12-Day Landscapes of the Canadian Maritimes - Small Group

A mix of sea breezes and cultural charms, Halifax is a quintessential maritime destination evident in its waterfront, historic sites and ongoing maritime activities. Learn how it became a maritime destination due to its strategic natural harbor, making it a crucial naval and trading hub. Relax at your downtown hotel next to the waterfront. Perhaps get out and explore this capital city, home to five National Historic Sites including The Halifax Citadel, Georges Island, Fort McNab, York Redoubt and the Prince of Wales Tower. This evening, meet your Travel Director for a dinner.

From British rule to naval battles, Halifax is a historical haven. Kick off your Canada guided tour and delve into the city's nautical history at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic where your Local Expert shares stories of key historic events. Learn about the Halifax Explosion in 1917, the world’s largest man-made explosion prior to Hiroshima, and the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Your Local Expert then reveals the eclectic city on a guided tour before an afternoon of Insight Choice. Visit the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site exploring the history of the fortress and the soldiers who were stationed there. Art lovers will want to explore the Maud Lewis Gallery to see the artist's famous carefully restored painted house. Or, choose to visit to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, historically the nation's primary immigration gateway, shedding light on Canada's intricate relationship with the immigration process.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg conjures up images of brightly painted houses and a picturesque waterfront. Join a Local Expert for a walking tour of one of the best surviving examples of a planned British Colonial settlement in North America. Gain insights into the fishing industry's impact on the region at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic before visiting Peggy's Cove, a small rural community located on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay and the site of Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, an iconic Canadian image.

The legends & traditions of the Mi'kmaq people will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. At Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Center, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on your Canada guided tour as interpreters share insights of history and culture as they weave stories relating artifacts to a way of life, cosmology and a changing relationship with European settlers. Further your discovery this afternoon on a guided cruise across Bras d'Or Lake spotting iconic lighthouses, a bird estuary and historic properties including the mansion of Alexander Graham Bell. After a big day of exploring, experience warm hospitality and a Cape Breton-style dinner at your waterfront hotel, featuring tempting seafood favorites and hearty dishes that are sure to satisfy. Continue your night with traditional music and song at a Ceilidh, a Celtic evening full of Acadian hospitality and entertainment.

Gaelic and Celtic cultures are revealed over a unique experience at The Gaelic College, devoted to the study and preservation of these rich cultures.At this school, which offers traditional arts such as Cape Breton fiddle, piano, guitar, step-dancing, piping, highland dancing, weaving, and Gaelic language, you have the opportunity to learn about the tradition of fabric milling and watch a kilt-making demonstration up close. After this one-of-a-kind learning experience, drive along the Cabot Trail, a world-famous highway running along coastal borders on both sides of Cape Breton Highlands National Park and crossing highlands. With views of dramatic cliffs and mountains abound passing charming coastal villages, you’ll love reflecting on another grand day of hand-picked sights.

Visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site with a Local Expert, who will uncover the life, work and enduring legacy of the inventor of the telephone. Ferry across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island and its quaint capital, Charlottetown. This nautical gem, dotted with colorful fisherman’s cottages and featuring a picturesque harbor, is where you’ll spend the next three nights. A visit to a maritime province wouldn't be complete without a lighthouse tour, so later today you’ll head out to the first lighthouse on Prince Edward Island, Point Prim. This evening, enjoy a tasting at Rossignol Winery, the first winery on Prince Edward Island, known for its table and fruit wines.

No trip to Prince Edward Island is complete without a visit to Green Gables Heritage Place including the Green Gables House, the fabled home that provided inspiration for L.M. Montgomery's children's classic, 'Anne of Green Gables'. With your Local Expert, discover the cliffs, wind-whipped dunes and countryside of Prince Edward Island National Park before heading on to Cavendish. This afternoon is free to explore Charlottetown at your leisure. Perhaps tour the Victorian Beaconsfield Historic House and feel like you’ve stepped into Downton Abbey. Or, visit nearby Victoria Park’s boardwalk taking you past the Prince Edward Battery and the Victoria Floating Dock and Brighton Beach lighthouse.

The flavors of Prince Edward Island will delight your palate today in the quaint seaside fishing village of Georgetown. Meet a local fisherman and gifted storyteller, who will regale you with tales of life at sea and offer an insight into the island’s lobster and mussel industry. You’ll then savor these fantastic coastal flavors over a delicious lunch of island blue mussels cooked fresh by the fisherman. Return to Charlottetown with a deeper appreciation of the island’s maritime traditions, its coastal communities and its locally grown produce.

This morning, cross the eight-mile Confederation Bridge, an award-winning engineering marvel linking Prince Edward Island to the mainland. In Shediac, delve into the marine ecosystem of the Northumberland Strait during a guided visit to the Homarus Center. Examine the lobster’s life cycle, explore the local fishery’s sustainability practices and handle live marine species at the touch tank. Later, meet a Local Expert at Hopewell Rocks and uncover the dramatic tides of the Bay of Fundy. This evening, prepare and enjoy lobster the Acadian way, head to tail, during a traditional boil. Then, shake up a summer cocktail in a hands-on mixology class using locally inspired ingredients.

Embark on a coastal drive on the Fundy Trail Parkway, nestled between the greens of the forest and the blues of the coast with stunning views in every direction. This important thoroughfare, completed in 2020, connects Alma to St Martin lined with hiking trails, beaches, overlooks and an Interpretive Center. Take to the water crossing the Bay of Fundy from St. John to Digby by ferry (seasonal). Breathe in fresh salt air from the outdoor area and keep a keen eye on the Bay of Fundy for whales and other marine life. Arrive at the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa, overlooking the Bay of Fundy since 1929, known for its incredible tides. Grab a local craft beer or wine at the 19th Hole restaurant overlooking the Stanley Thompson designed course or treat yourself to a service in their spa featuring sustainable and green practices to create natural, organic and Biodynamic products.

In the historic town of Annapolis Royal, join a Local Expert and costumed interpreter for a stroll in the National Historic District. In the evening, meet a former scallop fisher for a culinary demonstration to learn about the region's maritime heritage. Gain insight into how fresh scallops are shucked before they are cooked to perfection for your seafood dinner.

It’s time to wave goodbye to Halifax and your fellow travelers as your trip comes to an end. A complimentary transfer will drop you off at the airport, followed by a stop at the Marriott Harbourfront Halifax for guests wishing to extend their stay.