Discover Atlantic Canada: Wild Coasts, Warm Hearts & World-Class Adventures

Featured Experiences

Discover Atlantic & Eastern Canada—scenic East Coast road trips, Maritime province tours, coastal vacations, and unforgettable whale watching in St Andrews. Plan your Canada East Coast adventure today!

• New Brunswick - Walk the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks Twice a day, the Bay of Fundy's incomparable tides drain up to 160 billion tonnes of seawater from the bay, exposing the ocean floor around the famous flowerpot rock formations at Hopewell Cape. Walk among these 15-metre sea stacks at low tide, then watch them disappear beneath the waves just hours later — or kayak right over them at high tide. It's one of the most surreal natural experiences in Canada.
• New Brunswick -Whale watching in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea -The cold, nutrient-rich waters at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy attract humpback, finback, minke, and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. St. Andrews-by-the-Sea is the region's premier whale-watching hub, with boat tours offering close encounters throughout summer. The charming town itself — with its historic inns, galleries, and a working marine research station — deserves at least a full day of exploration.
• New Brunswick
  Walk the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks
  Twice a day, the Bay of Fundy's incomparable tides drain up to 160 billion tonnes of seawater from the bay, exposing the ocean floor around the famous flowerpot rock formations at Hopewell Cape. Walk among these 15-metre sea stacks at low tide, then watch them disappear beneath the waves just hours later — or kayak right over them at high tide. It's one of the most surreal natural experiences in Canada.
• Walk on the earth's mantle in Tablelands.
• Visit Peggy's Cove, Canada's most photographed lighthouse.
• Stroll the Halifax Harbour's accessible and busy waterfront boardwalk.
• New Brunswick Festival Acadien & the Acadian Coast - Acadians — descendants of the first French settlers in North America — make up one-third of New Brunswick's population and celebrate their culture with extraordinary passion. Every August 15, National Acadian Day ignites communities across the province with the Tintamarre, a parade of joyful noise where everyone becomes a musician. The warm-water Acadian Coast beaches around Shediac are also the warmest saltwater swimming in all of Canada.
• Nova Scotia - Drive the legendary Cabot Trail - Ranked among the world's most scenic drives, the 298-km Cabot Trail loops around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, climbing to the plateaus of Cape Breton Highlands National Park before descending to postcard-perfect fishing villages along the Atlantic. Stop to hike the Skyline Trail for panoramic views at sunset, watch for whales and bald eagles from clifftop lookouts, and end the day with Celtic music in a Baddeck pub.
• Nova Scotia - Halifax: history, harbour & nightlife - The vibrant capital of Nova Scotia sits astride one of the world's largest natural harbors. Walk the 2-km downtown boardwalk past the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic — where Titanic artifacts and the story of the devastating 1917 Halifax Explosion are brought to life. By night, Halifax transforms into one of Atlantic Canada's best live music scenes, with pubs pouring local craft beers and céilidh fiddlers on every corner.
• Nova Scotia - Fortress of Louisbourg: a living museum - Step through the gates of the largest historical reconstruction in North America and find yourself in 1744 French colonial Cape Breton. Costumed interpreters — soldiers, bakers, merchants, and fisherwomen — bring this once-mighty Atlantic fortress back to life. Watch cannon demonstrations, taste period-authentic food, and wander fog-shrouded cobblestone streets where the entire town feels like a portal to another century.
• PEI - Green Gables & the Anne experience -
  Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables has enchanted readers in 36 languages since 1908, and the farmhouse that inspired it still stands in Cavendish, surrounded by the red-soiled fields and ocean glimpses that animate every page. Anne of Green Gables — The Musical holds a Guinness World Record as the longest-running annual musical in the world, performed in Charlottetown each summer since 1965. Even non-readers find the gentle, timeless landscape of PEI's North Shore utterly irresistible.
• PEI - The finest seafood in Canada - PEI's cold, clean waters and fertile mudflats produce lobster, oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams of extraordinary quality. The annual PEI Shellfish Festival in Charlottetown is a bucket-list culinary event, while year-round the island's chefs and fishers put world-class shellfish on every table. A traditional Island lobster supper — piled high at a community hall — is one of the most authentic Maritime experiences you'll ever have.
• PEI - Red cliffs, white sand & coastal drives - PEI's three Coastal Drives — the Central Drive, Points East, and the North Cape route — wind past sandstone cliffs glowing amber at sunset, white-sand beaches lapped by the warm Gulf of St. Lawrence, and lighthouses perched above rolling green farmland. Prince Edward Island National Park's Cavendish Beach is the island's showpiece, with red sand dunes, a warm shallow sea ideal for families, and access to some of the island's best hiking and cycling.
  
• Fundy Trail Parkway in St Martin's, NB.
• Talk a walking tour of Lunenburg's “Old Town”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Atlantic Canada rewards those who take their time. The four provinces are best explored over 10 to 21 days — either as a Maritime loop through New Brunswick, PEI, and Nova Scotia, or as a deeper dive that adds Newfoundland and Labrador. Here's everything you need to know before you go.

Best time to visit
The prime season runs from late May through mid-October. June is ideal for iceberg viewing in Newfoundland (bergs are at their peak) and puffin season. July and August offer the warmest weather and the full festival calendar. September is a sweet spot — summer crowds thin, the air is crisp, fall foliage begins in the highlands, and lobster season is in full swing. The Maritimes (NB, NS, PEI) can be visited comfortably from May to October; Newfoundland is best June through September.

How long do you need?
Allow at least 7 to 10 days for the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI). Add 5 to 7 days minimum for Newfoundland alone — the province is large and distances between highlights are substantial. A grand Atlantic Canada loop covering all four provinces comfortably takes 18 to 21 days. Anderson Vacations offers both multi-province tours and province-specific itineraries for every schedule and budget.

Getting there & getting around
Halifax (YHZ) is the main gateway to the Maritimes, with direct flights from major Canadian and US cities. St. John's (YYT) is the entry point for Newfoundland. A rental car is strongly recommended — most of the region's greatest experiences lie well beyond city limits and public transit is limited outside Halifax and Charlottetown. PEI is accessed via the 13-km Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick, or by ferry from Nova Scotia. Newfoundland requires either a short flight or a ferry crossing from North Sydney, Nova Scotia (6 to 7 hours to Port aux Basques; 16 hours to Argentia).

Time zones
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island operate on Atlantic Time (AT), one hour ahead of Eastern Time. Newfoundland and Labrador uses its own Newfoundland Time (NT) — 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic Time and 90 minutes ahead of Eastern. This unique half-hour zone is one of only a handful in the world, and a charming reminder that Newfoundland has always done things its own way.

What to eat
Eating in Atlantic Canada is one of the great pleasures of the trip. In the Maritimes, lobster is king — a traditional lobster supper in PEI or a pier-side lobster roll in Nova Scotia is non-negotiable. New Brunswick's Acadian Coast produces some of the world's best oysters and sea scallops. In Newfoundland, try toutons (pan-fried bread dough served with molasses), seal flipper pie, and fresh cod — and don't leave without tasting screech rum and getting officially "screeched in." Nova Scotia's wine country in the Annapolis Valley produces outstanding white wines, including the signature Tidal Bay appellation.

What to pack
Atlantic Canada's weather is famously variable — even in July. Always pack a waterproof jacket and a warm mid-layer (fleece or light down). Good waterproof walking shoes are essential for trails, tidal walks at Hopewell Rocks, and coastal paths. Binoculars are invaluable for whale watching, puffin spotting, and iceberg viewing. Sunscreen and insect repellent are recommended for summer hiking. For Newfoundland specifically, dress in layers — temperatures can change dramatically throughout a single day on the coast.

Don't-miss experiences by province
New Brunswick: Walk the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks; whale watch from St. Andrews. Nova Scotia: Drive the Cabot Trail; explore Halifax's waterfront; visit Peggy's Cove at dawn. PEI: Visit Green Gables Heritage Place; eat a lobster supper; cycle the Confederation Trail. Newfoundland: See the icebergs from Twillingate; hike Gros Morne; get screeched in on George Street in St. John's.