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Regions of 
Nova Scotia

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Nova Scotia is home to colourful fishing villages, quaint coastal towns and a vibrant captial city by the sea. Meander the streets, dive into the history, learn about the regions, communities, and cities, and discover more reasons to explore.

Halifax Metro

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Walk along the Halifax waterfront boardwalk that follows the water’s edge alongside the world’s second largest ice-free harbour. Stretching from the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 – the gateway into Canada for over one million immigrants – to Casino Nova Scotia, you’ll pass unique shops, restaurants, and a bustling working harbour. Hop aboard the ferry, North America's longest running saltwater ferry, in fact, and cross the harbour to the Dartmouth side which is filled with more locally-owned shops, galleries, cafés, restaurants, and pubs.

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  • Nova Scotia’s largest city, provincial capital and cultural hub

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  • Nearly 4 km of harbourfront boardwalk lined with shops, restaurants, cafés, and entertainment

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  • Discover unique dining, shopping, live music venues and nightlife opportunities

South Shore

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From the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Town Lunenburg, with its colourful waterfront and narrow streets, to the inspiring views of the coast and its 40-plus lighthouses, the South Shore is much more than the home of Bluenose II and the must-photograph Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and surrounding fishing village.

Whether it's solitude you seek or adventure you crave, a visit to this region will satisfy. It can be luxurious oceanside accommodations or back-country camping; lobster freshly plucked from the sea or spirits aged aboard a tall ship; strolling the white sand beaches or hiking the canopied forest trails, or maybe even all the above.

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  • Home of the Bluenose, the famous racing schooner, and Bluenose II, Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador

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  • The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg and lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove

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  • Fresh, local seafood, oceanside accommodations and white sandy beaches

Yarmouth & Acadian Shores

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Yarmouth & Acadian Shores is quiet and peaceful, yet full of adventure. Where the land meets the sea and you will experience English and Acadian cultures and is where the darkest skies let the stars shine their brightest. It’s where the food is fresh and local, and the music is too. Visit a working fishing wharve and learn from a fisherperson through the Living Wharves experience.

This region is part of North America’s first starlight destination - Acadian Skies and Mi’kmaq Lands - as designated by the International Starlight Foundation. Here you can discover dark skies like nowhere else, with brilliant stars from distant galaxies shining against the night sky.

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  • Acadian culture, traditions, and food

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  • Acadian Skies & Mi’kmaq Lands, North America’s first starlight destination

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  • Storied seafaring past that continues to influence life today

Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley​

Climb 300-foot cliffs overlooking waters where 12 species of whales come to mate, play and feast on plankton each year. Later, walk on the ocean floor when the tide has dropped the height of a four-storey building. With the scent of the salty ocean air still fresh in your memory, remember that lobster, scallops, mussels, smoked salmon and the abundance of farm-fresh produce from this region complement the offerings of the area’s award-winning wineries.

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  • Site of the highest recorded tides in the world

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  • Lush, award-winning wineries

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  • Mi’kmaq legends and earliest settlements

Cape Breton Island

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Pjila’si! One hundred thousand welcomes! Bienvenue! Ciad mille failte! These words of welcome have long been offered to visitors as they arrive in Cape Breton, ready to explore a place filled with outdoor adventure, scenic drives and breathtaking views, and the freshest seafood imaginable.

From its storied history and culture to music, talented artisans, and friendly locals, a new discovery awaits you around every turn.

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  • The world-renowned Cabot Trail

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  • Dramatic coastal views, highland scenery and Bras d’Or Lake

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  • Variety of hiking trails, world-class golf, Celtic culture and lively music scene

Northumberland Shore

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With more warm-water ocean beaches than anywhere else in Atlantic Canada, this shore is Beach Country. This climate also lends itself well to the local wine industry, which is anchored by Jost Vineyards, the province’s oldest and largest winery. Not surprisingly, fresh local lobster is a favourite food here and found at restaurants throughout. The region is also abundant in history and culture. Explore the Town of Pictou, known as the “Birthplace of New Scotland.” Step aboard the legendary Ship Hector replica and imagine what it was like for the many Scottish immigrants who voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean.

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  • Having the most warm-water ocean beaches in Atlantic Canada

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  • Tasty lobster and skilled artisans

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  • Abundant history and Gaelic culture

Eastern Shore

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Pristine wilderness, historically-themed attractions, authentic fishing communities, and beaches stretching as far as the eye can see offer explorers an array of off-the-beaten-path adventures on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore.

Surf’s up year-round and the pounding waves at Lawrencetown and Martinique Beaches beckon surf enthusiasts to some of the best surfing conditions on the east coast. For something more subdued but just as intrepid, explore the 100 Wild Islands. Protected in perpetuity, these islands offer explorers sheltered coves, turquoise waters, windswept headlands and unique boreal rainforests.

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  • Pristine wilderness, historically-themed attractions, and white sand beaches

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  • Some of the best cold-water surfing on the east coast of North America

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  • Protected 100 Wild Islands coastal wilderness area

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