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Prince Edward Island/Nova Scotia/New Brunswick

The Best of the Canadian Maritimes

Program No. 3788RJ

Explore Cape Breton Highlands National Park, learn about maritime history at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and discover the dynamic coastal sand dunes of Prince Edward Island.

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12 days

11 nights

28 meals

11B 9L 8D

Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Intro to Nova Scotia, City Coach Exploration, Free Time

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Baddeck, A.G. Bell Historic Site

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Highlands Park, Cape Breton Culture, Rug Hooking

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

Fortress Louisbourg

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

Hector Heritage Quay, Ferry to PEI, Performance

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

PEI Culture & People, Charlottetown, Free Time

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

History Presentation, PEI Nat'l Park, Green Gables, Moncton

Moncton, NB

Hopewell Rocks, Shediac

Moncton, NB

Joggin’s Fossil Cliffs, Sugar Moon Farm, Return to Halifax

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, Lobster Dinner

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Program Concludes

Halifax, Nova Scotia

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At a Glance

Embrace the colorful history of the Canadian Maritime provinces on this journey to Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Delve into the history of the port city of Halifax and the old town of Lunenburg. Gain insight into the intriguing Celtic and Acadian cultures including their music and customs. Discover the historic seaport of Charlottetown and absorb the natural beauty that awaits in the Maritimes.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Walking up to two miles per day; some uneven terrain and stairs. Getting on/off busses and ferries. Some days are full 12 hour days, including bus rides of 4-5 hours.

Best of all, you’ll…

Discover the dynamic nature of coastal sand dune ecosystems in Prince Edward Island National Park.
Step back in time to 1744 at the Fortress of Louisbourg and learn about the battle between the French and the English for control of North America.
Enjoy local delicacies such as lobster and mussels, and revel in East Coast traditional music and entertainment at a local cèilidh.

General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

James White

James (Jay) White is an expert in history, having earned his PhD in Canadian History from McMaster University in 1994. After a two-year stint at Western Washington University, Jay migrated home to Nova Scotia where he has lived ever since, teaching a variety of historical subjects. He even instructed members of the Canadian Armed Forces in military history. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and photography, is a Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Canadiens fan, and is of Loyalist and Acadian descent.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

James White View biography

Patricia Brown View biography

Patricia Brown has traveled across Canada and the USA with numerous groups, allowing her to discover many wonderful places and meet equally wonderful people. Patricia is also bilingual in French and English which certainly makes navigating the province of Quebec easier! She studied Communication at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, as well as Travel in Quebec. Currently, she’s made her home in Montreal with her partner and dog, where she indulges in her other passions, cooking and entertaining.

Tammy Pickering View biography

With over 15 years in educational travel, Tammy Pickering has seen it all, and is excited to share those experiences with others. She loves nature, living on Prince Edward Island and has a passion for art which she indulges in by painting, taking pictures, throwing pottery, and creating leather and stained glass crafts. Don’t let her appearance fool you, Tammy also loves riding her motorcycle through the countryside. Tammy also runs her own cottage rental business and volunteers with Girl Guides, Make-A-Wish, and her church.

Cameron MacDonald View biography

Cameron Bennett MacDonald was born in Charlottetown, as a 9th generation Islander. Being between the theatre and history of the Island his entire childhood, it only made sense that Cameron joined the Confederation players in 2013, a historical reenactment troupe. The troupe combined a knowledge of history and group leading experience, with a theatrical side as well, a job to honor both his parents. As the troupe’s artistic supervisor, he writes historical vignettes and shares his knowledge with those around him.

Routes Adventures Mobile Phone View biography

Please call the toll free line at 1-866-745-1690 during regular business hours or for non-urgent matters (Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30 EST). The mobile phone #1-613-331-5777 is for after hours and weekends for emergency use only. The phone is carried by a staff member.

Kate MacQuarrie View biography

Kate MacQuarrie is an award-winning botanist, naturalist, and author who has been eating wild foods, tracking wild animals, and interpreting the natural history of Prince Edward Island for more than 30 years. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology, has conducted research in PEI’s upland hardwood forests and coastal sand dunes, found plants not previously known to exist on the Island, published papers in national and international peer-reviewed journals, and released a book on the Wild Foods of PEI.

Jocelyn Bethune View biography

Jocelyn Bethune is a storyteller at heart. She is a writer, researcher, and local historian. She has been a reporter, an interpretive guide, and is the best-selling author of 'Historic Baddeck.'

Cheryl Bray View biography

Cheryl Bray's work is deeply rooted in Cape Breton's rich history, weaving ancestral tales of resilience and hope. From the French era at Louisbourg to the journeys of Highland Gaels and Irish immigrants who shaped the island's identity, their stories are a testament to the land's enduring spirit. As a Gaelic learner, singer, and active member of the island’s theatre community, Cheryl serves as a set designer for Cape Breton University’s Boardmore Theatre.

Suggested Reading List (7 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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The Best of the Canadian Maritimes

Program Number: 3788

Why I Hate Canadians

by Will Ferguson

First published in 1997, this hilarious book launched satirist Will Ferguson's career. Challenging the notion that Canadians are nice,” the book asks, Do we as Canadians deserve a country so great?” Tackling subjects from Canada's favorite inbred royals to the mighty beaver as national icon, from sex in a canoe to all-Canadian "superhero" Captain Canuck, Ferguson rampages across the cultural landscape.

Anne of Green Gables

by L.M. Montgomery

First published in 1908, this heartwarming story has beckoned generations of readers into the special world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm outside a town called Avonlea. Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan, has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl.

The Acadian Diaspora: An Eighteenth-Century History

by Christopher Hodson

The Acadian Diaspora tells the extraordinary story of most successful military campaigns in North American history, capturing and deporting seven thousand French-speaking Catholic Acadians from the province of Nova Scotia. Using documents culled from archives in France, Great Britain, Canada, and the United States, Christopher Hodson reconstructs the lives of Acadian exiles as they traversed oceans and continents, pushed along by empires eager to populate new frontiers with inexpensive, pliable white farmers.

Birds of Atlantic Canada

by Roger Burrows

Full of interesting facts and useful information, Birds of Atlantic Canada has something for anyone with an interest in birds, from the casual backyard observer to the keen naturalist. There are 284 of Atlantic Canada's most abundant or notable birds species featured.

The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History

by Harry Thurston (Author), Wayne Barrett (Photographer)

The Atlantic Coast draws upon the best and most up-to-date science on the ecology of the region as well as the author’s lifetime experience as a resident, biologist, and naturalist. The book explores the geological origins of the region, the two major forest realms, and the main freshwater and marine ecosystems, and describes the flora and fauna that characterize each habitat. It ends with a look at what has been lost and how the remaining natural heritage of the region might be conserved for the future.

Nova Scotia: A Pocket History

by John Reid

This book provides a concise history of the province to the beginning of the 21st century. “The history of Nova Scotia,” says the author, “is not quaint. It is made up of the efforts of people of many backgrounds to make their way as best they could.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

In a rich braid of reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, Robin circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.

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