Landscapes of the Canadian Maritimes

Baddeck: Satisfy your curiosity as you immerse yourself in a unique experience at The Gaelic College, devoted to the study and preservation of the Gaelic and Celtic cultures and the only institution of its kind in North America. Learn about the tradition of fabric milling and see a kilt-making demonstration in action at this educational non-profit institution, offering year-round programming in the culture, music, language, crafts, customs and traditions of the immigrants from the Highlands of Scotland. Discover the history of the college when it was founded in St. Ann’s, Nova Scotia in 1938, by community members who wanted to create a memorial for theGaelic speaking pioneers of Cape Breton.

Cape Breton Island: The Cabot Trail, a world-famous scenic highway, offers a spectacular driving experience through the stunning landscapes of Cape Breton Island. Enjoy a relaxing drive along the Cabot Trail, keeping an eye out for moose and bald eagles. Then stretch your legs at Cheticamp fishing village where Acadian culture remains strong, and you may be able to hear Acadian language spoken by the locals. Then visit a local beach where you can dip your toes in the water.

Baddeck: Embark on an insightful visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. Overlooking Bras d'Or Lake, take a glimpse into the world-famous inventor's interests and inventions from airplanes and kites to deaf education and artificial respiration. From your guide's insights to a multi-media presentation featuring artifacts and photographs from their time together, you’ll appreciate this deep study into an important historical figure.

Prince Edward Island: Discover picturesque Prince Edward Island with a Local Expert. Visit Prince Edward Island National Park with its sand dunes adorned by beach grass and red sandstone cliffs as well as the rich, red soil that produces PEI’s famous potatoes. Continue onto Cavendish to visit the Green Gables Heritage Place with the chance to see Green Gables House, the fabled home that provided inspiration for L.M. Montgomery's children's classic, "Anne of Green Gables." Take a stroll on the Haunted Wood or Balsam Hollow Trail, which begins as Lover's Lane. Feel like Anne herself as signs highlighting the inspirational sources for Montgomery's writing enhance your discovery. Re-live Anne’s youthful escapades and mishaps within the memory-filled rooms of her Victorian home - where images from the blockbuster 1908 novel blend with the real-life experiences of local author who drew inspiration from the idyllic farmstead, scenery and people.

Prince Edward Island: The east coast conjures up notions of lighthouses and fine food and drink. Experience both today visiting a winery and two lighthouses. At Rossignol Estate Winery, tour the winery and savour a tasting of four wines produced in their pure oak barrels, along with Prince Edward Island cheese and crackers. Make your way to Wood Islands Lighthouse, built in 1876. Then visit the Point Prim Lighthouse located at the end of Point Prim on a point of land extending into the Northumberland Strait and the first lighthouse on PEI. This the ideal opportunity to snap a picture of a quintessential maritime lighthouse.

Hopewell Cape: The Bay of Fundy is one of the seven wonders of North America. The highest tidal range on earth, the rarest whales in the world, semi-precious minerals and dinosaur fossils. Twice each day, 160 billion tons of seawater flow in and out of the Bay of Fundy - more than the combined flow of the world's freshwater rivers. Hopewell Rocks, also called "Flowerpots Rocks", are rock formations caused by tidal erosion and stand 40-70 feet tall located on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Enjoy a visit to Hopewell Rocks with a step-on guide and, if the tide permits, walk down to the water to walk on the ocean floor where – just hours later – the Bay of Fundy will return.

New Brunswick: The Bay of Fundy’s natural, unspoiled beauty will inspire the mind of any nature-lover. Travel the Fundy Trail Parkway, which nestles you between the greens of the forest and the blues of the coast, for stunning views in every direction. You’ll witness the highest tides on the planet -- because of its shape which intensifies the gravitational pull from the moon -- and enjoy the coastal access network including scenic lookouts, beaches, waterfalls and interpretive centre.

Annapolis Royal: Victorian homes, quaint shops and oak, elm and chestnut trees dotting the lawn of the historic courthouse, it must be Annapolis Royal. Take a stroll through the National Historic District with a costumed Local Expert and discover a cultural mosaic of history. Learn how it was the colonial capital before the founding of Halifax, a centre of early European colonization in North America and a pivotal player in the struggle for empire between the English and French.