Discover Atlantic Canada: Ancient Fjords, National Parks, Whale Watching and More!
From whale watching to iceberg spotting, breathtaking landscapes to delicious seafood, Atlantic Canada is the perfect destination for outdoor adventures.
Did you know that the region of Atlantic Canada is over five times larger than Ireland, yet has less than half of our population? This unspoilt coastal region in Eastern Canada is the place to go to discover pristine beaches, rugged cliffs and wonderful wildlife – without the crowds! And, this dream destination is accessible in only five hours! You can fly direct flights from Dublin to St. John’s twice-times weekly, or choose a direct six-hour flight from Dublin to Halifax.
There are four provinces in Atlantic Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Choose to visit one or more provinces, or better still, visit them all – the best places to visit in Atlantic Canada are easily reached on a road trip.
If you are looking for beautiful beaches then don’t miss New Brunswick, if colourful towns are what you seek then make sure to visit Nova Scotia, but all Atlantic Canada provinces have superb seafood, stunning scenery and wonderful wildlife – including some of the best whale watching experiences in the world.
I have teamed up with Canadian Sky, the award-winning specialist tour operator who offer a wide selection of holidays to Atlantic Canada. Whether you want to Canadian road trip by car or motorhome, or book a fully guided tour, Canadian Sky can arrange it for you.
Canadian Sky have dedicated Canadian specialists who can tailor make the perfect Atlantic Canada holidays to suit your requirements, and can be contacted online, by phone, or you can visit their Customer Lounge in Dublin if you prefer to arrange a Canada travel itinerary in person.
They will advise you on the top things to do in Atlantic Canada to suit your interests, but I have listed some of the highlights below to help you with your travel plans.
1. Go Whale Watching in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is one of the world’s top whale watching destinations – you can see up to 22 different species of whales here!
You should see whales ‘spout’ regularly along the coastline but a whale watching trip is the best way to see whales breaching – this is when whales break through the surface of the water and soar into the air before returning to the sea with a loud splash!
Finbacks and Minkes usually arrive in May, the Humpback whales come in June, and all usually stay along the coastline throughout the summer and sometimes into October. In the Bay of Funday, shared by New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, there can be as many as 300 whales between June and October, while August is peak time and sightings are very common.
Newfoundland and Labrador is another super location for whale watching, and is home to the world’s largest migrating population of humpbacks.
View Canadian Sky’s selection of Atlantic Holidays here:
See More Here2. Laze on New Brunswick’s Pristine Sandy Beaches
New Brunswick is home to 50 beaches, making it a must visit in Atlantic Canada, especially during the summer time. Don’t miss Kouchibouguac National Park which boasts 25 kilometres of white sand dunes and sea swimming in the warmest water in Canada.
This is a year round destination as it offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing in the winter time. At night, the park is described as one of the most magical astronomy parks in North America.
See More Here3. Explore Nova Scotia’s Colourful towns
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg in Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s most beautiful towns with colourful wooden houses that date back to the 18th and 19th-century and a great food scene – this is one of the top places to visit in Atlantic Canada.
Mahone Bay is another charming town with three historic wooden churches located along its beautiful harbour – there are upmarket boutiques and galleries here, making it a pleasure to explore.
The colourful village of Chester resembles one of the upmarket towns of New England. It is a popular sailing town too and boasts art galleries and craft shops aplenty.
Read: 10 reasons to put Nova Scotia on your bucket list
View Canadian Sky’s wide range of holidays to Nova Scotia here:
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4. Drive the Cabot Trail
An east coast of Canada road trip would not be complete without driving The Cabot Trail. This 298km loop drive around the tip of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia and through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, is ranked as one of the world’s best scenic drives.
As well as stunning Atlantic views, 26 hiking trails, 24 look out points and 6 beaches, there are plenty of pretty fishing villages serving delicious seafood that you simply have to stop in!
See More Here5. Cruise Ancient Fjords Alongside Billion Year-Old Cliffs
The UNESCO World Heritage Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador is a bucket list destination in its own right, and should definitely be added to your Atlantic Canada itinerary.
With magnificent mountains, freshwater fjords, glacial valleys, lakes and waterfalls, its no surprise that this jaw-dropping ancient landscape is often compared to scenes from Lord of the Rings.
Make sure to book a two-hour cruise through the ancient Western Brook Pond Fjord and see the 1,150-foot Pissing Mare Falls and billion-year-old cliffs.
View Canadian Sky’s self-drive road trip through Newfoundland and Labrador here:
See More Here6. Try Iceberg Spotting!
Newfoundland and Labrador is famous for its iceberg sightings! There are many places to see icebergs, but one of the best is Twillingate. It is located on the edge of “Iceberg Alley” is home to 12,000 year old floating icebergs carved from Greenland glaciers. This is one of the most unique places to visit in eastern Canada, so don’t miss it!
Take the Iceberg Quest Boat Tour from North America’s oldest seaport, St. John’s harbour, and you should spot some humpback whales on the way too! The peak iceberg season is from mid May to late June, but if you’re lucky you can also spot them into July.
See More Here7. Discover Nova Scotia’s Many Lighthouses
Whether you find it romantic or simply historic, there is something appealing about visiting a lighthouse. Nova Scotia has a whopping 160 lighthouses to discover – many are open to the public, and some provide guided tours.
Sambro Lighthouse in Halifax is the oldest working lighthouse on the continent, but the famous Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse is the most photographed. Its location in a pretty fishing village makes for the perfect stop on an Atlantic Canada road trip.
There is also a Lighthouse Route along the South Shore from Halifax to Yarmouth, should you wish to see more.
Read: 10 reasons to put Nova Scotia on your bucket list
View Canadian Sky’s wide range of holidays to Nova Scotia here:
See More Here8. Visit the Setting of Anne of Green Gables
Prince Edward Island is a captivating destination brimming with scenic trails and unique experiences at every turn. Along with its striking red-sand beaches, renowned golf courses, and outstanding seafood, the island is celebrated as the setting of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved novel Anne of Green Gables.
Designated as a World Heritage Site in 1985, visitors can explore Green Gables Heritage Place, take guided tours of the site of L.M. Montgomery’s home, and visit museums and attractions that delve into the island’s literary legacy.
See More Here9. Savour the best Seafood in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is renowned for its great food scene, notably its superb seafood which can be found all over the region in restaurants and seaside shacks.
Prince Edward Island is often referred to as Canada’s food island and Malpeque Bay is known for having the best oysters which feature prominently on local menus.
Shediac in New Brunswick is known as the Lobster Capital of the World. Savour a lobster roll dinner or lobster mac n’ cheese at one of the many dining experiences, including a lobster-themed boat excursion where you’ll catch your very own and crack it open!
Digby in Nova Scotia is home to the largest inshore scallop fleet in the world, and you will find them in all the pubs and restaurants. Make sure to try its famous Lobster and Digby Chicks (salted and smoked herring fillets) too!
And you won’t be left wanting in Newfoundland and Labrador either – from cod, crab, scallops and lobster – the hardest decision will be which to choose!
Read: 10 reasons to put Nova Scotia on your bucket list
See More Here10. Drive Across One of the World’s Longest Bridges
The Confederation Bridge is 13 km in length and is the longest bridge in the world that spans over ice-covered water, so be sure to put this on your Atlantic Canada road trip itinerary.
Connecting New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, travelling across this bridge gives you the ideal opportunity to see both provinces. It only takes 12 minutes to drive across but this spectacular drive is a must do in Atlantic Canada.
Search ALL Atlantic Canada Holidays Here
I hope this post on the top things to do on the east coast of Canada will inspire you to plan a trip there soon. This is just a small sample of the many holidays to Canada from Ireland that Canadian Sky offer. They can tailor make the perfect trip to suit your requirements, and can be contacted online, by phone, or you can visit their Customer Lounge in Dublin if you prefer to book your dream holiday in person.
While every effort was made to ensure accuracy, prices, attractions and activities are subject to change. This post was sponsored by Canadian Sky.
