Top 14 Reasons to Visit Atlantic Canada in 2014
Travelling to Atlantic Canada is Easy
Arrive in the region in as little as five hours from the UK. Air Canada offers daily direct service in peak season to both Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, plus four times weekly to Halifax in the off-season. Canadian Affair flies direct to Halifax once per week from May to October. New in 2014, WestJet begins non-stop flights from Dublin to St. John’s from June 15 to October 5. Also in 2014, ferry service between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia returns, providing an extra option for increasingly popular two-nation vacations.
Ease of Travel Among Provinces
Upon arrival, take advantage of regional flights to key destinations in each of the four provinces. Many visitors hire a car and explore on their own. Quiet roads and scenic coastal drives pave the way for a pleasant journey to quaint villages, attractions and outdoor activities. Car ferries also provide leisurely transfers among the provinces. There is also rail service connecting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to other parts of Eastern Canada (Quebec, Ontario) and points further west.
NEW BRUNSWICK
World Acadian Congress 2014
The region of Acadia will host the next World Acadian Congress from August 8 – 24, 2014. Themed as ‘Acadia of the World…A new Acadia’, this region groups 50 municipalities encompassing New Brunswick, as well as Maine in the United States and the Témiscouata region in Québec. Held every five years since 1994, the celebration brings together Acadians and friends from around the world. www.cma2014.com
Preserving History Takes Time…. The “New” Algonquin Resort Ready for Visitors!
The Algonquin Resort’s year-long $30 million transformation is complete and it is well worth the wait….. a whole new level of elegance, grandeur, and luxury. The Algonquin Resort is one of Canada’s most luxurious and legendary resorts. Rich in history, it has been meticulously restored to its original splendour. Originally built in 1889, wealthy Americans and Central Canadians vacationed here to escape the heat and humidity of New York, Boston, Montreal and Toronto. Sir William Van Horne, builder of the Canadian National Railway, visited St. Andrews, staying in its famous resort hotel. Van Horne enjoyed his stay away from the heat and humidity of Montreal so much he purchased nearby Minister’s Island and built his own estate which still stands today. With its majestic presence and invigorating seaside allure, it’s no surprise that travellers have escaped to The Algonquin for well over four generations. http://algonquinresort.com/
Seascape Kayak Tours Inc., a Canadian Leader in Adventure Tourism
Based on Deer Island in the Bay of Fundy, this area is one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems. Paddling from the protected harbour, see Bald Eagles, Harbour Seals, Porpoise and whales. Being in a kayak allows you to fully experience the ebb and flow of the tremendous Bay of Fundy tides and enjoy the rugged dramatic coastline, beautiful secluded islands, abundant marine life, lighthouses and quaint fishing villages. Featured tours include a multiday excursion to see whales among the Fundy Isles; with inn accommodations where you are shuttled to and from Deer Island via land or water each day, and a 24 hour adventure paddling out to a secluded island to spend a memorable evening enjoying beautiful scenery, excellent food, wine and good company. Seascape Kayak Tours is a Canadian Tourism Commission Signature Experiences Collection. http://www.seascapekayaktours.com/destinations/canada/
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Food is Hot
When St. John’s restaurant Raymonds was named the best in Canada, foodies put down their forks and picked up their smartphones. They found a bevy of young chefs strutting their stuffed porcini mushrooms at eateries all over the province. The St. John’s culinary scene came to a boil a while back, but now you can go to Fogo Island or Gaultois or Rocky Harbour or L’Anse aux Meadows and find great grub. Organic farms have sprouted, artisanal cheese is now made here, and don’t get me started on the free range chickens or foraging for wild blueberries. Find more food ideas here: www.ranl.ca/index.asp
Going Shank’s Mare
Hundreds of miles of refurbished coastal trails between fishing villages recreate the traditional means of locomotion in olden days. Baggage transfers arranged. See whales, icebergs and seabirds. Meet the descendants of the Irish who settled here and retain a strong brogue, a quick wit and lively music. Or, take a guided hike in Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its fjords, scenery and, well, trails. All the best trails are here: www.newfoundlandlabrador.com
Where Time Has a Different Meaning
In Newtonian physics, time is the fourth dimension, but in Newfoundland and Labrador, we’ve taken old Sir Isaac’s concept of movement through time and turned it into a party called a time with dancers keeping time with the music, and a couple over in the corner making time. There can be more than one time at any time, or even at the same time, but two times can’t occupy the same space at the same time. If you want to have a good time at a time, you’ve got to come to the right place and you’ll find the best times at www.newfoundlandlabrador.com
NOVA SCOTIA
Clam Digging with Fundy Adventures
The phenomenal Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest tides and each day 100 billion tonnes of seawater flows in and out of the bay in one tide cycle. Experience for yourself what makes the Bay of Fundy so special. Come meet a local resident clam digger. You’ll learn about some of the ways these hard working men/women have lived through challenging times in the clamming industry. Get hands on experience hacking through sand and mud looking for clams, after this great adventure you’ll convene at to the top of the beach and have a steam clam treat.
“Spirits” of Lunenburg
Travel to the seafaring town of Lunenburg, where the colourful waterfront, narrow streets and captivating architecture radiate the flavour of the town’s rum running and ship building heritage. Old Town Lunenburg is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site (one of three in the province!) and is home to Nova Scotia’s famous racing schooner, Bluenose II (which is also featured on the Canadian ten-cent piece. Take in the “spirits” of Lunenburg with a visit to Ironworks Distillery. The boutique distillery takes it’s name from the building they call home but once was a marine blacksmith’s shop that produced ironworks for the booming shipbuilding trade.
Celtic Shores Coastal Trail
Voted many times over as one of the best places to visit in the world, Cape Breton Island is often referred to as Nova Scotia’s masterpiece. Whether driving along the scenic 185 mile Cabot Trail or taking in the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail – a 92-km (57 mi) multi-use trail on the west coast of the spectacular Cape Breton Island. Great for off-road cycling or long distance trekking, the easy, flat trail meanders along the coastline, through picturesque wilderness, skirts streams, and connects several communities and attractions. Along the way you will find active fishing harbours, warm-water beaches in Port Hood, West Mabou, and Inverness, the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique and five other museums, Glenora Distillery, the Cabot Links Golf Course, and the not-to-be-missed Red Shoe Pub in Mabou. All of this is complimented with a variety of accommodations, restaurants, places to shop, some of the best live Celtic music on the island and a unique living Gaelic culture. Along the trail you find community kiosks and interpretive panels that will provide you with a glimpse of local history and culture. This trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail and the International Appalachian Trail.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
2014
Prince Edward Island is known for its pristine sandy beaches and world-famous seafood, but this year there are more reasons than ever to visit. 2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference, the meeting that led to the formation of Canada. From mega Canada Day festivities, a free Celebration Zone (July 1 – Sept 7), to Founder’s Week, we have over 150 events planned. Come for the fun. Come for the sand. Come to unwind. But this year, make it a point to stay for the party.
Coastal Drives
Driving in Prince Edward Island is VERY easy, and touring Prince Edward Island’s three scenic coastal drives is a perfect way to explore the Island off the beaten track.
The staff at National Geographic Travel is always criss-crossing the globe to uncover the best and the brightest places, and they have travel wish lists of their own. Prince Edward Island has made that list for 2014. Here is what Leslie Trew Magraw, editor/producer for the Intelligent Travel blog network at National Geographic recently said about Prince Edward Island: “I’ve always wanted to see Prince Edward Island for myself–the deep red clay, the windswept cliffs, the quaint villages–and meet some of the ‘kindred spirits’ L.M. Montgomery wrote about with such clear love.”
Culinary Experiences
There’s no better way to savour the Island than to live like an Islander. With over 70 experiences to choose from, you’ll feel like an Islander before you leave. Learn to tong and shuck oysters, hunt giant bar clams, uncover some “Seaweed Secrets,” or make moonshine – legally. These are just a few of the available P.E.I. experiences, which also include culinary boot camps, farm tours, fishing for lobster and making fudge with PEI potatoes. These adventures give you an authentic “taste” of Island life.