Want to visit Nova Scotia

[brekin67]

I am looking to plan a trip with my sister. We live in Oklahoma and Texas, and this will be our first time to travel outside of USA. Can you recommend a place for me to start with planning? We would like to visit Nova Scotia.
Thanks,

 

[mbb]

We would like you to come and visit Nova Scotia!!

Start with our provincial website:
http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/default.aspx

And The Doers and Dreamers Guide is a terrific resource too.

Have fun planning and let us know what you're planning!!

 

[bob315]

I would agree, the Doers and Dreamers guide is a great place to start. There are so many options in NS it would be hard as to where to begin. I would definately recommend the Annapolis Valley which is absolutely wonderful. I also tend to recommend the South Shore (Chester, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg) which has great views of the ocean. If you have any questions post them here as there are alot of Nova Scotians here who would be happy to answer questions. If you go to the government's tourism website that will get you started.

Bob

 

[sprmom]

There are lots of activities to do in Halifax. We like to spend a day each summer playing "tourist" in our own city.

Our city tours on the double decker bus or Harbour Hopper Vehicle are well planned out and give insight into the history of the city. Our waterfront has yummy restaurants and ice cream with some tourist shopping and a nice walk way path along the Halifax Harbour. The Halifax Gardens is a great spot to sit and chat and watch the world go by. There are a few small museums in town that can offer some air conditioning if you get too warm walking. Having said that, the weather can be up and down. Dress in layers with a small sweater for the evenings just in case.

There are a few shopping malls in the and a few big box stores around if you needed anything while you were up here.

Ideally, we are about good food, great people and lots of laid back fun. Enjoy!

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Ok, let's start with a couple of questions ...

How many are in your Party (looking for the breakdown of Adults or Kids)?

When are you thinking of traveling (looking for an approx idea of the Month)? I assume you want to beat the heat ... and get away to where its cooler.

You will find a lot of help with People on this board!

Here's a thread about Halifax; However, I definitely recommend doing some travel outside Halifax!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2694937

Ted

 

[brekin67]

Thank you so much for the responses.

There are 1 of us.

Anytime the temperature is above 40 and below 90. (Not sure of the normal temps there.)

I will start checking out the websites you suggested now.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Okay ... that makes it easy! September-Early October would be great. Tourist season slows down after August and the locals are back in School, plus weather here would still reach 60F and perhaps 70F or Higher if we have a late summer.

Advantages of early September is that it is warmer .. later in October the trees and their colors are amazing.

A solo trip for me would involve renting a car and hitting a few locations:

Lunenburg and Peggy's Cove (1 hour of Halifax along the Southshore). This would be Marine in character.

The Annapolis Valley (1-2 hours from Halifax, or 1-1.5 Hours from Lunenburg). This would tend to be Agricultural in nature.

Drive the Cabot trail in Cape Breton. You will understand why Nova Scotia translates to New Scotland. This is Scenic, with winding roads. See http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/g...nd/scenic_travelways/cabot_trail/default.aspx

You can check the link I put in my other post for Halifax. It is very possible to get a good deal on hotels in Halifax via Priceline. Just make sure that you only bid on the peninsula of Halifax. If you win a 4 star here, most Halifax based activities would be close.

Seafood! Every time, I go to see my Brother in Texas, I have to eat Brisket and Ribs .... When my brother comes home from Texas ... he eats the seafood!

Give a good look around some of the websites and give us an idea of what you like to do and we will give you the info on it!

Ted

 

[Gigi22]

To add to what the PP said, there are wineries in the Annapolis Valley. You may wish to tour some of them.

 

[gilsan]

I also agree with Ted if you hit those spots you will have seen some of the best sites in NS. Other things to see on the South Shore Peggys Cove, Chester, and Mahone Bay.

 

[rjan67]

We went a couple of years ago and loved it. Did a lot of the things Ted mentioned. I regret not getting over to the Bay of Fundy. Loved the Cabot trail, did Peggy's Cove, Lunenberg, rode the Harbour Hopper in Halifax and visited the Fortress in Louisbourg. So much to do!

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Ruthann:

Nice photos!

Ted

 

[Declan2]

Ted has given excellent sites to check out. I agree that Sept or Oct is so beautiful in NS. I think the people there are like no others. I live in Ottawa for 25 years but can't wait to move back when I retire. Don't be shy to ask locals for advice on your trip. Locals will steer you to the best seafood spots, bakeris and fiddle music. Enjoy.

 

[Mom2HandR]

If you choose October, you get the beautiful fall colours plus the fabulous music festival, Celtic Colours. Amazing entertainment at great prices and hospitality is what we are all about. Come to Cape Breton.

 

[brekin67]

Thank you. I appreciate all the great suggestions.

 

[Northstar]

Okay, so here are some useful things you may need to know if it's your first time out of the U.S. and visiting Canada:

1. You need passports. Best to start the process now if you don't have them, in case you hit any snags.

2. Your credit cards and ATM cards will probably work in Canada. Your credit card company will charge an exchange fee on top of the currency exchange for Canadian transactions.

3. If you're driving, gas is EXPENSIVE in Canada. The price on the sign at the gas station is for a litre, not a gallon. Figure roughly double the price, though if the US$ goes higher this summer, the exchange rate will cushion it a little.

4. If you're not driving, it's really hard to see all the great places everyone has mentioned! There are bus tours, but it's not easy to tour without a car.

5. Some vocabulary:
Carbonated drinks are POP.

If a restaurant advertises itself as LICENSED, that means they serve alcohol. And if you want to buy a few beers to drink in your hotel, don't go looking in a grocery store... you need a liquor store. The sign will say NSLC (for Nova Scotia Liquor Commission)

Store that's equivalent to Dunkin Donuts or Robins Donuts, only way better: TIM HORTONS

We have some typical foods, which I won't define because you'll have fun asking about them: donairs, chow (South Shore thing), poutine (really a Quebec thing, but we borrowed it).

The usual polite term for a public bathroom is WASHROOM.

There's a one-dollar coin, called a LOONIE, and a two-dollar coin, called a TOONIE or TWONIE.


Ah, you'll have fun. We get lots of tourists here but never enough that we feel overrun, so Nova Scotians are usually very happy to show you the ropes!

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Northstar!!!

Totally forgot about Donair! One statement on the Donair ... usually they are eatin after several alcoholic drinks !

And yes, our Vocabulary! see
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2619101

Ted

 

[braddillman]

One statement on the Donair ... usually they are eatin after several alcoholic drinks !

Well, temporarily I guess, depending upon how much you're drinkin'.

 

[LSmith]

Northstar!!!

Totally forgot about Donair! One statement on the Donair ... usually they are eatin after several alcoholic drinks !

And yes, our Vocabulary! see
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2619101

Ted

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Actually, I don't need alcohol to have a donair from Tony's in Hfx or Ravana's in (not sure of the spelling but on Portland Street near the harbour) Dartmouth which are the best. King of Donair is pretty gross - at least the ones I have been to.

I wish I could get a donair in Toronto!

I can't wait until August!

 

[brekin67]

Thank you so much for the great responses.

 

[Northstar]

Hijacking your thread, brekin67, but I just got to thinking about donairs and I've gotta have one now that summer's here! Donairs forever!