<p>Here’s the thing about Atlantic Canada: it exists for the summer, its tourists, and the money they bring. I go to school there (in New Brunswick), and it is a completely different place in the summer than it is in winter. A lot of places are just shut down in the winter months. Most of the numerous towns dotting the seashore offer beaches, camping, and all that touristy fun in the summer. </p>
<p>Yarmouth is the start of the Evangeline Trail, which goes on up almost to Halifax. If you follow that up, you’ll go through a whole bunch of Acadian villages. You may already know all this, but the Acadians were a group of French settlers who came to Atlantic Canada before being kicked out unjustly. Some went back to France, some went to Louisiana and became Cajuns, and some managed to stay in Canada. In recent years, there has been a sort of re-emergence of their culture. I believe last year was the 400 years of Acadia celebration. Anyhow, they have a really interesting history and culture, though the food is definitely an acquired (read: greasy) taste.</p>
<p>Other cool Nova Scotia things: Lunenburg is a UNESCO world heritage site, a really cool seaside village with brightly-coloured buildings. It’s home of a very famous Canadian sailboat called the Bluenose (as seen on our dimes). Nearby Mahone Bay is a really cool town too. When I went to Lunenburg, we ate at this place called the Grand Banker, which had reasonably-priced seafood in a cool setting.</p>
<p>Halifax is the biggest city in the Martimes, I believe, and is the only one where I get a definite “city” feel. It has a very nonchalant, individualistic, out-of-the-mainstream vibe about it. You don’t see a whole lot of people in designer clothing - thrift store chic is much more the style. There are lots of cool used book stores, used record stores, comic book stores, and for more conventional shopping, the MicMac Mall in Dartmouth. The Maritime museum is supposed to be very good, lots of Titanic stuff (right near where the Titanic sunk). I believe there is also a graveyard devoted to the victims. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is pretty cool. For theatre there’s Shakespeare by the Sea, and also the Neptune Theatre. Places that are good to eat: Jungle Jim’s, East Side Mario’s, The Fireside, the Argyle Rose. </p>
<p>Another place I like is Springhill. It’s not as squeaky-clean touristy as a lot of the other towns, as it’s quite an economically depressed place. It was a coal-mining town, and in 1958 one of its mines was the site of a terrible bump, or cave-in. It was quite a famous event, and there’s a museum devoted to its mining history. I find it to be quite a fascinating piece of history.</p>
<p>From Yarmouth, you are actually closer to parts of New Brunswick (including Moncton) and PEI than you are to Cape Breton. PEI can be summarized quite simply: Anne of Green Gables, red beaches, golf courses. It is 10 times as touristy as the rest of the Maritimes, which are pretty touristy to begin with.</p>
<p>Anyhow, I’m probably leaving out a million other things, but I hope this helps in some way. If you have any other questions, ask away and I will do my best! I’m in love with this tiny part of Canada, and eager to spread the joy.</p>