Getting Oriented

Nova Scotia is all but surrounded by water, save for the narrow stretch of land that links it to the rest of Canada. Secondary highways hug the coastline and meander through historic small towns, while "100-series" arterial highways offer the fastest travel routes. Halifax, the capital, sits on the eastern coast, roughly in the middle of the province's mainland. Southwest of the city, the South Shore runs all the way to Yarmouth. The Annapolis Valley, beside the Bay of Fundy, is the eastern spine of Nova Scotia. The central and northern areas lie beside Northumberland Strait (on a fine day you can see across to Prince Edward Island); while the northernmost region, Cape Breton Island, is connected to the remainder of the province by a 1.6-km (1-mile) causeway.

• Halifax. The Halifax Regional Municipality is Atlantic Canada’s biggest city and—as Nova Scotia’s capital—has been a military, commercial, political, and cultural powerhouse for more than 250 years. Its downtown showcases the best of old and new through waterfront restaurants, pubs, galleries, heritage properties, and modern office towers.
• South Shore and Annapolis Valley. The South Shore, on the Atlantic coast, is "classic" Nova Scotia, complete with weathered fishing villages, craggy coves, and white-sand beaches. The Annapolis Valley, on the Bay of Fundy side, is more pastoral and better known for orchards, vineyards, and picturesque farming villages.
• Eastern Shore and Northern Nova Scotia. The area east and north of Halifax reveals remarkable variety within a relatively short distance. The sparsely populated Eastern Shore has pounding surf, thick forests, and remote cranberry barrens, while Northumberland Strait boasts hiking trails and sandy warm-water beaches.
• Cape Breton. The Island of Cape Breton is the Celtic heart of Nova Scotia, where music and dancing are a part of daily life. The gritty, industrial past of its towns and cities is a sharp contrast to the unspoiled natural beauty that defines the rural areas. The island is home to the Cabot Trail, a spectacular drive through the Cape Breton Highlands.