13D/12N - 2020 Maritime Mosaic

Highlights:

day 1 Halifax Arrival

day 2 Halifax
Today we take a city tour of the Halifax, which includes the Victorian Public Gardens, Titanic Grave Sites, Historic Properties, Province House, Old Town Clock and more. Then we visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration that occupies part of Pier 21, the former ocean liner terminal and Canada’s last remaining immigration shed, showcasing exhibits, immigration history and the ship arrival database. This afternoon, we visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic located near the wharf, rich with maritime history, stories, events and people that define Nova Scotia. The rest of our evening is at leisure, which could be spent on Halifax’s harbour front, visiting unique shops, walking along the promenade, or eating at a local restaurant.

day 3 Halifax – Western Shore

day 4 Western Shore – Saint John

day 5 Saint John- St. Andrews by-the-Sea

Our morning is spent exploring Saint John with a city tour, including the natural phenomenon Reversing Falls, a series of rapids and whirlpools on the Saint John River that empties into the Bay of Fundy. The extreme tides of the Bay of Fundy affect the river, and reverse the flow of the current as the tides rise and fall. Following our city tour, we spend time at leisure to enjoy the area, local eateries and markets. This afternoon we travel to the quaint village of St. Andrews by-the-Sea, with a treasure trove of beautiful architecture, unparalleled scenery and rich marine life. We visit the 27 acre Kingsbrae Gardens, with over 50,000 perennials in many themed gardens, before enjoying the rest of our evening at leisure

day 6 St. Andrews by-the-Sea – Fredericton

This morning, we tour the Fundy Discovery Aquarium, which showcases creatures big and small found in the beautiful Bay of Fundy. See harbour seals through the windows of the underwater viewing area, and watch some of the sea creatures in the gigantic touch pool. We continue to Fredericton and arrive at Kings Landing Historical Settlement, a lively, authentic village, depicting the one hundred year transformation of a young colony into a vibrant nation. Enjoy a guided tour of the Historical Village and Museum, followed by free time to explore the 40 exhibits with over 70,000 artifacts showcased.

day 7 Fredericton – Moncton

Fredericton, situated on the Saint John River, is a city full of history, art, and dining, with many restaurants, pubs, and cafés to discover. This morning we enjoy an entertaining and informative city tour with a local guide, discovering the New Brunswick’s capital city of Fredericton and all it has to offer. This afternoon, we travel through Fundy National Park to the incredible Hopewell Rocks, home of the Flowerpots, peculiar formations that are shaped by tidal erosion and stand 40-70 feet tall. These rocks are forested islands at high tide and resemble flowerpots at low tide. After visiting this incredible area, we continue to Moncton, located in southeastern New Brunswick, where the rest of our evening is spent at leisure.

day 8 Moncton – Charlottetown

This morning we visit the world-famous Magnetic Hill, a natural phenomenon unique to this area, that completely defies the laws of gravity. Witness our own motorcoach coasting uphill with no power at all. We then continue to the town of Shediac, known as the “Lobster Capital of the World”, where we see the World’s Largest Lobster before we embark on a lobster cruise to learn about lobsters and the fisheries, while we savor a freshly cooked lobster lunch on board. Following our cruise, we make our way to the province of Prince Edward Island crossing on the Confederation Bridge. The Confederation Bridge is 12,900 metres long and crosses over the Northumberland Strait, linking mainland New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. We soon arrive in the capital city of Charlottetown, and spend the remainder of our evening at leisure.

day 9 Charlottetown

Charlottetown is the capital of Prince Edward Island, and is located on the southern coast of the province. Our city tour highlights some of the historical buildings, like the beautiful St. Dunstan’s Basilica and The Province House National Historic Site, where the Charlottetown Conference was held in 1864.

Today we explore many of Prince Edward Island’s treasures, including Cavendish National Park and the Green Gables Heritage Place, where you can walk through the memory-filled rooms of the beloved fictional character Anne of Green Gables. We sample some of the best preserves in the world at the Prince Edward Island Preserves Company and visit the fishing village of North Rustico.

day 10 Charlottetown – Sydney

Today we travel to the mainland; a scenic journey brings us to Sydney, Nova Scotia, a harbour town located on Cape Breton Island. With time in the evening to explore at our own leisure, there are plenty of local eateries and entertainment options, and perhaps get a picture taken with the world’s largest fiddle!

day 11 Day Trip to Cabot Trail, NS

Today we experience the picturesque and renowned Cabot Trail and Margaree Valley. We spend time at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, a 10-hectare property overlooking the Bras d’Or Lakes. This incredible display showcases the life of Alexander Graham Bell and gives us a look into his mind with many artifacts, photos and full-scale replicas of his inventions.

This afternoon we tour Cape Breton Highlands National Park, with stops at Lone Shieling, Pleasant Bay and Neil’s Harbour with spectacular seascapes, sweeping beaches, rare plants and abundant wildlife. We return to Sydney and enjoy the evening at our leisure.

day 12 Day Trip to Louisbourg, NS
Today we visit the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, stepping back in time to a bygone era when the French and English fought for control of the New World and Nova Scotia was the battleground. After a guided tour, we have additional time to explore the area at leisure. This afternoon we visit Cape Breton’s Miners’ Museum, paying tribute to the region's long and rich coal mining history and home to the famous choir of miners - The Men of the Deeps. We take an underground tour of the Ocean’s Deep Colliery beneath the Museum’s building before returning to Sydney.
day 13 Sydney departure
Our Maritimes adventure has come to an end. Following breakfast, depart the hotel at your leisure to begin your onward journey.

Inclusions: : 12 nights of accommodation (3.5–4 star), professional Tour Leader, transportation on deluxe motorcoach, airport transfers in Halifax, 21 meals: 12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners.

Hotels: Halifax: Cambridge Suites, Western Shore-Oak Island Resort, Sant John-Hilton, St Andrews by the Sea-Algonquin Resort, Fredericton-Delta Fredericton, Moncton-Rodd Hotel, Charlottetown-Rodd Charlottetown, Sydney-Cambridge Suites Sydney