Cost of Vacation in Nova Scotia 2020 See The Top 5 Places to Visit
Cost of Vacation in Nova Scotia 2020 See The Top 5 Places to Visit.
Vacation in Nova Scotia: When planning your vacation, there are so many things that you need to put into consideration. You won’t just pack your bags and go on a vacation in a strange land.
One of the first steps you need to take is to make the findings of your vacation destination because some destinations may not be the best for you.
For example, you need to know about the climate condition of the place (if it will be conducive for your health), you need to know the language they speak, you need to know the food they eat, the currency they use and even the religion of the place.
It is on this note that this article seeks to gist you about vacation in Nova Scotia, cost and everything involved. Take your time and read on to discover how best Nova Scotia is for your vacation.
About Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of the four Atlantic provinces of Canada and home to nearly 1 million people. Located on Canada’s east coast Nova Scotia includes over 3,800 coastal islands in addition to the mainland territory. Halifax, with a population of over 400,000 people, is Nova Scotia’s largest city and its political capital. It is also one of Canada’s major seaports and a main gateway to the Atlantic Ocean.
During the times when the majority of people arrived in Canada by boat, Halifax’s Pier 21 was the place where nearly all immigrants to Canada first landed, making it an important landmark for Canadian immigration. Nova Scotia is also home to Canada’s oldest African-Canadian community.
Currency in Nova Scotia
The dollar was the currency of Nova Scotia between 1860 and 1871. It replaced the Nova Scotian pound at a rate of 5 dollars = 1 pound (1 dollar = 4 shillings) and was consequently worth less than the Canadian dollar (worth 4s 1.3d).
Language in Nova Scotia
Although Canada is officially bilingual (English and French), English is the main language spoken in Nova Scotia, but services are often offered in French as well, particularly in parts of Cape Breton.
Regions in Nova Scotia
The province of Nova Scotia is divided into several regions known as Cape Breton Island, Halifax Regional Municipality, Annapolis Valley, Cumberland County, South Shore, Northumberland Shore, and Yarmouth and Acadian Shores.
Food and Dining in Nova Scotia
Given Nova Scotia’s interesting mix of cultures, there are dishes of almost every influence. Some dishes can not be missed, though. The donair, based on a Turkish dish, is a spiced beef with tomatoes and onions doused in a sweet white sauce and wrapped up in a warm pita.
Many will compare it to a gyro, but the sweet sauce is what makes the donair special, and they are available in most diners and pizza places in Nova Scotia. If you’re packing snacks for your day at Tobeatic, grab a little dulse. Made from local seaweed, this snack is a treat special to this area.
The Climate in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has a modified continental climate that is greatly influenced by the proximity of the sea. The Atlantic coastal regions experience the warmest winter and coolest summer temperatures.
At Halifax, on the central part of the Atlantic coast, the average daily temperature in January is about 24 °F (–4.5 °C), while in July the average daily temperature is nearly 66 °F (19 °C).
Winters in the inland areas are generally colder, with the coldest temperatures occurring in the highlands, and summers are slightly warmer.
Yearly precipitation (both rain and snow) varies considerably, depending on the section of the province, with total annual amounts ranging from less than 49 inches (1,250 mm) along the Northumberland Strait to more than 63 inches (1,600 mm) on the Cape Breton Highlands plateau.
Cost of Accommodation in Nova Scotia
Hostels cost about 30 CAD per night for a bed in a dorm room. Almost no hostels in the province offer private rooms, though if you find one available you’ll likely pay around 55 CAD per night. Guesthouses, Bed & Breakfasts, or hotels are your better options when it comes to private accommodation. You can book your hostel with Hostelworld.
Budget hotel prices – A typical budget hotel costs 65-85 CAD per night for a single, and upwards of 100 CAD for a double. Bonus:
they often include free breakfast! Use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. Shared rooms on Airbnb can be found around the province for 50 CAD per night. Entire apartments/homes will go for around 100 CAD.
Average Cost of Food in Nova Scotia
The region is world famous for seafood and with everything caught right offshore, this can be the cheapest and freshest meal you’ll have. A restaurant will set you back about 40 CAD for a decent seafood meal. Lobsters are cheap here since they are caught nearby.
If you aren’t into seafood, most grab-and-go food is less than 14 CAD. If you are going to cook your own food, expect to pay between 50-90 CAD per week.
Transportation in Nova Scotia
There are many different transportation methods available for travelling to, from and around Nova Scotia. Halifax is also the closest North American mainland port to Europe – a full day’s sailing closer to major northern European markets than any other North American port.
Air: Nova Scotia has one international airport, the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. There are also two other airports connecting key Atlantic Canada destinations – Sydney Airport and Yarmouth Airport.
Automobiles: In Nova Scotia, most people find it necessary to own a car. If you need a car but do not own one, you can rent any kind of car.
Taxis: Taxi cabs are available in most cities and towns in Nova Scotia. The fees are different depending on where you are. The easiest way to get a taxi is to call and order one to come to your address. In Halifax, you can also find taxis at designated taxi stands located throughout the city.
Bus: Maritime Bus provides passenger and parcel service between New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia, with connections to Quebec and further west in Canada. Their website includes information on route maps, schedules and an online ticketing system.
Public transit: For local public transportation, major cities and towns provide bus services. In Halifax, Metro Transit is the public transportation service. Metro Transit has routes running throughout Bedford, Dartmouth, Halifax, Sackville, Timberlea, and Cole Harbour.
Metro Transit provides a service for people with disabilities called Access-A-Bus. It is for people who do not have the cognitive or physical ability required to use the regular Metro Transit bus service.
Rail: VIA Rail, Canada’s main passenger train carrier, runs The Ocean which departs from Halifax and runs through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec, ending in Montreal.
Ferry: There are a number of ferry services that offer travel between Nova Scotia and other locations in Atlantic Canada. Services vary for each and some only operate during warmer seasons.
Top 5 Places to Visit:
1. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The exhibits and displays at this museum bring the maritime history of the province and the North Atlantic to life, showing visitors the role the sea has played in all facets of local life.
Using photographs and personal tales of survivors, excellent multi-media exhibits chronicle the 1917 collision of two ships in the harbor, which caused the Halifax explosion.
Museum collections include more than two hundred model ships, from old sailing craft to ocean liners, freighters, and naval ships. Another part of the museum is in an old ship chandlery, where items were bought to outfit ships for sea.
2. Lunenburg
Brightly colored heritage buildings dot the hilly Lunenburg townscape, nearly three-quarters of which are the original structures from the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of these have been turned into inns and bed-and-breakfasts, and the community is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lunenburg’s legacy was established when it became an early shipbuilding center. The town’s most famous craft is the Bluenose schooner. Built here in 1921, the boat won many international races before sinking off the coast of Haiti.
3. Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens
The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens is one of the finest show gardens in North America, with 10 acres of beautifully planned and expertly executed historical and horticultural beds.
The Rose Garden has two thousand bushes set among paths with green lawns, and the Governor’s Garden is planted in the style and with the plants of the 1740s.
In a separate section are demonstration plots for current techniques and plants, and there is a winter garden where the plants are chosen for a bark, stem shape, or form that makes them attractive in the winter. On the back side of the garden, the path looks out over the banks of the river.
4. Halifax Public Gardens
The Halifax Public Gardens are the oldest Victorian gardens in North America, created in 1867 and now an official National Historic Site.
Tourists can enjoy an hour-long guided tour of the gardens, which reveals its historic and horticultural significance. The gardens are free to visit and often host both public and private events.
In the spring, the gardens are bright with beds of tulips, daffodils, and irises, and the magnolia and cherry trees are in full bloom. June brings azaleas and rhododendrons, and later in the summer, dahlias, peonies, and roses line the artfully laid-out paths.
5. Grand Pre National Historic Site
Acadians settled in Grand Pre in the early 18th century, reclaiming Bay of Fundy salt marshes for agricultural land through a series of dykes. But as Nova Scotia changed hands between the French and British, it brought unrest to the region.
When the French-speaking Acadians refused to swear allegiance to England in 1755, the British deported about 10,000 people and destroyed their farms.
Grand Pre National Historic Site is a memorial to this injustice. Pretty gardens, a small chapel, and a statue of Henry Longfellow’s fictional heroine Evangéline are part of the picturesque grounds at the historic site.
If you find Nova Scotia to be a captivating place for your vacation, begin to pack your luggage today because there are a lot of beautiful things waiting to give you a memorable vacation experience in Nova Scotia.
This article may be of help to one or two, don’t hesitate to share. Thank you.
CSN Team.
