Capital of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province,, Charlottetown is another highlight, with Victorian houses and buildings and fantastic parks. The Birthplace of Confederation, it’s also the gateway to Prince Edward Island National Park with its white-sand beaches and hiking and biking trails. As well as lighthouse and boat tours and lobster boat sorties learning about the lives of lobster fishermen, you can visit the iconic Green Gables Heritage Place – the home that provided inspiration for Anne of Green Gables, restored to its late-1800s state.
Similarly fascinating, the Nova Scotia provincial capital of Halifax, perched on a rocky Atlantic inlet, is a place for nautical-themed museums, bunkers and fortresses that once guarded the harbour, striking public art, funky shops and excellent pubs hosting atmospheric folk music. This is a great spot for foodies, with everything from street vendors to upscale eateries serving up gloriously fresh seafood and other regional specialties. Of particular note are the delightful fishing village of Peggy's Cove with its picture-postcard lighthouse astride a rocky outcrop, Lunenburg UNESCO World Heritage Site with its colourful UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town, and Mahone Bay with its artists' studios and steepled churches.