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.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
12 days
11 nights
28 meals
11B 9L 8D
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Halifax, Nova Scotia
2
Intro to Nova Scotia, City Coach Exploration, Free Time
Halifax, Nova Scotia
3
Baddeck, A.G. Bell Historic Site
Baddeck, Nova Scotia
4
Cape Breton Highlands Park, Cape Breton Culture, Rug Hooking
Baddeck, Nova Scotia
5
Fortress Louisbourg
Baddeck, Nova Scotia
6
Hector Heritage Quay, Ferry to PEI, Performance
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
7
PEI Culture & People, Charlottetown, Free Time
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
9
Hopewell Rocks, Shediac
Moncton, NB
10
Joggin’s Fossil Cliffs, Sugar Moon Farm, Return to Halifax
Halifax, Nova Scotia
11
Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, Lobster Dinner
Halifax, Nova Scotia
12
Program Concludes
Halifax, Nova Scotia
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
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.
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.
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.
The Best of the Canadian Maritimes
Program Number: 3788
Anne of Green Gables
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.
Why I Hate Canadians
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.
The Acadian Diaspora: An Eighteenth-Century History
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
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
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
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
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.