Canada’s three Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) are located on the east coast, just above Maine. Located in the Atlantic Time Zone, these provinces offer some of the prettiest and most hospitable places in Canada.
The province of New Brunswick has strong English, Irish and Scottish ties, evident in the architecture, street names and lifestyle. The three largest cities (Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton) are all within an hour and a half drive of each other, each boasting fun family things to do. Kings Landing Historical Settlement is a working village. Staff are trained and immersed in the 19th century to provide you, the visitor, with an authentic visit to New Brunswick in the 1800s. You can visit as the locals bake bread, churn butter, tend crops and live the farm life.
A visit to Fredericton, New Brunswick’s capital, takes you to the Garrison District, a national historic site. This is particularly fun for kids when they can “enlist” as a member of the British Garrison. No visit is complete without a trip to Saint John to see the famous Bay of Fundy and Reversing Falls where the water actually flows backwards. Whale watching and nature tours are also family fun in lovely St. Andrew’s by the Sea.
Heading over to Nova Scotia there are lots of campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing spots, kayaking and places to enjoy the outdoors including the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The beautiful city of Halifax has a bustling harbor front filled with shops, restaurants, people and activities all year long. The quaint village of Lunenburg is home to the Bluenose II, a magnificent schooner, visitors can board and explore.
Prince Edward Island is accessible by bridge and is home to the famous Anne of Green Gables, located in the town of Cavendish. Thousands visit each year to see the famous house where L.M. Montgomery wrote about everyone’s favorite heroine and to also attend the Charlottetown Festival. No island is without its lighthouses and PEI (as the locals call it) is small enough that you can drive around the entire island in a few hours and stops in at the lighthouses along your way.
Whether it’s the amazing seafood, beautiful beaches, outdoor activities or Maritime hospitality, a visit to New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia will leave you and your family feeling relaxed, refreshed and glad you visited.
