DAY 1

Arrive Halifax

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, The Prince George Hotel. A transfer is included upon arrival from Halifax Airport to The Prince George Hotel in the heart of downtown, within walking distance of the beautiful Public Gardens. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at the Citadel, a 19th-century fortress on a hilltop overlooking the city and the harbor.

Dinner

DAY 2

Picturesque Peggy's Cove & seaside Lunenburg

From cosmopolitan, eclectic Halifax, drive to Peggy's Cove – population 76 – truly a world apart; nestled on a rocky coastline with stunning vistas, it is a magnet for artists and photographers. Enjoy free time to explore before continuing to Mahone Bay, a picture-postcard maritime town, and then the fishing village of Lunenburg for a walking tour with a local guide, or a visit to the Fisheries Museum. Old Town Lunenburg was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as one of the best surviving examples of a planned British Colonial settlement in North America. This town once excelled at wooden shipbuilding, and its masterpiece was the Bluenose, a fishing schooner that was a legendary racer. Return to Halifax this afternoon and have dinner at your leisure at the hotel this evening.

Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 3

Historic Halifax and First Nations Culture

Begin the day with a city tour of Halifax, a city with its eyes on the future and feet firmly in the past. Fresh sea air enhances its exhilarating mix of modern towers and colonial brick buildings, avenues lined with hip cafes, shops and galleries, surrounded by gracious Victorian parks and gardens. Enjoy a guided visit to Pier 21, "Gateway to Canada," where the story of 20th-century immigration to Canada is chronicled through exhibits and a poignant multimedia production, Oceans of Hope. Visit the Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre to learn about the Mi'kmaq and their artistic traditions. Depart Halifax and embark on a journey through central Nova Scotia's beautiful and diverse landscape and on into New Brunswick. Arrive late afternoon in Moncton, "the crossroads of the Maritimes" on the Petitcodiac River. Enjoy two nights at Delta Hotels Beauséjour in the heart of the historic downtown area, where you'll dine tonight in Windjammer. The signature restaurant is a longstanding winner of the CAA Four Diamond Award.

Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 4

Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy

Torrential tides and surface water carve towering rock formations out of the cliffs at Hopewell Cape on the Bay of Fundy; at low tide, they stand on the beach like sculptures in a vast outdoor gallery. View firsthand this land of giants to feel the awesome power that shapes these stones, tunnels through them, and covers them at a depth of 50 feet or more when the tide comes in. Continue onward for a photo-op at one of the region's picture-perfect covered bridges, then return to Moncton for an evening spent as you please.

Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5

Prince Edward Island & Charlottetown

Cross the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island, truly a storybook setting where you'll find yourself immersed in picturesque, inspirational scenes of Victorian farmsteads, green rolling fields, and red-sand beaches reposing between seas and skies of vibrant blue. Discover a bit about Acadian culture and lobsters this morning aboard a cruise on Shediac Bay. Today's final destination is Charlottetown, known as "The Birthplace of Canada" and the capital city of Prince Edward Island. Your accommodations for the next two nights are in the heart of Charlottetown at Delta Hotels Prince Edward, overlooking the downtown harbor. Just steps away from the winding boardwalk and adjacent to the many shops of Peake's Wharf, the hotel enjoys an ideal location from which to explore the sites on your own. Have dinner at your leisure tonight at the hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

Landscapes of "Anne of Green Gables"

Arrive in Charlottetown this morning and enjoy some free time to explore as you please. Late morning, travel to New Glasgow and the PEI Preserves Co. for lunch, with an opportunity to spend some time to enjoying their preserves production area and gardens. Red-sand beaches line the shores of Prince Edward Island National Park, along with wind-sculpted dunes, salt marshes and broad inlets that provide safe harbor for seabirds and seafarers. Explore the park, taking note of its fragile ecosystem and gentle beauty. Continue on to the fishing village of North Rustico Harbour to see its iconic lighthouse and scenic views, embodying a way of life that has flourished on the island since 1790. Step back in time on a visit to Green Gables Heritage Place, the site of the home and farm that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery's literary masterpiece, Anne of Green Gables. Go inside "Anne's" home and view rooms set up as they were described by the author. Stroll the grounds to learn more about rural life in the early 20th century, before savoring a taste of island life at a local restaurant renowned for its lobster dishes.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

Cape Breton Island & Bras d'Or Lake

Ferry to mainland Nova Scotia, where you'll drive over a causeway to Cape Breton Island. Known to the French as "Isle Royale," this island changed hands between colonial powers several times, creating a unique culture that blends Acadian and Gaelic traditions. Journey through a dramatic landscape that echoes the Highlands and the great shoreline cliffs of Brittany in France; enjoy some panoramic views of the Canso Causeway at lunch today. Travel along the coast of Bras d'Or Lake, which is an inland sea ringed with cliffs and rolling mountains – it's a favorite fishing spot for bald eagles. Drive north to Ingonish and The Corson House at Keltic Lodge, nestled on a cliff surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The setting for your three-night stay is picturesque, remote, dramatic – and wildly beautiful. During your stay, you may wish to take advantage of The Spa at Keltic, featuring panoramic views of Cape Smokey and the sandy shores of Ingonish Beach; reservations should be made with The Spa in advance.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

A day as you please at Ingonish Beach

Your day begins with a presentation by a naturalist who educates you on the indigenous wildlife, then the remainder of the day is spent as you please at your lodge at Ingonish Beach. You may join us for an optional afternoon "walkabout" that spotlights the fascinating history and spectacular setting of the lodge. Or, there are a variety of optional activities at the historic lodge (some at an additional cost), including links golf, tennis, and whale watching; hike the beach or the nature trail, or perhaps enjoy some time at the spa. Prior to dinner this evening you'll get a good "taste" of what Nova Scotia cuisine is all about at a cooking demonstration; of particular note is the unique "oyster shucking" as demonstrated by a local resident.

Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 9

The beauty of the Cabot Trail & more

Experience breathtaking coastal landscapes on the Cabot Trail, a serpentine highway that is one of the world's most exciting and scenic drives. The winding road is carved into the side of mountains along unforgettable ocean vistas, ascending to the plateaus of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Drive through a landscape rich in rugged barrens, waterfalls, cliffs, and panoramic views of canyons, highlands, and seacoast. Photo stops in Acadian fishing communities lead the way to a rug hooking museum, a showcase for "talking" rugs that speak volumes about a pioneer art that quietly discloses the trials and tribulations of the women who challenged the wilderness with their families and settled in new frontiers. Then stop in Chéticamp, an Acadian fishing community on Cape Breton Island, for lunch and a taste of their long-cherished cultural heritage. Return along the Cabot Trail to your hotel, where this evening you'll take part in a unique, lively Cape Breton tradition – a "kitchen party" featuring local cuisine, regional spirits, tastings, and Celtic music.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10

Gaelic culture & Bell's legacy in Baddeck

A highlight of this trip is today's visit to the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts at Englishtown, where you'll learn about Nova Scotia's Scottish Gaelic culture. Watch a kilt-making demonstration, and learn a little Gaelic – through song – while learning about the fabric milling tradition. Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell summered in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, after he and his family moved to Canada from Scotland, later setting up his laboratory in this picturesque village. Today you'll visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, chronicling Bell's life and work. Your visit includes a presentation that is a "virtual walk" through the museum's exhibits showcasing his inventions, from the telephone to ingenious kites, hydrofoils, airplanes and even the metal detector – it focuses on the people, experiments and inventions that make the Bell Story so compelling.  Have lunch at the Inverary Resort on Baddeck Bay and perhaps some free time before continuing on for an overnight at a lovely rustic resort tucked into a wooded setting overlooking the Liscomb River. A cooking demonstration shows you the secrets of making the perfect planked salmon, a specialty of the house at the Liscombe Lodge Resort; then join us for a farewell reception followed by dinner at the resort.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11

Journey home

Depart Liscombe Lodge Resort this morning and return to Halifax; travel along one of the most scenic drives in North America, stopping en route in Lake Charlotte to visit a general store that takes you back in time. Tour ends: 12:00 noon, Halifax International Airport. Fly home anytime after 1:30 PM. For guests wishing to extend their stay in Halifax, Tauck can arrange additional nights at The Prince George Hotel; a transfer to Halifax International Airport is included for these bookings. Allow a minimum of two hours for check-in.

Breakfast

The Prince George Hotel

Delta Hotels Beauséjour

Delta Hotels Prince Edward

The Corson House at Keltic Lodge

Liscombe Lodge Resort & Conference Centre