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3 days/4 nights in Nova Scotia, late May

Posted by (Southeast US) on

HI all, I followed this thread https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/nova-scotia-questions-suggestions-tips with interest. But since it seems like that poster is heading to a different part of the province than we're looking at, I have questions of my own to pose! Thanks in advance for any suggestions, advice, ideas, etc., you have.

My partner and I (early 30s) are traveling to Nova Scotia the last weekend of May with the full understanding that tourist season is not fully in swing for another few weeks. (Gotta time it with the work travel!) The current plan is 4 nights and 3 full days.
Day 1, Friday: fly into Halifax mid afternoon.
Night 1, Friday: stay in downtown Halifax (already booked)
Day 2, Saturday: ?
Night 2, Saturday: ?
Day 3, Sunday: ?
Night 3, Sunday: ?
Day 4, Monday: ?
Night 4, Monday: Halifax airport hotel

With such short time I am thinking to concentrate our time on the South Shore (so, Halifax->Peggy's Cove->Lunenberg->Yarmouth? basically a counterclockwise loop). I'm also thinking that we may want to stay in different places on our two open nights (Night 2 and 3) so that we don't have to backtrack to a hotel/inn. Would something like this idea make any sense given our short timeframe?
Day/Night 2: sightsee on the way and stay in Lunenberg
Day/Night 3: sightsee on the way and stay in Yarmouth or
Day 4: sightsee on the way back to Halifax Airport area

or extend the geographic reach & try to include Wolfville
Day/Night 2: sightsee on the way and stay in Yarmouth or somewhere past Lunenberg
Day/Night 3: sightsee on the way and stay somewhere on Bay of Fundy shore
Day/Night 4: sightsee on the way back to Halifax Airport area

Preferences/activities enjoyed etc
- we hope to do a maximum of 2-3 hours driving total per day, but closer to the 2 hour mark when possible
- Easy-moderate walks, at most 3 miles (I'm a big walker/hiker but my partner is still learning to love the walking- he'll get there lol)
- breweries/yummy things to drink
- seafood
- live music (see above about tourist season understanding)
- history (I visited Prince Edward Island last year and very much appreciated learning the Acadian history of PEI)
- natural history (the partner, I have moderate interest)
- following signs to things that sound interesting

Again, thank you! -Nan

Posted by
75 posts

We will be in Halifax for 12 days this August! So just a recommendation for your short time frame.. And still enjoy your time!

  1. What time does your flight arrive? If early enough (3:00), it's only a 1.25 hour drive directly to Lunenburg. And this will give you 2-3 nights there. Enough time to drive to Yarmouth 1 day if you like and come back the same day. It's a 2.5 hour drive from Luneburg. So maybe bypass that 1st night in Halifax. And only move your lodging 1 time. We are staying at The Ashlea House B&B in Lunenburg.

  2. Any plans to discover Halifax? Even 1 day and last night would be a treat. So much to see and plenty of restaurants. It's a 30 minute drive back to the airport. So if you have an early afternoon flight, possible? We are staying at The Halliburton. Free limited parking and walking distance to everything.

What ever you decide, I'm sure it will perfect!

Posted by
28 posts

Hi kdh- thanks! Less city time per my partner's request, and I'll be in Halifax for several more days solo, so prioritizing places other than Halifax :) Moving lodgings each night doesn't bother us as we prefer that to backtracking several hours of driving in a single day.

Now I'm thinking-
Night 1, Friday: Halifax (already booked)
Night 2, Saturday: Lunenberg
Night 3, Sunday: Yarmouth
Night 4, Monday: airport hotel before partner's morning flight

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