Things To Do In Atlantic Canada
Planning a trip to Canada at some point in the future? If you're going to travel, I beg of you- visit the Maritime provinces of Atlantic Canada. I'm a Maritimer born and raised, and I've spent my life romping these shorelines, mountains and forests l...
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Hiking
In Atlantic Canada, we are known for our beautiful unspoiled wilderness. Hiking trails criss-cross the provinces like highways, and they make for a fantastic summer trip.
I grew up on the coast near the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. The high cliffs are glorious, the view from the mountaintops is breathtaking beyond compare, and the color of the trees in autumn cannot be beat. I heartily recommend it. Just be...
If you decide to go camping on the Sugarloaf mountain, you'd be missing out if you failed to take a hike along the trail. The view from the peak is hard to beat, especially on a clear day. The sight of the Chaleur Bay in the far distance is magical.
Nova Scotia is easily my favorite province. I'm a sucker for rugged mountain hills and I can't live without the ocean. Cape Breton's hiking trails give the best of both worlds. I have fond memories of hunting for blueberries out there with my dad on ...
If you plan to hike around New Brunswick, Daly Point Nature Reserve is another must. It's just outside of Bathurst, a couple hour's drive from Sugarloaf mountain and the Appalachian trail. Picture serene birch-lined trails, beautiful wetlands and the...
Camping
I don't know about you, but I've always slept better in a tent than in my home. I grew up camping and romping around in the wilderness, and I love nothing better than food cooked over a wood fire.
When I was a kid, we practically lived on Sugarloaf Mountain. My dad and I used to drive out to hike up the mountain, we used to camp in the park, and we used to roam the forests looking for foraging plants. The landscape is just so beautiful it's ha...
Cape Chignecto is a provincial park in gorgeous Nova Scotia, just across the water from where my father currently lives. It is situated on the famous Bay of Fundy, and the campgrounds have plenty of variety. They've even got cabins for rent if you're...
Cape Breton is an island that makes up part of the province of Nova Scotia. My dad and I used to make trips up there when I was a kid, when I used to regularly visit him where he lived in Halifax. He's since moved out of the city, but he tells me he ...
While you should always carry a modern firestarter of some kind for emergencies, I also personally enjoy an old-school flint and steel striker for getting a campfire going. I love the feeling of accomplishment and connection, and I just don't get tha...
Restaurants
I'm a complete and utter foodie, and I make no apologies. I'm all about great meals with great company.
Imagine a cheerfully rowdy pub full of Irish-Canadian charm, good poutine and lively conversation. That's the Cask and Kettle. I spent an evening in that pub with my college friends and a good chunk of the teachers- most of whom got way into the pub'...
Fredericton is the capital city of New Brunswick, and it has a number of absolute gems in terms of food and drink. A good example of this is Gahan House Riverside. The food is spectacular, if a little on the expensive side, and the selection of drink...
Not going to lie, I have literally traveled to Fredericton specifically to visit this restaurant. It's where I take my family for any big events, including the announcement of my engagement. It's worth the drive; the sushi is fantastic, the chicken k...
Visiting the Sea
We call the Atlantic Provinces ‘The Maritimes’ for a reason. I grew up on the coast, and I have never lived more than an hour's drive away from the shore. I can't live without the water, and the scent of salt on the air.
It is physically impossible for me to talk about visiting the ocean in Atlantic Canada and NOT mention St. Andrews-By-The-Sea. I've taken a college trip there exactly once, and it has lived rent free in my head ever since. I might retire there someda...
The first time I went on a whale watching tour, I went to the bathroom below decks at precisely the moment that a beautiful humpback whale decided to breach. I missed it, and I'm still kicking myself over it like 16 years later. Still, even if you ne...