marked by loch-like inlets and rocky
highlands that drop dramatically to the sea.
Inland, the geography is equally varied, which
is why A-type vacationers can explore the
orderly vineyards of the agricultural heartland
and the wondrous wilds of the Southwest
Nova Biosphere Reserve within a single day.
A STORIED PAST
Like its scenery, Nova Scotia's man-made
attractions cover a broad range, from
museums to amusement parks, art galleries
to golf courses. Historic ones, however, are
especially plentiful here because the region
once played a crucial role in the imperial
plans of both British and French forces.
The star-shaped Halifax Citadel, for
example, is a literal highlight of any visit to
the capital city, and the meticulously
recreated Fortress of Louisbourg lures
history lovers north to Cape Breton
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/halifaxcitadel;
www.parkscanada.gc.ca/louisbourg). The
Annapolis Valley, which contains some of the
continent's oldest European settlements, has
even more in store. Witness Port-Royal,
founded by the French in 1605, three years
before they established their base at Québec
City (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/portroyal);
Fort Anne, a.k.a. "the most attacked site in
Canadian history," originally erected in 1629
as an Anglo counterbalance (www.parks
canada.gc.ca/fortanne); and gorgeous
Grand-Pré, another UNESCO World Heritage
site where politically-neutral Acadians were
forced into exile for refusing to pledge their
allegiance to the British crown in 1755
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/grandpre).
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Since Mother Nature and Father Time
happily coexist here, there are many places
where you can get a fresh perspective on the
past while inhaling fresh air. The Fundy
Geological Museum, for instance, has a tour
that combines an overnight horseback
riding tour with an actual fossil dig
(fundygeological.novascotia.ca). And
perhaps that's Nova Scotia's biggest asset: it
offers the best of both worlds.
WHAT'S NEW?
Last year Travel+Leisure again named Cape
Breton "Canada's #1 Island." The Island was
also ranked #10 on Travel + Leisure's list of
the 25 Best Islands in the World.
In Halifax, visit Georges Island National
Historic Site. It's just a quick boat ride to the
island, where you can explore outside the
fort or join a guided tour to walk through the
tunnels. The initial role of Georges Island
was to protect the new settlement of Halifax
from a sea attack. It was also used as a prison
in early years and, during the years of the
Acadian Deportation (1755-1763), it became a
holding area for large numbers of Acadians
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/georgesisland).
Fortress Halifax: A City Shaped by Conflict is
the newest exhibit at the Halifax Citadel
National Historic Site. Covering seven rooms,
it provides visitors with an overview of the
fortress and Halifax's both rich and turbulent
history. Chronicling the history of Kjipuktuk,
through its establishment as "Halifax" in 1749
to the mosaic of a city that it is today, it
recounts stories of the people here: the
Mi'kmaq and settlers of British, French,
Acadian, Black Loyalist and other immigrant
cultures (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/halifax
citadel).
Located in the Queen's Marque district on
the Halifax waterfront, Oliver and Bonacini's
The Fog Company is set to open mid-year. It
will be Nova Scotia's newest destination for
delicious and creative ice cream and donuts
with Canadian-inspired flavours and
unusual and inventive toppings. Café
Lunette, another O&B initiative, won The
Coast's Best of Halifax 2022 Gold in the
category of Best New Restaurant. Also
located on the waterfront, it is an all-day
NS
79
PORT OF SYDNEY • SHUTTERSTOCK/DARRYL BROOKS
