Day 1 - Arrive Halifax
Upon arrival at the Halifax International Airport or the VIA Rail station, pick up your car rental and transfer to your Halifax hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this beautiful port city. The Halifax Region is the gateway to Atlantic Canada. Nova Scotia's capital city is vibrant and cosmopolitan with a rich seafaring past. Metropolitan Halifax boasts a variety of fine restaurants, exciting nightlife, museums, historic sites and shopping.
Moderate: Overnight Delta Halifax
Superior: Overnight Westin Nova Scotian - Standard room
Deluxe: Overnight Westin Nova Scotian - Premium Harbour view room (includes breakfast buffet)
Day 2 – Halifax Exploring / Choice of Whale Watching Cruise OR Dinner Cruise
Today you have your choice between an exhilarating Nature and Whale Watching Cruise OR enjoy a delicious dinner cruise that will enchant you by the picturesque scenery along the harbour side. Visit Pier 21 National Historic Site (included), Canada's last remaining immigration shed with interactive displays, 4-D film and more, and Halifax Citadel National Historic Site (included), where period-costumed soldiers re-enact British Military life in the 1800s and the thunderous boom of the noon-day cannon is heard 365 days a year.
Whale Watching Cruise (Mid May to Mid October) - Where the Atlantic Ocean meets the cliffs of Chebucto Head at the mouth of Halifax Harbour, the waters are rich with sea life - Minke, Pilot and Fin whales, dolphins and seals. Join us on a two and a half hour cruise guided by a qualified naturalist and experience nature from a unique perspective.
Dinner Cruise (Mid June to Mid September) - This evening you will dine aboard the Harbour Queen, a Mississippi style sternwheeler that takes you on a tour of the waters of Halifax Harbour while you enjoy a delicious buffet dinner. The lower deck of the Harbour Queen is fully enclosed and heated for your comfort.
Moderate: Overnight Delta Halifax
Superior: Overnight Westin Nova Scotian - Standard room
Deluxe: Overnight Westin Nova Scotian - Premium Harbour view room (includes breakfast buffet)
Day 3 - Halifax to Charlottetown
This morning, travel approximately 2 hours across the province to Caribou where you board a car ferry to Prince Edward Island. If you have time before departing on the ferry - be sure to stop in Pictou, a short distance from Caribou, where you will have some time to explore the Hector Heritage Quay. Located on the beautiful Pictou waterfront, the Hector Heritage Quay offers unique insight into the journey of early Scottish settlers to Nova Scotia, and their arrival in Pictou. The centerpiece is the continuing construction of a full scale three mast sailing ship, a replica of the Hector that carried the early pioneers from Loch Broom, Scotland in 1773. You can experience the rolling motion of the deck as the passengers disembark the Hector to begin their new lives. The Hector Heritage Quay provides a glimpse into 18th century life. The site features a working carpentry shop, blacksmith shop, resident artist's studio, and Ship Hector Company Store.
From Caribou, you will board a ferry and travel to Wood Islands on Prince Edward Island. Relax and enjoy the beauty of the sea and the sky during your 75 minute ride. Upon arrival on Prince Edward Island, you will travel approximately 1 hour to Charlottetown. The afternoon is spent at leisure to exploring the capital city, where visitors can enjoy music events, theatre productions, heritage activities and shopping.
OPTION:
Charlottetown Festival Theatre Tickets (June 12 – September 27, 2008) - This evening experience an award winning Canadian musical theatre at the Charlottetown Festival. An exciting playbill of musical theatre and Maritime music and entertainment are being planned for 2008 Festival from June 12 - September 27, 2008.
Performances include:
- Anne of Green Gables - The Musical (June 12 to September 27 - select dates)
- America Strikes Back: British Invasion II – A Musical Revue (June 18 to August 29 - select dates)
- The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom (July 4 to September 20 - select dates)
- Stones in His Pocket (July 17 - August 29 - select dates)
Moderate: Overnight Best Western Charlottetown
Superior: Overnight Rodd Charlottetown
Deluxe: Overnight Delta Prince Edward – Premier Harbour view Room
Day 4 - Charlottetown to Cavendish / Lobster Supper
View rolling farmlands, stunning seascapes, tiny villages and bustling harbours along the Blue Heron Drive which leads to some of the Island's most picturesque views and passes through the Cavendish and PEI National Park region. Discover some of the best natural features in Prince Edward Island National Park, where miles of white sand beaches present a coastline of fragile beauty. The park protects the strips of sand and delicate dunes and offers extensive interpretive programs to explain to visitors the natural, cultural and historic landmarks found within the boundaries of the park. Visit North Rustico to enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk that edges the bay and admire the weathered bait sheds. In Cavendish, visit the Green Gables House - this old farm site inspired L.M. Montgomery's first novel, Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908.
This evening travel a short distance to New Glasgow, one of Canada's prettiest villages, for a lobster supper at the famous New Glasgow Lobster Suppers. Next door, be sure to visit the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company. The company uses locally grown fruit to make delicious jams and marmalades. After supper, travel back to Cavendish for your overnight stay.
Note: New Glasgow Lobster Supper is open from June 1 to Mid October. If you are traveling outside these dates the supper will be removed from your package.
Moderate: Overnight Cavendish Motel
Superior: Overnight Shining Waters Country Inn - Luxury Queen Suite
Deluxe: Overnight Shining Waters Country Inn - Gatehouse Suite
Day 5 - Cavendish to Summerside / Private Carriage Ride with Picnic Lunch
Spend the morning enjoying Cavendish before continuing on the Blue Heron Drive to the historic city of Summerside. En route, stop in Kensington where you may decide to visit the Woodleigh Replicas and Gardens before continuing to the Anne of Green Gables Museum for a carriage ride and picnic lunch. Enjoy the beautiful grounds overlooking the Lake of Shining Waters that inspired L. M. Montgomery at Silver Bush Here you will embark on a private carriage ride. This peaceful journey will take you through the beautiful flower gardens along the Lake of Shining Waters and over the rolling pastoral hills down to a private white sand beach where you will enjoy a picnic lunch before returning. After lunch, continue your drive to the coastal city of Summerside. Beautiful and rich in culture and heritage, you are sure to enjoy this harbour front city. Take a walking tour of Summerside's tree lined streets past stately heritage homes, learn more about the boat building and fishing heritage at the boat shed at Spinnakers' Landing on the waterfront or take in a Ceilidhs concert or a "behind the scenes" tour at the College of Piping.
Moderate: Overnight Loyalist Lake view Resort - Standard room
Superior: Overnight Loyalist Lake view Resort - East Wing room
Deluxe: Overnight Loyalist Lake view Resort - East Wing room
Day 6 - Summerside to Wolfville
Today you will depart the Island via the Confederation Bridge, "the longest continuous multi-span bridge in the world". The bridge will take you to New Brunswick. You will travel a short distance through New Brunswick before entering back into the province of Nova Scotia. En route, you may wish to stop in Springhill to visit the Anne Murray Centre or take a Mine Tour at Springhill Miner's Museum, famous in song and legend. In Grand-Pré, visit the Grand-Pré Wines and the Grand-Pré National Historic Site with a church and cementary of the 17th/18th century Acadian village before the Deportation. Your destination today is Wolfville amongst the orchards of the Annapolis Valley.
Moderate: Overnight Old Orchard Inn and Spa
Superior: Overnight Blomidon Inn - Superior (including continental breakfast and afternoon tea)
Deluxe: Overnight Blomidon Inn - Executive Suite (including continental breakfast and afternoon tea)
Day 7 - Wolfville to Digby
This morning, journey through the beautiful Annapolis Valley where the orchards and rolling farmlands comprise one of the most celebrated apple growing regions in the world and a trip through this region during apple blossom time (late May / early June). Spend some time exploring Annapolis Royal which contains over 150 heritage buildings including the oldest wooden house in Canada. Take time to visit Fort Anne National Historic Site and see the impressive Heritage Tapestry which depicts 400 years of the area's history and the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens with the gardens and displays reflecting the history of the area. Your final destination is the town of Digby overlooking the magnificent Annapolis Basin and the Digby Gut which opens out into the Bay of Fundy. Digby is home port of one of North America's largest scallop fleets and the colourful scallop draggers which can be viewed at the floating marina on the waterfront, also lined with shops, cafes and restaurants.
Moderate: Overnight Digby Pines Resort and Spa - Resort or Cottage Room (including breakfast)
Superior: Overnight Digby Pines Resort and Spa - Resort or Cottage Room (including breakfast)
Deluxe: Overnight Digby Pines Resort and Spa - Junior Suite (including breakfast)
Day 8 - Digby to Halifax / via Kejimkujik National Park, Lunenburg and Peggy's Cove
Today, travel the scenic Kejimkujik Scenic Drive from the lush Annapolis Valley to Nova Scotia's south shore back to Halifax. Discover the amazing scenic inland wilderness country which abounds with wildlife. Visit Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site for a nature walk through woodlands and along waterways once used by the native Mi'kmaq. Drive to Lunenburg, where the colourful waterfront, narrow streets and captivating architecture radiate the flavour of the town's seafaring heritage. Lunenburg is home to Nova Scotia's famous racing schooner, Bluenose, the ship on the Canadian ten cent piece. Old Town Lunenburg was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. The breathtaking Lunenburg waterfront is the home of the world class Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic (included). The Museum commemorates the fishing heritage of the Atlantic coast of Canada. Housed in brightly painted red buildings with floating vessels at wharf side, the Museum offers a host of attractions. Continue your journey along the Lighthouse Route and stop at Peggy's Cove, one of the most photographed places in Canada. The graceful lighthouse sitting high upon the smooth wave worn granite of the coast now does duty as Canada's only post office in a lighthouse. The Lighthouse Route journeys through a landscape of coastal beauty and historic charm. Follow shoreline roads past rugged wave carved headlands and tranquil islands, studded bays where legends of the sea come alive in historic towns and weathered fishing villages back to Halifax.
Moderate: Overnight Delta Halifax
Superior: Overnight Westin Nova Scotian - Standard room
Deluxe: Overnight Westin Nova Scotian - Premium Harbour view room (includes breakfast buffet)
Day 9 -Tour Ends in Halifax
Today your maritime experience comes to an end. Drop your rental car off at the Halifax International Airport prior to departure.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 8 nights accommodation, room tax and mandatory service charges
- 9 day full size rental car including unlimited mileage LDW, GST, personal accident insurance, personal effects coverage, provincial tax, PVRT, additional authorized operator fee
- Pier 21 Historical site
- Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
- Choice of Activity: Whale Watching Cruise OR Dinner Cruise
- Lobster Supper in New Glasgow (1 lb. Lobster, salads, rolls and coffer/tea) including gratuities (SUBSTITUTIONS: If not operating will be removed from the package)
- 1 hour Private Carriage Ride with picnic lunch
- Continental breakfast at the Digby Pines Resort
- Fisheries of the Atlantic Museum admission
- Superior and Deluxe Categories: Afternoon Tea and cold continental breakfast at the Blomidon Inn in Wolfville
- Personalized documentation package
PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Car Rental: refueling service charge, parking, gas, ferry and highway tolls, baby seats, additional driver taxes and credit card security deposit
- Optional activities
- Meals not listed as included
- Gratuities not listed as included
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)