Nova Scotia

Charlos Cove is a small Acadian community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough in Guysborough County. Charlos Cove is a fishing community. In 1760 the first Acadian settlers, came to Charlos Cove. Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church built in 1876 is the centre of the community. In 1879 the first school house was built. In 1920 a two room school was built which today is the parish hall.

Welcome to the rugged headlands, sandy beaches, lush green valleys and wild, open barrens. A destination point for all ages in all seasons and the starting point for your adventure into the Cape Breton Highlands. The area known as Ingonish is actually a cluster of five small communities on the Cabot Trail, nestled between the National Park, Highlands and Atlantic Ocean. It consists of Ingonish Ferry in the South followed by Ingonish Harbour, Ingonish Beach, Ingonish Centre, and ends with Ingonish in the North. Much of the Ingonish area borders the 950 square km Cape Breton Highlands National Park which contains campgrounds, look-offs, picnic sites, beaches and hiking trails. The area offers both saltwater and freshwater fishing with ocean charters available. The multitude of lakes, ponds and rivers provide excellent salmon and trout fishing from June 1st thru early October.

Cape Breton Island is a place where captivating landscapes and strong cultural roots combine to create a sumptuous feast for the senses. Located off the eastern coast of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Strait of Canso in one of the most rugged, remote areas of the province. It's a confluence of beaches, cliffs, land and sea ideal for birds, with birdwatching a thriving pastime. The Cabot Trail runs through much of the region and its changing landscapes. For a taste of Acadian culture, Cheticamp has the Musee Acadienne and in the north end of town, locals sell traditional handmade hooked rugs.

A small sea-side Town steeped in history and tradition, Annapolis Royal and its residents know how to treat a visitor. After all, they have been doing it for more then 400 years! Idyllically situated between mountain and sea, Annapolis Royal offers a stunning waterfront shopping area, an enviable selection of restaurants and world class accommodations plus a streetscape that has been designated a National Historic District. Important heritage sites, an exciting arts community and theatre, together with wonderful recreational opportunities all combine to make Annapolis Royal the ideal holiday destination!

Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy is home to the most extreme tidal environment on earth. The highest tides in the world are found here within the Bay's Minas Basin. A billion tonnes of water flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy every 12.5 hours. The Bay is home to a diverse array of mammals, fish and birds including 12 species of rare and endangered whales. For this reason the Bay of Fundy is one of the best birding and whale watching destinations in North America. The Fundy tides have carved a masterpiece to explore with endless coastal hiking and amazing sea kayaking. The powerful tides have also revealed numerous world-renowned dinosaur and fossil discoveries in Nova Scotia. Combined with endless natural wonder the Bay of Fundy is steeped in fascinating heritage and culture. The Bay of Fundy is a treasure trove for history buffs and those who enjoy a great culinary adventure.

Set  beside one of the world's finest harbours, holidays to Halifax have become popular amongst those seeking a cultural experience in Atlantic Canada. Visitors on holiday in Halifax will discover the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney. It is not just Halifax holidays that attract people to the destination. During your holiday to Halifax you will enjoy sea breezes that keep the air clean in addition to parks and trees nestled between arty shops, cosmopolitan cafes and restaurants and heritage buildings. Holidays in Halifax during the summer are alive with never ending festivals which ignite the party ambiance of the destination. The vast number of students provide a lively and vibrant night-life for everyone on a Halifax holiday. Rocky coastlines, dramatic seascapes, sweeping views – the adventurous at heart will love all Halifax, Nova Scotia has to offer. From major sporting events to Halifax outdoor activities like hiking, sea kayaking, tidal bore rafting, surfing and beachcombing, we suggest you pack your sense of adventure and head toward the unforgettable experiences and lasting memories that await you on Canada’s East Coast.

Nova Scotia literally means “New Scotland” and on first arrival you will be forgiven for thinking the destination is more cultured and British than wild- a place to buy a wool sweater and play a round of golf rather than doing anything exciting. Dig a little deeper and you will discover picturesque lighthouses,  rolling hills, cultivated farms, gorgeous villages, beaches, rocky inlets, ragged coastline cliffs and windblown headlands. A holiday to Nova Scotia offers historic villages with tall ships lazing about at port, dynamic little downtowns serving up everything from fish and chips and a pint to the occasional gourmet eatery.

The Cabot Trail is one of the most beautiful roads in the world and affords spectacular views of the blue ocean amidst a backdrop of rocky mountains and misty pine-scented forests. In the historic port town of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, take a trip back in time to unravel Nova Scotia’s rich and colorful marine heritage and mingle with people whose lives are shaped by the tides and the winds.

Do you want to immerse yourself in the stark, surreal winter beauty of Canada? Then take an Atlantic Canada holiday in winter. Do you want to soak up the summer sun and party away the nights under a canopy of million stars? Then go on a holiday to Atlantic Canada in summer.

There are ample charms to be discovered in Atlantic Canada in every season. If it is not Mother Nature putting up a show for you, then the locals invite you to let down your hair and eat, drink, and make merry. Explore this region at different times of the year; you will be amazed to discover that every season has its own special color, shape, scent, tune, and flavor.

Winters Warmed by Festive Lights

The locals are not the ones to balk at a few inches of snow and some gusts of wind. So even during the depths of winter, Atlantic Canada turns into a gigantic playground where locals and visitors meet to have fun. Winter here is a time for festivities—Snow West, Corner Brook Winter Carnival, Nova Scotia Icewine Festival, Jack Frost Children’s Winterfest, FROSTival, and Ice Carnival are some of the prominent winter festivals in the region when Man infuses color into the silvery white landscape and fills the wintry hush with peals of laughter and sounds of gaiety.

Spring: A Time to Head Outdoors

The spring air is definitely contagious. The warm sunny days are perfect for hikes and rides. Mother Nature sheds Her white wintry cloak and puts on a fresh coat of colors; it is a great time to hit the little-known trails of the Gros Morne National Park and drive down the Cabot Trail, past the multi-hued forests flanked by the azure seas. Spring is also the time to shrug off all vestiges of wintry laziness and get busy partying. With the Maple Capital of Atlantic Canada Festival and the Frye Festival underway, those with a sweet tooth and bookworms can happily spend their days indulging in their loves.

Summer Tunes

Summer is the official whale-watching season in Atlantic Canada. Belugas, pilots, humpbacks, minkes, and sperms throng (Yes, they do teem the seas!) the coasts of Newfoundland & Labrador and Nova Scotia during the summer months. And if you are around Newfoundland & Labrador during your Atlantic Canada holidays, you might even be lucky to spot a spotted blue whale. You can go whale-watching on a boat or a kayak or really get up, close, and personal with these gigantic mammals by snorkeling with them.Summer is also the time when the streets of Charlottetown and Halifax get run over by musicophiles, out to shake a leg and swing to the beats of country, rap and rock, blues, and jazz. The Evolve Festival, Halifax Rocks, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, and New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee are some prominent summer music festivals of Atlantic Canada.

Autumnal Hues and Mystery in the Air

Leaf-peepers, ahoy! Autumn in Atlantic Canada presents a dizzying sight. The maple, larch, and poplar forests of New Brunswick take on brilliant shades of red, orange, gold, and fuchsia, and it seems the landscape is on fire. The temperatures have not yet plummeted to freezing lows, so you can be outdoors for as long as you want and gaze at the leaves changing color against the blue skies, the white lighthouses, the silvery sands, and a mysterious autumnal haze that casts surreal shadows on the ground and seems to make everything flicker.The hues of autumn spill over to the dinner table as well. Indulge, a food and wine festival, beckons foodies looking out for gastronomic adventures with colorful platters, an assortment of tastes, and exotic aromas that have hidden in them centuries of traditions.