Interested in Nova Scotia? Check out these 11 amazing activities to experience in the province.

'Canada’s Ocean Playground' – the slogan found on every Nova Scotia license plate – invites you to venture out and discover this enchanting province.

Picture yourself gazing into the eyes of a whale, kayaking among countless wild islands, or landing on a vast sandbar inhabited solely by wild horses, seals, and birds. All this awaits you here.

In Nova Scotia, you can walk among ancient petroglyphs with a descendant of the Mi’kmaq people who created them. Fire a cannon, uncover the hidden history of slavery, or chat with a local lobsterman.

Is your interest sparked? If so, here are 11 ways to explore and enjoy Nova Scotia, where the natural world and rich human history are both fascinating.

1. Enjoy a lobster feast

Nova Scotia leads the world in lobster catches, and this crustacean is the reason behind the charming wharves, fishing boats, and lighthouses. There’s nothing quite like cracking open a fresh, locally caught lobster, steamed to a vibrant red and served with melted butter, a soft bun, and a fun bib.

Insider tip: Savor lobster at places like the Halls Harbour Lobster Pound, or visit a community hall during the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl festival each February. For a more interactive experience, the “Living Wharves” program near Yarmouth teaches visitors how to band lobster claws, bait traps, and splice ropes.

Heading to the beach?Here are our top picks in Nova Scotia

2. Experience mud sliding and brown-water rafting

As the world’s highest tides surge into the muddy Shubenacadie River, the merging waters create standing waves. Outfitters like Shubie River Wranglers and River Runners Tidal Bore Rafting take small groups to raft on the Shubie, where the water churns into a frothy, chocolate milkshake-like experience. Once the waves calm, adventurers gleefully slide down the muddy banks like carefree children.

For something truly special, reserve a spot at Food Fantastique’s exclusive 20-person table for a dining experience on the ocean floor at Burntcoat Head. Priced at over $800 per person, this three-course meal with wine pairings is unforgettable, though it may not suit everyone. Alternatively, anyone can pack a picnic to relish in one of Nova Scotia’s many picturesque coastal spots.

Insider tip: When mud sliding, wear clothes you’re willing to part with afterward.

3. Experience the noon cannon firing

Rather than be startled by Halifax’s noon cannon, which has boomed every day since 1857, head up to Citadel Hill for an up-close view of this noisy tradition. Join a daytime tour with a kilted soldier to learn about life in the 19th century. When evening falls, consider a lamplight ghost tour that ventures inside the fortress itself.

Detour: Citadel Hill is the heart of the Halifax Defense Complex, featuring five historic sites that once protected the harbor. Discover the tunnels of Fort Charlotte beneath the grassy expanse of Georges Island, wander the trails around York Redoubt, marvel at the craftsmanship of the Prince of Wales Martello Tower, or explore the remnants of Fort McNab.

4. Kayak among wild islands and navigate ancient waterways

As you glide over shimmering rockweed in pristine waters, you’ll feel as though you’re soaring rather than just floating. Whether you’re joining Coastal Adventures for a five-day expedition to hidden beaches within the 100 Wild Islands Coastal Wilderness or encountering porpoises near Port Mouton Island with Candlebox Kayaking, sea kayaking is a fantastic way to embrace the Atlantic's beauty.

Inland at Kejimkujik National Park, you can rent a kayak or canoe from Whynot Adventures. Paddle onto serene lakes where loons call and dive, and follow groomed portages to secluded campsites and waterways that served as ancient highways for the Indigenous Mi’kmaq. At night, gaze at the stars in this dark sky preserve, where early inhabitants marveled at the same celestial wonders.

5. Enjoy exquisite sparkling wines

As the tides of the Bay of Fundy rise and fall, they act like bellows, sending breezes into the Annapolis Valley. These winds moderate winter chill and enhance summer vineyard conditions, similar to those found in Champagne, France. Nova Scotia wineries such as Grand Pre, Benjamin Bridge, and L’Acadie leverage these perfect conditions to craft sparkling wines that rival the finest in the world.

Local tip: Instead of driving from one winery to another, consider joining a bus tour with Grape Escapes or the Magic Winery Bus to explore Annapolis Valley's wineries.

6. Connect with a whale's gaze

As a curious humpback calf surfaces near a boat filled with thrilled whale watchers, it locks eyes with passengers, creating a profound moment of connection with one of Earth’s largest and most intelligent creatures. Petit Passage in Tiverton offers tours around the Bay of Fundy twice daily on a spacious lobster boat, while Pleasant Bay Zodiac Tours speeds off Cape Breton to find whales, porpoises, and seabirds, keeping guests safe in vibrant safety suits.

Local tip: While whales take the spotlight, every ocean excursion delights wildlife lovers with common sightings of seals and porpoises. Bird Island Boat Tours in Cape Breton offers close encounters with razorbills and puffins.

7. Journey back 10,000 years and 300 million years

The Mi’kmaq have inhabited Nova Scotia for 10,000 years. You can explore Canada’s second-largest collection of Indigenous petroglyphs at Kejimkujik National Park, see artifacts like birchbark canoes sewn with spruce root at the Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Centre, and walk with guides from Eskasoni Cultural Journeys along a 2.4km (1.5-mile) trail to immerse yourself in Mi’kmaw traditions on Cape Breton Island. At Joggins Fossil Cliffs, finding a fossil is as simple as flipping a rock. Guided tours make it easy to discover a footprint left in Coal Age mud 300 million years ago by an amphibian that predates dinosaurs. Whole tree fossils are embedded in cliff faces like ancient columns.

8. Trek across headlands and mountaintops

Nova Scotia’s hiking trails often lead to breathtaking reveals. A two-hour trek through the shaded forest of Cape Split opens up to a meadow perched on a bluff. Below, massive tides crash against stone formations while seagulls circle overhead, eyeing the picnics of hikers. A brief detour off the 119km (74-mile) Rum Runners Trail to Castle Rock unveils another idyllic picnic spot, this one overlooking Mahone Bay and its myriad islands. The three-day journey through Cape Chignecto traces cliff edges, offering views of the enigmatic Isle Haute, which appears to hover in the fog. In Cape Breton, a delightful hour-long hike along the Skyline Trail culminates at a viewpoint overlooking ancient, forested mountains meeting the sea.

Explore more of Nova Scotia's breathtaking landscapes on these scenic road trips

9. Dance to the rhythm of traditional tunes

The lively traditions of French Acadian and Gaelic Scottish music thrive in the toe-tapping tunes created by their descendants. The Red Shoe Pub in Mabou frequently hosts jam sessions where local musicians play, and step dancers create vibrant rhythms on wooden floors.

During the Celtic Colours International Festival each October, fiddlers, guitarists, and pianists ignite small venues throughout Cape Breton. Restaurants like Cuisine Robicheau in Saulnierville feature live performances from fiddlers and singers, creating a delightful dining atmosphere.

10. Take a flight to Sable Island, home to wild horses, seals, and seabirds

A short flight from Halifax reveals a silver strand glimmering on the turquoise ocean beneath the helicopter. Stretching over 40km (26 miles) and scarcely a kilometer (0.8 miles) wide, this barren sandbar, Sable Island, hosts around 500 wild horses and, at times, over 300,000 seals.

Guided by experts from Kattuk Expeditions, visitors can explore this National Park Reserve, navigating delicate dunes while avoiding the aggressive nesting terns from a large colony. While it may not be affordable for everyone (costing several thousand dollars per person), Sable Island offers an experience akin to a North Atlantic safari.

11. Uncover the hidden history of slavery

In 1783, British ships transported freed and escaped enslaved individuals from New England to Shelburne, Nova Scotia. These Black Loyalists endured harsh conditions living in shallow pits in nearby Birchtown before persuading the British to send them back to Africa, where they established Freetown, Sierra Leone. This lesser-known aspect of the enslaved people's history is narrated at the vibrant Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, where sunlight filters through tall windows onto the glass floor.

Detour: Stroll along Shelburne’s Dock St, where Black Loyalists first arrived, and delve deeper at Museums by the Sea.

Plan your visit to Nova Scotia:

• Determine the optimal times to visit

• These are must-see locations

• Ensure you are aware of these details before your trip