There’s a part of Canada we hadn’t really had the chance to check out before, and funny enough, it’s one of the areas closest to the UK. We’re talking about Atlantic Canada—the eastern coast of Canada, which ironically is the nearest part to the UK. For example, places like Newfoundland are almost as easy to reach from London as Rhodes in Greece or Cyprus.
So, we decided it was about time for a road trip through Atlantic Canada. We flew into Nova Scotia and planned to travel north to New Brunswick, eventually moving east to Newfoundland. Our adventure started in Halifax, Nova Scotia—which, by the way, means “New Scotland.” We checked into The Halliburton, a historic hotel that’s ideally located in the city.
After getting settled, we went out to grab some doughnuts and poutine (my idea was for the doughnuts, while Lloyd was all about the poutine). We only had a few hours in Halifax before leaving the next morning, so we figured the best way to see the city was by jumping on a Harbour Hopper Tour. These tours are on an amphibious vehicle that takes you around the city both on land and in the water.
After the tour, still feeling a bit peckish despite the earlier snacks, we headed to The Five Fisherman for an early dinner. I’ve found that one of the best ways to combat jetlag (besides adjusting to the local time zone) is to ensure you get a good night’s sleep right at the start of your trip. It really helps set the tone for the rest of the vacation, making those mid-day drowsy moments more manageable.
We started our dinner with Canadian wines, hoping to expand our taste for them since we first tried them in Niagara-on-the-Lake. For the main course, Lloyd had a delicious fish pie, and I enjoyed a lobster with plenty of garlic butter. With that, we called it a night, ready to kick off our road trip through Atlantic Canada the next day.
We didn’t waste any time hitting the road, heading to a favorite local spot—Peggy’s Cove. This picturesque little fishing town in Nova Scotia is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. We parked near the lighthouse and explored the area on foot, popping in and out of charming shops filled with things I didn’t need but really wanted.
Though tempted to have lunch in Peggy’s Cove, we decided to push on to our next destination—Lunenburg. Lunenburg is another fishing town but much larger than Peggy’s Cove. It’s known for its rich history and colorful architecture and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town is considered one of the best-preserved examples of British settlements in North America, with much of its character unchanged over 250 years.
We explored Lunenburg with a walking tour, which was a great decision since it helped us appreciate the town’s unique history and beautiful buildings. Each building has its own story, detailing how it evolved over the years or why it was constructed with specific features.
After all that walking, we were pretty hungry. Our guide recommended The Fish Shack, where we enjoyed some of the best fish and chips ever—fresh, with a light, crispy batter that was simply amazing.
Refueled, we wandered around Lunenburg on our own, revisiting spots from our tour. The town really stands out as unlike any other place we’d been to in Canada. It took a bit of convincing to finally say goodbye to this vibrant Nova Scotian gem, but we were thrilled to have had the chance to explore it.