It may be the second smallest province with less than 1 million residents, but don’t let size fool you. Nova Scotia has more to offer than any one person could explore in a lifetime.

The one thing you have to do when you get to Nova Scotia is eat; and I don’t mean burgers and fries. When you’re in Nova Scotia, the only real option is local fare. That means a lot of seafood. No part of the province is more than 67 km from water, which means that a lot of the local food comes from its largest resource; the ocean.

The province has started a program called “Taste of Nova Scotia,” that is a marketing program geared toward buying local and presenting local food and drink to those that choose to dine in the province. It’s a giant feast of good food with trademark tastes from the sea as well as great flavours like that Canadian favourite, maple syrup.

The one thing that everyone should try to eat while they’re in Nova Scotia is Lobster. Summer is Lobster season in Nova Scotia, but you can get great crustaceans any time of year.  June and July hold many different festivals and picnics celebrating the lobster and its great culinary prowess, and are worth checking out. If you miss the festivals, though, don’t worry! There are tons of restaurants all across the province that would love to cook you up a nice, tasty lobster treat! The waters around Nova Scotia are the most fertile lobster fisheries in the world, and a quick inquiry of the establishment’s fare can be enough of an indicator that you’re in for a great meal.

Wine is also very prominent in this maritime province. There are 22 different grape growers in the province, and all of these places produce first-class wine. The Annapolis valley holds some wonderful treasures in regards to wine tasting, and it loves to show them off.

Once you’ve filled up on food, there is much more to experience in this great province. Any trip to Nova Scotia should include a trip to the Bay of Fundy. With the distinction of having the highest rising tides in the world, there is much to explore when the tide goes out and exposes a seabed full of hidden wonders such as semi-precious stones and fossils. One hundred billion tons of water move in and out of the bay every day, bringing with it new things to explore every time. No matter when you go to the Bay of Fundy, there is something to explore and learn about.

Another sightseeing must is the Cabot Trail that travels along the side and the northern tip of the island, delivering what has been voted one of the most scenic highways in the world. Flanked by the beauty of Nova Scotia on one side and the coastline on the other, the breathtaking views are ones that will be remembered for a lifetime. The Cabot Trail begs to have time taken along it, with scenic beaches and fantastic hiking trails dotted along its entirety.

Once you’re tired of the natural beauty of the province (if that could ever happen), visit Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. About half of the population of the province live in this metropolis, and it really acts as the cultural centre for all of the Atlantic Provinces, as it is the largest city of all four Maritime Provinces. The city harbours many great cultural activities, such as the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Symphony Nova Scotia and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.