Acadia Adventure Self-Drive

Arrive in Halifax and make your own way to your downtown hotel to explore this true maritime city. First settled in 1749, Halifax today is Nova Scotia’s capital and the largest city in Canada’s Maritime Provinces.
Overnight in Halifax at the Lord Nelson Hotel or similar

A full day in Halifax to explore boutiques, pubs and cafes of Privateers Warehouse and Historic Properties; tour the Bluenose II (see the “tails” side of a Canadian dime for a picture of the Bluenose I). Get a terrific view of the city from the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and visit York Redoubt National Historic Site a 200-year-old fortification overlooking Halifax Harbour.
Overnight in Halifax at the Lord Nelson Hotel or similar

Today you pick up a rental car and head south to Lunenburg, visiting Peggy’s Cove along the way. Peggy’s Cove is a small village with houses built right into the granite rock and a lighthouse overlooking the Atlantic. Old Town Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a lovingly restored Victorian town that begs you to wander and explore. Make a stop at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, renowned for its hiking trails and incredible canoeing on wilderness lakes and rivers. Arrive in Annapolis Royal, a quaint settlement housing Victorian mansions on the banks for the Bay of Fundy.
Overnight in Annapolis Royal at the Hillsdale House or similar. Breakfast included

Today drive 65 km along the Digby Neck to experience a whale watching excursion in the nutrient rich waters of the Bay of Fundy. You will likely see finback and Minkes, humpbacks or even the rare North Atlantic right whale. Spend the afternoon exploring Annapolis Royal and Fort Anne.
Overnight in Annapolis Royal at the Hillsdale House or similar. Breakfast included

Bound for Prince Edward Island today, follow the curvature of the Bay of Fundy and stop for lunch at ‘the Library’ in the university town of Wolfville. Make time to stop at the Grand-Pré National Historic Site, commemorating Grand-Pré area as a centre of Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755 and the Deportation of the Acadians, which began in 1755 and continued until 1762.
Overnight in Charlottetown at the Great George Hotel or similar. Breakfast included

Explore Charlottetown, site of Canada’s birthplace - Province House National Historic Site was the scene of meetings that led to the formation of Canada as a country in 1867. You can explore picturesque Prince Edward Island National Park on the island’s north shore - see sand dunes, beaches and Green Gables, fictional home of Anne, the character created by Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery and beloved by millions worldwide.
Overnight in Charlottetown at the Great George Hotel or similar. Breakfast included

Depart Charlottetown stopping at the Orwell Corner Historic Village 30 km to the east. Orwell, an abandoned village contains a historic graveyard and a cluster of buildings which have been restored to create a sense of life in the 19th century. Continue to Wood Islands Ferry crossing to Caribou, Nova Scotia then make your way east to Cape Breton Island, a little piece of Scotland in North America.
Overnight in Baddeck at the Inverary Resort or similar. Breakfast included

Explore the fabulous Cabot Trail around Cape Breton Island for awe-inspiring views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The route winds through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. There are 28 beautiful hiking trails in the National Park between Cheticamp and Ingonish - the most recommended would be the Skyline Trail located about 15 minutes’ drive from park entrance. Along the way visit the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, Glenora Distillery, Acadian Cultural Center & Museum (Les Trois Pignons), or St. Ann’s Gaelic College of Arts & Crafts.
Overnight in Baddeck at the Inverary Resort or similar. Breakfast included

This morning drive north to discover the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. This incredible “living museum” largest historical reconstruction in North America; is an impressive restoration of a French garrison town dating from the 1700s, complete with costumed interpreters who re-enact daily life from the French colonial period. You can even sample period food in the restaurant, or take part in a mock battle. Also, don’t miss a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in the village of Baddeck, a museum dedicated to the life and inventions of this fascinating man - who spent his summers here on the shores of the Bras d’Or. You may also want to visit the Highland Village Museum in Iona.
Overnight in Baddeck at the Inverary Resort or similar. Breakfast included

A full day for the return trip to Halifax along the scenic Bras d’Or Lakes Drive to the Canso Causeway to enter mainland Nova Scotia. At the community of Antigonish, travel southwest along Marine Drive to Halifax.
Overnight in Halifax at the Lord Nelson Hotel or similar

Conclude your tour by returning your rental vehicle to Halifax Airport and fly home.