat in sight.
The fact is, you’re never more than 30 minutes away from a body of water in Nova Scotia. Of course, you expect the Atlantic. Likewise, you’ve known since grade school that the Bay of Fundy is here too—though you may not know that it forms almost the entire northwest border of the province. But what about the lakes? Heading inland to Kejimkujik National Park, you could be a thousand miles from the ocean. Here are the lakes the Mi’kmaq natives canoed on. A forest trail passes through a grove of 400-year-old hemlock trees. Recently a guest said: “In all my life, I’ve never been anywhere so quiet and peaceful and real. It just overwhelmed me.” One hopes never to shed tears on a vacation, but if you’re going to, can you imagine a better reason?
Join our local friend on his lobster boat in search of the humpback, minke and right whales that flourish in the rich waters. It’s an awesome one-of-a-kind experience and, come to think of it, it’s just another occasion when a native looks you in the eye and says welcome. On tour, you’ll take off the blinders, meet locals and listen to the fascinating history of the place you’re visiting. Expect to be startled, and treasure the revelations. I think there’s no better place to practice those skills than Nova Scotia.
Read more about Nova Scotia here: 10 Reasons Why Nova Scotia is Canada’s most under-rated destination.
