This new, thoroughly updated fourth edition of Bradt's Nova Scotia remains the most detailed guidebook available to this increasingly popular province in eastern Canada ? and the only one to focus exclusively on it. Brimming with insider knowledge and local insights from two resident travel writers, it delves deeper than any competitor to reveal the best of this fascinating, easily accessible province ? both on and off the beaten track. Salty waters pulse through Nova Scotia's veins. Virtually surrounded by the sea, it boasts 7,400 km of coastline, superb seafood, a rich folklore steeped in sea-related superstitions and tales of buried treasure, quiet roads and a wealth of outdoor pursuits including sea kayaking. Travelling here feels like going back to a time when life's pleasures were simpler: shopping at a farmers' market or a roadside fruit stall, buying world-renowned lobster (or clams or scallops or mussels) fresh off the boat at the wharf, or photographing the lighthouse flanking an old fishing village. Minimal light pollution enables superior stargazing: the Acadian Skies and Mi'kmaq Lands became the first 'Starlight Tourism Destination and Reserve' in North America certified by UNESCO's Starlight Foundation. The Cabot Trail is one of the world's great coastal drives, while autumn colours provide additional eye candy. A rich culture fuses First Nations (Mi'kmaq), Acadian and Celtic elements, while a remarkable African Nova Scotian history dates back to 1604. It will be tough choosing between 28 provincial museums and interpretive centres, 13 National Historic Sites, six UNESCO-designated sites, a National Museum and dozens of community-based museums. Written for first-time visitors and seasoned travellers alike, Bradt's Nova Scotia is full of recommendations for B&Bs, wineries, empty beaches, remote villages, walking and cycling routes, plus top spots to see whales, moose and seals, while interviews with locals bring the destination to life. Fresh elements of this edition include an expanded food and drink section (reflecting a recently established scene of craft micro-breweries, cideries and wineries, and seafood festivals), a new geopark and additional options for characterful accommodation (including geodesic domes with indoor bathrooms). Whatever your interests, Bradt's Nova Scotia has your trip covered! AUTHOR: David Orkin has travelled extensively since the mid-1970s, working in the travel industry for 15 years before starting freelance travel writing in 2000. When first visiting Nova Scotia in 2004, he was frustrated by the absence of a detailed guidebook to the region. Orkin returned several times, exploring every corner of the province. It became increasingly obvious to him that there was a need for a more comprehensive, subjective guide. Something to cater to those who wanted to do, those who wanted to dream, and those who wanted to discover the province's highlights, as well as its virtually unknown nooks and crannies. So he started researching ? on foot, in canoe and kayak, by ferry, bike and coach, and through tens of thousands of kilometres by car. The result was Bradt's Nova Scotia guidebook. Now a Canadian citizen, he has made his home in Nova Scotia. Helen Earley (helenearley.com) grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, then lived in the UK before returning to Halifax in 2015. She is a freelance travel writer who has written The Nova Scotia Family Bucket List and has updated the fourth edition of Bradt's Nova Scotia guidebook. She also has bylines in leading Canadian newspapers, magazines, and travel websites, with clients including Fodor's, Time Out, Curated Food and Drink Magazine, The Chronicle Herald, The Globe and Mail and Eat North. Part of the reason that Earley loves Nova Scotia, and moved back there, is the ocean. ?I love our ocean for its sand, its boulders, its fat, brown seaweed,? she explains. ?There are many amazing shores in the world, but I want my kids to know these beaches.?
