Summer In Nova Scotia – What To Do & See

TMPE 53 Summer in NS
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Meggan: Hey everyone. Welcome back to the travel mug podcast. Um, We can't believe it either, but we are continuing our what to do with Nova Scotia seasons episode. And we're finally talking about summer. We might've talked about summer last summer. I don't know, but we're gonna talk about a real summer.

Jenn: I don't think we did. I think we just, I think we started the fall, so I think now we done them all.

Meggan: Yeah. I love that for us because honestly, even if we had, this is a real summer compared to last year, so yeah, we gonna do things. We gonna do things.

Jenn: We're gonna do things

Meggan: and we're. We're pumped and we love summer, right? like this is our time to shine

Jenn: for sure. For, yeah, sure. I'm so excited to get back out there. Do some stuff this year. Let's let's dive in. Let's dive

Meggan: do it. So we love Nova Scotia. Everyone's like pretty aware of that. And it's a beautiful, like vibrant province. It's a lot going on this year, so let's ease our way out of the pandemic ish. I know we're still sort of in it, but like we're gonna get back out there, you know?

Jenn: Yeah.

Meggan: Well, first I thought we would talk about some camping. So we're an outdoorsy folk here in Nova Scotia. Well, some of us are meaning

Jenn: some of us,

Meggan: Me and you? Maybe not so much, but there are people. And it's definitely an activity you can really enjoy here. So much like you've heard in our recent episode, with Deb um, There is of course a back country, camping community. Again, we're not a part of that. Mm-hmm but there's many resources online, many places you can go, things you can do. If you do prefer camping in a park with facilities, which is pretty much the only way I would kind of go we do have those too. So most need to be booked on a centralized website. It's a hot ticket and I think that has actually already happened. It opened in April. Yeah. And it doesn't mean you have to miss out. There are cancellations spots that do come available here and there. I even heard there are Facebook groups, local in Nova Scotia. If you are coming where people post, if, oh, we can't make it this weekend, does someone wanna take over my campsite?

So that's options too, to see if anything opens up, but there's lots of parks, including national parks, as well as some local ones to the community. So login it's on the, the Canadian government website, but really get out and enjoy. And like I said, I'm not a camper, but I do get the appeal of it. I love a crackling fire I love a marshmallow.

So I do understand. It's the sleeping on the ground at nighttime part, but yeah,

Jenn: yeah, yeah, that, that, that's also the part that I'm not super into is sleeping on the ground, but yeah, it can be fun when conditions are perfect. Camping is great.

Meggan: it is indeed. What else can we do?

Jenn: Okay. So I'm really excited to talk about this.

So Tidal bore rafting is like a truly unique Nova Scotian experience. So I've I've done this. Three times. So it's on the Shubenacadie River. And so look, you have to book with a company. Do, do not go out there with a dinghy yourself, please

Meggan: don't raft on your own.

Jenn: It would be dangerous to do this on your own.

You need to go with people who know what they're doing, but what is a tidal bore you ask? Glad that you asked that cuz I will tell you the bay of Fundy has the world's highest tide. So when that comes in as the tide rises um, more water is flowing into the river. And as the water rushes into the river, the wave is called the tidal boar. So the first like wave and you could actually see it coming. And if you're not, if you're not into the rafting part, you can stand there and just watch it come in. And that's. That's really cool too, but where it gets interesting is when that first wave is coming in, it actually causes the river to change directions, which is,

Meggan: Nature is powerful.

Jenn: I know, so it changes directions to going inland instead of out at 30 kilometers an hour and rushes over sandbars and islands that creates rapids four feet up to 18 foot waves are possible.

Meggan: That is big.

Jenn: I know. So it's definitely best to do in July and August. Because otherwise it's really really cold. I did it in may. I did it mother's day weekend, one year in may. And I don't think I've ever been that cold in my life. It probably took me a very long time to recover from that. Yeah. So July and August people, that's when you should do this.

Meggan: That's like what my most Nova Scotian recommendations are anyway, July and August, July and August.

Jenn: Don't don't come. I mean, fall is beautiful.

Meggan: September is lovely.

Jenn: All the seasons are lovely. As we've gone through in all of our episodes, they have redeeming qualities to all of them. But July, August for the best months,

Meggan: summer's may summer's the best. Well, if you're not into tidal bore rafting or camping, which I get, although tidal bore rafting, I am gonna try at some point it sounds so fun.

We also love a good festival here in Nova Scotia. Like. Literally, no matter the season, I think we've had festivals on almost everyone in season.

Jenn: for sure.

Meggan: and there's a lot to cover and there's some great resources online, but here are a few that kind of caught our eye and we wanted to mention them.

So the buskers are coming back this year, which is very exciting, apparently to Halifax and to Dartmouth. Oh, starting on July 27th. Mm-hmm there's two delicious soundings smaller community events happening that I felt like I had to talk about in lower Pubnico. So that would be down the south shore and a bit around the French shore.

And it's the strawberry festival, July 7th. And a blueberry festival on August 25th. For both of those, you get to enjoy amazing food and live music. Hmm. Yeah. On good time. I know um, Antigonish Highland games, July 8th to 10th, if you're into like strong Menish competition type things. strong ladies too, I'm sure. There is a lobster bash in Digby. At July 8th, the 10th Halifax pride is always a fun, fun time. I was in the parade. I don't think I've ever had so much fun in my whole life. And it's a big span of events, July 14th to the 24th mm-hmm and that's gonna be a busy time because also happening then in Halifax is the TD Halifax jazz festival, July 12th to the 17th.

So like that's gonna be busy.

Jenn: That is, downtown's gonna be busy book your hotel, like immediately. I know you, there might be sold out already. I don't know,

Meggan: bring a tent. Maybe you could see that here, if you can't get a camping spot. Um, And there is so much more, we we'll include a great link in our show notes with more details and even more events to enjoy all around the province. It's certainly not just about Halifax, there's things to do everywhere. So get out there ma'am.

Jenn: Yes. Yes. Our Privateer days are coming back to Liverpool this year, after several, several, several years. Right. Of not happening. So yay. Lots of stuff to do.

Meggan: It all feels so good to talk about stuff and things to do.

Jenn: I know, and like, oh, this is actually happening this year.

Meggan: I know we're not even just guessing and hoping . I love that for us.

Jenn: So next up, I'm gonna talk about whale watching. Um, So this was on my bucket list up until summer of 2020. We finally went and did this. So there are, when you Google like whale watching Nova Scotia, there are a ton of places where you can get tours from like there's ones that leave from like, Lunenberg there's a bunch in Cape Breton, but I think based on my experience and research that Briar island is the place to go.

Meggan: That's what I hear.

Jenn: Because the bay of Fundy lot back on the bay of Fundy, we love the bay of Fundy, many species of whales choose to give birth in the bay of Fundy. So there's babies around and mamas. And then also like the bay of Fundy is narrow, right? So you have a better chance of seeing a whale rather than like out to see where they have, you know, a whole ocean to be in.

Meggan: It's a big place out there.

Jenn: the bay of funding kinda keeps them contained a little bit more so that you can. Find them. So the tours are offered like June until October, but July and August, you have better chances of seeing whales just based on how they are. So there's different types of tours too. Like some might be a fishing boat, some might be a Zodiac. Do your research. LOL cause that's our tagline. We went on a fishing boat and I had a great time, but I did get seasick because you kind of sit there for a while, right. Because if the whales are around, you're not moving. So you're kind of just bobbing, bobbing.

And I do, I do tend to get a little seasick so just keep that in mind.

Meggan: Mm-hmm Gravol's your friend

Jenn: take a gravol with you? I, I didn't expect to get seasick. In that instance, because most of the time when I'm on boats and they're moving, I'm fine. yeah, because they're moving and I can see the horizon, but anyway, that did happen.

Meggan: Yeah, I got, when we went to bar Harbor, I also got a little seasick. I have motion sickness anyway, not severe. Like my sister has to sit in the front seat of a vehicle and sometimes have her fingers out of it. So she has fresh air on her body. Oh, I'm not that bad, but I do have a bit of it. So I, I know exactly what you mean.

I did get a bit seasick, but I didn't, I didn't, I didn't do anything about it. So that was the key. nothing happened. That's the biggest thing.

Jenn: Yeah.

Meggan: So let's talk about beaches, talked about whale watching might as well keep it the ocean theme. So we've included honestly, beaches in our other ones, especially beach walks are kind of seasonal.

Yeah. But summer of course, again is the best time. And for our beaches to really shine, is the water freezing? I mean, mostly, yes. . However, there are pockets of the province such as the Antigonish sort of Northumberland shore area where you can find beautiful beaches and warm water. We actually did that last year in June, we stopped at Antigonish and went to the beach, looking for sea glass.

Did I find any? No, but what I did find was really warm water, so it, it is true. I've tested it myself. Yeah. So it's not completely freezing. So just keep that in mind. And we live on the sea here. Of course. So beaches are everywhere. It is impossible. I thought this was a cool fact to be more than 67 kilometers or 42 miles from the ocean, anywhere in this province.

Jenn: Wow.

Meggan: You cannot escape it.

Jenn: No

Meggan: and I actually found online a list of 41 best beaches in the province. So if there's like a top 41 list, how many beaches are there? How many are there? Right? 40. So when you consider coming to Nova Scotia weather, it's like Cape Breton, Halifax area, Northumberland Strait with the warm water or down the south shore where not so warm water exists and just really Google beaches in the area. You're gonna find. Like, yeah. And, but I do, I do caution probably don't forget your sunscreen, always super important, but also probably bring a sweater cuz you just never know here.

Jenn: You, you really truly never know. I mean, there are times where, I mean I've left my house here and it's sunny and beautiful and warm in Milton. And then I drive to the beach. And it's foggy.

Meggan: Yes.

Jenn: And you're like, what just happened?

Meggan: prepare for everything I say.

Jenn: You just need to be prepared, but yes, I am very excited. That's one of the reasons that we we're so excited to move to the south shore is to be closer to the beach. Although you're never too far away obviously, but I get it now very, very close.

And I've signed up for surf lessons this summer. So

Meggan: I'm so we're gonna have to update the peeps on this. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

Jenn: Gosh, I'm, I'm nervous, but I'll let you know.

Meggan: I can't wait.

Jenn: And summer is definitely also going to make me miss living in Halifax because there are so many. Fun things to do there and the Halifax waterfront and like Citadel hill and all the like Halifax downtown area, I guess if you're really encompassing, it there's so much to do.

And like we said, there's like, all those festivals are most of the festivals that we talked about that are in Halifax. Or downtown near the waterfront. Yeah. So there's so much going on, but like the waterfront has over four kilometers of boardwalk. There's lots of restaurants, shops, museums, markets.

There's tons of things going on. And even if you just go down there and park and start wandering, you're gonna find things to do.

Meggan: Oh yeah.

Jenn: Definitely some of my favorite stops are the stubborn goat beer garden. Cows ice cream. I know the line's gonna be long, but like it's so good.

Meggan: it's so those cones. Oh, so good.

Jenn: So good. And I like shopping in the historic properties too. And in summer 2020, we did cross another boat tour off of my bucket list, which was the Harbor hopper. And I definitely think that's worth doing too. That was,

Meggan: I love that thing.

Jenn: That was really fun. And if you wander up climbing Cidel hill will give you a really cool view over the city.

Meggan: Work off some ice cream as well,

Jenn: work off some ice cream, so you can have more food later. Yeah. And then you can also visit the Halifax Citadel national historic site gives you kind of a chance to experience Halifax military history. And don't panic. If you hear a gun because a gun is fired at noon daily, a local tradition since 1857.

Meggan: It can be unnerving if you don't know it's coming.

Jenn: Yes. But it's also nice to you know, set your watch to, so , there's that

Meggan: that's true. You know what time it is? One thing I love about the waterfront too, in the summer is all the Adirondack chairs they have. They're all colorful all along the Board walk there.

I, I like on my lunch break when I used to work downtown in the before times we used to actually go out and sit in those, our whole lunch break and just like watch the tourists and like sit by the ocean. And it's highly enjoyable. I can't recommend that enough because you're gonna be doing a lot of walking down there and there's a lot going on.

So if you can snag it at Aronda and snagging, Adirondack and have some ocean views, watch the people in their boats and seadoos it's quite lovely as well. I don't know, it's relaxing, especially in all the chaos that can be down there at times. Yeah. Oh, and I did wanna mention too, there's a lot of construction going on this summer.

Okay. So summer 2022, they have taken down one of the overpasses that comes right into downtown by the Delta Halifax that. Kind of doesn't exist anymore. So just plan ahead, check Google maps for like streets that are open. It's gonna be really key because Halifax is tough to, to like find parking in, in a regular year.

So that's just something to keep in mind. It's unfortunate timing, but I guess they, they had to do it.

Jenn: Oh, yeah. I didn't know that. So good. Good for me to know too.

Meggan: exactly. Exactly. And while you're downtown or honestly, anywhere in the province, something else, we also love, we have a lot of passions here.

Yeah. And patio season is a huge sign of summer here. We love drinks on a patio. Yep. And like, I swear, if you go online dating, we don't have to, but if you are out there living your life on a dating app in Nova Scotia, and I swear if you don't see someone. Enjoying drinks on a patio is one of their like likes on there. Are they really Nova Scotian?

Jenn: Probably not.

Meggan: I don't think they are., I don't think they are, , but whether you're in Halifax or honestly, Antigonish, Wolfville, the Sydney waterfront in Cape Breton you can find pubs and restaurants with patio seating almost anywhere. It sounds super basic, but it, it is a hot ticket.

Yeah. Like people clamor for that. And I think, I think a big part of it is in Nova Scotia, we get two really solid months of summer. As we've discussed July and August and people need the vitamin D here. It's a long, long winter. So people want those premium seats. So drinks on a patio is a must do but get there early and stay late, you know?

Jenn: Yeah. Oh, I love drinks on a patio. I can't wait to get there have a drink on a patio.

Meggan: I know, I know.

Jenn: It's funny how much I've like taken it for granted, like when I've traveled to other places and like patio or O outdoor seating is not a thing. And you're like, oh, this is not what I

Meggan: Where is the patio?

Jenn: Like, come on people get with the times patios.

Meggan: Amazing. I know you, if you could have that drink outside, you'd like it better. What you would, you would indeed. let's get back outdoors, speaking outside. What else could we do?

Jenn: There are so many great towns in Nova Scotia. As we've discussed, we've done like so many episodes about Nova Scotia at this point, because I mean, number one, it's the only place we've basically been for the last two years. yeah. And also like there's so many great places to enjoy and I feel like places like Lunenburg and Wolfville and Halifax get all the credit.

Meggan: Yeah.

Jenn: So I wanna talk about the small hidden gem. Maybe it's not a hidden gem. I don't know.

Meggan: Not after it was shouted out on jeopardy.

Jenn: It was that's true.

Meggan: It was so maybe the secret's out, but we'll share it anyway.

Jenn: Secrets out on Ingonish in Cape Breton

so it's kind of like at the entrance to Cape Breton Highlands, national park, and all of the amazing things that that has to offer. Ingonish beach is beautiful.

There's Celtic Lodge you can take a gondola ride at ski Cape smokey. Um, That sounds really fun. I definitely,

Meggan: I wanna do that.

Jenn: I wanna do it. I'm scared, but I wanna do it. There's also golf at Cape Breton, Highland links. And I personally recommend eating at Salty Roses and the Periwinkle Cafe that

Meggan: I've heard of those both.

Jenn: Yeah. Oh God, the food there was so, so good. And it's just like adorable inside. I will share it on our Instagram because it's so adorable. I love an adorable eater. And if you're up for the challenge, Franey, Franey or Franny, however you wanna say it trail is is right around there. So you can uh, you know, I did, I did the hike and then rewarded myself with a delicious lunch at periwinkle cafe, which was pretty good. I have to say,

Meggan: I think that's a good trade off. We did the same. I, we went and did that and then like had a delicious supper later. I can't remember where but it's a beautiful area. It's got everything you could want in terms of like outdoors, quaint and this gondola, oh, I can't wait.

I'm gonna, I know I'm gonna be doing a lot of gondolas in Europe, but I mean, why not here at home?

Jenn: Why not here.

Meggan: Exactly why not here? And then something else you can also do in the Cape Breton area. And honestly, all over is a lot of people don't consider Nova Scotia as a golf destination, but really you'd be wrong.

Honestly, you, you don't give us a chance. Um, If we have 38 golf courses, which I was kind of surprised at myself. Wow. You know, cool.

Jenn: That's a lot.

Meggan: I know. It's a lot. And the most popular and world renowned course is actually being on Cape Breton island, both Cabot links and Cabot cliffs really among other ones that are sprinkled all throughout the provinces, including links at Brunello, which is outside of Halifax, but still in HRM

um, and also the Chester golf club. There's a course down in Digby. Even where I'm from, there's the Clyde river golf club. And with 38 courses, that's really just to name a few. So if golf is your thing, like. Wherever you're going, Google it, do your research. Ha ha. And you won't be disappointed with the opportunity here.

I mean, I'm not a golfer, but I know that down home, the golf club is very popular. The ones in Cape Breton celebrities, literally from all over the world, like come in, there's like a, heli pad the whole thing. Like it's incredibly world renowned up there in Cape Breton. So. I mean, if that's your thing, come here, come here.

Jenn: Yes. I'm also, I'm not a golfer myself, but my dad is, is very much a golfer and, and loves it. I have, I've actually never tried it, but I would like to maybe hit up a um, like um, what's it called? Driving range maybe.

Meggan: Yeah.

Jenn: I don't know if I have the patience for like 18 holes of golf, but I think.

Meggan: But maybe if we like fell in love, cuz we don't know like that's yeah.

That's I just picture myself swinging the club and it hitting the ground every time. that is literally what I pitch and my sister, she golfs, she loves it and I'm my brother does. And I'm just like, I mean go you. I just, I guess I haven't given, I like mini golf, but I know it's different. I do.

Jenn: I like mini golf.

Meggan: not the same thing. I don't think.

Jenn: Well, maybe we, maybe we should resolve to try golf soon.

Meggan: Maybe we should,

Jenn: maybe we we'll go together and we'll look

Meggan: okay. An adventure. Uh, Another

Jenn: thing you can do out on the water. Again, we are water people in the summer because this is the time of year to do that. But I wanna talk about the tall ship Silva. And so it leaves from the Halifax Harbor. You get to see Halifax from the water. It's a really great experience. You can learn about local history and have a beverage or two all aboard a historic tall ship that was built in 1939. Uh, But don't panic. It has been completely restored. Um, Yeah, it's really fun.

We did this. It's been a long time since I've done this. But it was like an evening tour and it was just like really a lot of fun.

Meggan: Yeah, no, it's very enjoyable. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon or evening for sure. Speaking of boats, let's finish off with another opportunity for people to get out there on the sea.

And yes, we've talked about the sea a lot, but like it's our veins. I think,

Jenn: I think it is. Yeah.

Meggan: Yes. And that this is a really cool experience. I highly highly recommend this, and I think it's a great one to finish off with, which is a place called Big Tancook island. It is a ferry ride and you do leave from Chester Nova Scotia.

Chester is probably what. 30 35 minutes from Halifax.

Jenn: Maybe, maybe yeah. 35 40 maybe. Yeah.

Meggan: Yeah. So you catch a ferry from Chester. Of course I recommend booking in advance and it does ferry you to a lovely little inhabited island about 11 kilometers offshore. People do go there and camp on the island when they visit possible there's a music festival or here and there is from what I understand, but it's really great for a day trip.

And that's what we did. There is an option to rent bikes. It allows you to get around the island more easily and quicker because of course you wanna catch the ferry home at a certain point. So we rented the bikes. It got us around easily. There's a few options for food, including sort of ice cream and fried food, but of course, Good idea to pack some water and a few snacks there's hikes. You can beach comb for shells and sea glass. I wasn't into sea glass, then I wish I could have my time back. Cause I, I hear there's a lot to find there and honestly, it's just beautiful. So it's also really interesting when we were there. People do live there year round. They have to come off and on for supplies. And they often don't have license plates on their vehicle. It was very strange. And then we saw one truck actually on the, like the driver's door. There was one of those click off beer openers on the door.

I'm like people really live differently here.

Jenn: They sure do.

Meggan: It was very interesting. So we visited back in 2016. I mean, I would love to go back. You and Ryan actually happened to plan a trip this summer and you're just going over for the day. Let us know. I think it would be really cool to go back and it's, it's a really, really interesting place in a unique idea. I find as well.

Jenn: Mm-hmm yes, I have never been, but it is on, it's been on my list for several years. Like, gosh, darn. I should go freaking this year because the ferry's free now too. All of our, is it? Yeah. All of our ferries in Nova Scotia are, are free now. So that is great. Oh yes, they had, they had made them free during COVID because previously they only took cash and then, you know how everybody was afraid of cash during COVID.

Right. And they've now, now they're just free all the time. So that is. Great.

Meggan: That's wonderful. I don't think the Halifax Harbor ferry though might not.

Jenn: No, no, not that one. The provincial ferry so like um, Tancook um, to long and Briar island, the LaHave ferry the provincially operated ferries I should that, that.

Yes. , don't give people, you know, but

Meggan: no fake news here. People, no fake news, as far as we fact checking we're fact checking .

Jenn: Yeah. I mean, this definitely. This scratches, the surface of all the amazing to do here in the summer, it's the best time to visit as, as we've said. But do you have any summer plans yet Meggan? Have you made any plans?

Meggan: Not really. We were actually just discussing that today. So we get home from Europe, like June 18th, just before summer begins. And honestly I got a little bit of FOMO because we don't have anything planned, but I know we'll come up with stuff. I'm really not worried about it.

I'm just concentrating on actually going on the trips that are coming up and like praying it happens. Although I feel, I feel pretty good about it now, but nothing concrete there's stuff. Of course we're gonna like want to do, but nothing in the books yet, but that'll happen. What about you?

Jenn: Yeah, I definitely want to go to tan cook.

Like we were just saying, and definitely the valley I like Wolfville a lot and I want to go there. I'm sure we will go to Cape Breton at some point. Yeah. But that'll be mostly like the visiting my family type of trip, but yeah, I'm just looking forward to like a lot beach days. And we are recording this in advance because right now, when this comes out, we will be in Europe.

So yeah, actually just home. I'm lying to you a.

Meggan: Hopefully we're home safe and sound. Thank you.

Jenn: all this on social media and solve all of, all of our amazing, our amazing trip stuff. We'll be home for like two days. So yes.

Meggan: And if you're yes, if you're listening to this afterwards, go back. Cuz we intend to post pictures. From our trips on, on this too. So if you haven't checked us out in the last few weeks, go do it now.

Jenn: Go Find us. So yes, that is it. That's all we have for this week, I think. And thank you so much for listening to the travel mug podcast. As always you can find us on our website, travel mug, podcast.com. It is new and improved and updated and beautiful and amazing. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at travel mug podcast, check up what we've been up to and support the show. You can buy us a coffee and you'll get access to fun stuff like bloopers. Not that we ever make mistakes.

Meggan: No, we don't

Jenn: amazing. Yeah. Consider leaving. A apple podcast or Spotify review five stars please. Five stars,

Meggan: always the five star.

Um,

Jenn: Share the show with a travel loving pal and we will talk to you again soon.

Bye.