With roughly four million hectares of woodland rich with maple, birch, oak and mountain ash bursting into an explosion of brilliant colour, Nova Scotia makes the perfect backdrop for an outdoor autumn adventure. For leaf peepers on a Nova Scotia getaway , the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism's Leaf Watch program compiles weekly updates on the changing foliage from volunteer "Leaf-watchers" around the province between mid September and the end of October.
The Nova Scotia Tourism website includes leaf reports to assist in planning fall foliage outings, and new web cams allow a sneak peek at scenery at various sites throughout the province. For fall Nova Scotia vacations, Visitor Information Centres offer pocket-size Leaf Watch brochures. These easy-to-use guides include maps with 85 locations around the province where fall colours are displayed at their finest, as well as a quick reference of tree types and their leaves, helping leaf watchers identify the most vibrant trees.
For active outdoor enthusiasts, an outstanding leaf watching choice is a guided "easy walking" tour of the Annapolis Valley and South Shore which covers not only forest trails and coastal hikes, but also includes a Nova Scotia wine tour, tasting and dinner at an award-winning valley vineyard. For a more strenuous Nova Scotia outdoor adventure, a six-hour kayak tour along the coastline of Cape Chignecto in mid to late October lends a whole new perspective to leaf watching, while Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site offers visitors the opportunity to view fall foliage while hiking, biking, canoeing, or camping.
Autumn might just be the best time of the year for Nova Scotia vacations to world-renowned Cape Breton Island, recently ranked second on Gentleman's Quarterly's (GQ's) Best Summer Escapes list and second on Travel and Leisure's 2007 Best Islands in the Continental U.S. and Canada list. Sunny days and cool nights make for great fall festivals, camping, hiking, and biking along the Nova Scotia Cabot Trail and Cape Breton Highland with some of the best leaf watching look-outs available. For visitors seeking indoor Nova Scotia accommodations, Nova Scotia Tourism features a complete menu of inns, cottages, resorts, and bed and breakfasts throughout the province.
About Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture, and Heritage:
Nova Scotia Tourism (www.NovaScotia.com) is responsible for promotion of this maritime province on Canada's Atlantic Coast. Nova Scotia Tourism emphasizes interactive tools and online education to assist visitors in learning about the province and planning Nova Scotia vacations, including colourful videos and eye-catching photos. The organization's website is among the first in North America to provide a Google Earth™ overlay that allows visitors to virtually visit Nova Scotia and its many destinations and experiences.
