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The Maritimes is a region in eastern Canada that comprises the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Newfoundland and Labrador are generally not considered part of the Maritimes because they joined the Confederation later than the other provinces in the region. If Newfoundland and Labrador are included, the area is called Atlantic Canada. Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is the largest city in the Maritimes and is the starting point for twelve amazing day trips worth the drive, most of them in Nova Scotia, unless otherwise noted.

Peggy鈥檚 Cove

The jewel of the Maritimes, Peggy鈥檚 Cove is a picturesque fishing village and the home of the frequently photographed 1915 Peggy鈥檚 Point Lighthouse, one of more than 160 historic lighthouses in Nova Scotia. Go early to avoid the crowds and wander through the pretty village full of colorful boats, lobster traps, and unique art galleries and shops, like Holy Mackerel, Amos Pewter, the deGarthe Gallery, Hags on the Hill, and others. Plan on a lobster roll lunch at the Sou鈥橶ester, a gift shop and restaurant overlooking the crashing Atlantic Ocean waves. Explore the flat granite rocks after lunch, but be on the lookout for rogue waves that routinely crash over the rocks. Peggy鈥檚 Cove Boat Tours offers trips of varying lengths, including bird watching to see Puffin nesting colonies, going deep sea fishing, enjoying sunset tours, and more. Peggy鈥檚 Cove is under an hour鈥檚 drive from Halifax.

Lawrencetown

Lawrencetown Beach is where locals and visitors go to embrace East Coast surf culture. Located twenty-five miles from downtown Halifax, the south-facing beach has nearly one and a half kilometers of cobblestone and sand and strong rip tides and currents. Several surf shops, such as Kannon Beach Wind and Surf, Surf Donkey, and East Coast Surf School, offer lessons, boards, and wetsuits for newbies. Coffee lovers can check out the Better Vibe Coffee Co. If surfing isn鈥檛 a visitor鈥檚 jam, then hikers and cyclists can use the parking lot at Lawrencetown Beach to access the Atlantic View Trail, a ten-kilometer coastal greenway that includes woodland, salt marshes, ocean bluffs, and beaches. The trail is part of the longest multi-use trail system in the 麻豆AV, the 28,000-kilometer Trans Canada Trail (Great Trail), which stretches across Canada from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and up to the Arctic Ocean.

Tatamagouche

Tatamagouche is a quirky village on the Northumberland Strait with a cool artistic vibe, about 90 minutes from Halifax. Originally a Mi'kmaw settlement, referring to the Indigenous people of the Northeastern region of North America, primarily inhabiting areas of what are now Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, the Gasp茅 Peninsula of Quebec, and parts of Maine. Trainspotters will enjoy exploring the village with a scenic ride on the Tatamagouche Road Train, then visit the Train Station Inn & Railway Dining Car, a unique combination of overnight stays in vintage Canadian-built cabooses and boxcars with deluxe suites or live music and local craft beer and cider in the Baggage Room Bar.

Elsewhere in Tatamagouche, enjoy uniquely Canadian and Acadian culture and hospitality at the historic waterfront Creamery Square, the Tatamagouche Farmer鈥檚 Market, the Tatamagouche Brewery, Appleton Chocolates Company, and the Country Bread Basket. Finally, wine lovers can visit Jost Vineyards, a short drive away northwest.

Martinique Beach

Just under an hour from Halifax by car in the community of East Petpeswik, beach lovers and bird watchers will love exploring Martinique Beach, the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia. With 5 kilometers of white sand to discover, the crescent-moon-shaped beach is a protected area for the piping plover, a small, sand-colored shorebird endangered in Canada, and a wildlife refuge for migratory birds. Bring binoculars and spend the day trying to spot the elusive bird, go beachcombing, or hit up the Halifax Surf School for a one-hour lesson. Drop in at the Martinique Desserterie & Delicatessen en route to the beach to pick up coffee, shop for imported European products, or visit the SaltSpray Design & Art Cafe for maritime-themed folk art.

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, New Brunswick

Hopewell Rocks is a 麻豆AV-famous destination in the Bay of Fundy near Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick, home to the 麻豆AV鈥檚 highest tides. Also known as 鈥淔lowerpot Rocks,鈥� the rocks are about twenty free-standing sea stacks along two kilometers of shoreline with the whimsical names of Mother-in-Law, Dinosaur, Bear, Elephant, and more. The Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is the starting point for this surreal adventure, where visitors can walk on the ocean floor at low tide or wait six hours and go sea kayaking through the rocks at high tide with Baymount Outdoor Adventures. This amazing day trip is located about three hours from Halifax. Still, there are plenty of options to turn the fun day trip into an overnight stay by booking ahead at cozy places like the Fundy Rocks Motel or the Hopewell Rocks Motel & Country Inn.

Annapolis Royal

The town of Annapolis Royal sits near where the Annapolis River empties into the Annapolis Basin, a sub-basin of the Bay of Fundy. A designated National Historic District, visitors can step back in time and discover Canada's highest concentration of heritage buildings. Annapolis Royal is one of Canada's oldest and once hotly-contested European settlements, first founded by French settlers as 鈥淧ort-Royal鈥� in 1605, fifteen years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Today, the town is a top tourist destination where history buffs can pick up an Acadian Walking Tour map and visit over 40 historic locations, including the O鈥橠ell House Museum and the 1710 Sinclair Inn Museum.

The real star in the small seaside town is the Fort Anne National Historic Site, where visitors can start in the Officers鈥� Quarters Museum and view the Fort Anne Heritage Tapestry, depicting 400 years of embroidered history. Outside, walk along the fort鈥檚 earthen rampart walls, see cannons and a 1708 powder magazine, and visit the Garrison Graveyard, part of the Fort Anne National Historic Site. Annapolis Royal is just over two hours from Halifax by car.

Mahone Bay

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, is the perfect destination for photographers who want to capture the picturesque scenery of the seaside town, with its iconic Three Churches sitting side by side along the shore of the bay. The town is full of colorful, one-of-a-kind shops, craft breweries, and eateries, making it a perfect day trip an hour鈥檚 drive from Halifax. Visitors looking to indulge in a little retail therapy will enjoy shopping for nautical finds at the Lighthouse Market, women鈥檚 athleisure wear at Cosmic Hippie Boutique, and hand-crafted jewelry, home d茅cor, and ornaments at the flagship store of Amos Pewter. Nova Scotian artists are renowned for their pewter work, symbolizing the province鈥檚 culture and artistic identity. At day鈥檚 end, relax over a craft cider or beer at the Saltbox on the waterfront.

Kejimkujik

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site is one of Canada鈥檚 lesser-known national parks. Steeped in Mi鈥檏maw culture, nature lovers can explore centuries-old petroglyphs, encampment areas, and canoe routes used by the Mi鈥檏maq people. The park can be enjoyed year-round, with plenty of opportunities for picnicking, stargazing, or pitching a tent under the dark skies. Bikers and hikers can explore kilometers of trails, including front and back-country trails, or discover the distinct area known as Kejimkujik Seaside, with paths that skirt the Atlantic Ocean through coastal forests, sandy beaches, and rocky islands. 鈥淜eji,鈥� a nickname given to the park by locals and staff, is Nova Scotia鈥檚 only Dark Sky Preserve. That means that artificial lighting is restricted in this area to give the best view of the night sky. Kejuimkujik is a two-hour drive from Halifax.

Lunenburg

With over seventy percent of original British colonial buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries still standing, Old Town Lunenburg is one of only two urban areas designated as UNESCO 麻豆AV Heritage Sites in Canada. (Old Qu茅bec City is the other town.) Visitors to Lunenburg can find their way around town with a historic Lunenburg Walking Tour and visit the waterfront to see the Bluenose II, a replica of the renowned Bluenose launched in 1921, in port. Consider booking a 2-hour harbor cruise to see stunning views of the Lunenburg harborfront. On shore, maritime lovers can stop by the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, which is housed in a former fish processing plant. The museum鈥檚 three floors are dedicated to the rich fishing heritage of the Maritimes.

Wolfville and the Annapolis Valley

An hour from Halifax, Wolfville is a small town in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia鈥檚 wine country. Located on the shores of the Minas Basin, part of the Bay of Fundy, maritime enthusiasts to the region can watch the tides rise and fall right from the harbor. Downtown Wolfville is very walkable and full of funky boutiques, art galleries, and pubs, thanks to its large student population attending Acadia University, one of Canada鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious liberal arts universities. Stroll along Main Street to discover the Annapolis Cider Company, the Church Brewing Company, and the Library Pub.

With a reputation as one of Canada鈥檚 top wine destinations, the nearby Annapolis Valley is perfect for wine lovers with wineries like Lightfoot & Wolfville, Luckett Vineyards, and Benjamin Bridges, Nova Scotia鈥檚 premier sparkling wine house producing the popular Nova 7. Leave the car in Wolfville and hop on the Magic Winery Bus, a traditional British double-decker bus, for a tour of four wineries with tastings and many optional add-ons.

Cape Split Provincial Park

Cape Split is a 450-hectare park in Scots Bay, located on a peninsula with the larger Bay of Fundy to the southwest and its sub-basin, Minas Basin, to the northeast. It is a top hiking destination in the province and the perfect day trip to walk through old-growth and coastal forests with spectacular views of the Bay of Fundy. With plenty of opportunities to photograph rare plants and wildlife, the hike is a 13.2-kilometer loop that can take hikers between 4 to 6 hours to complete. For coffee, take-out, or a beer at the end of the day, visit the Long Table Social Club. The park is a one hour and forty-minute drive from Halifax.

Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Cavendish is an unincorporated community within Prince Edward Island (PEI) and is synonymous with Anne of Green Gables, the heroine of the 1908 novel of the same name. Written by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the novel is set in the fictional town of Avonlea, which the real-life Cavendish inspired. Many of the locations in the books are actual places in town, such as Green Gables Heritage Place, where visitors can tour the house and visitor center, the Haunted Woods Trails, and the Balsam Hollow Trail and Lover鈥檚 Lane. As well as the home of the cultural icon known as Anne, Cavendish is also a popular summer family destination with beachgoers drawn to Cavendish Beach, the fictional recreated 19th-century village called Avonlea, the Cavendish Boardwalk, and Shining Waters Family Fun Park.

Cavendish is three hours from Halifax and can easily be extended to an overnight or weekend trip. However, part of the excitement of this day trip is the chance to drive over the Confederation Bridge (called the 鈥淔ixed Link鈥� by locals), which connects PEI to New Brunswick. The 12.9-kilometer bridge is the longest bridge over ice-covered water in the 麻豆AV. For engineering buffs, it is a must-see part of the Maritimes.

The Maritimes offer so many breathtaking day trips that showcase its coastal beauty, rich culture, and outdoor adventures. Visitors can explore scenic fishing villages like Peggy鈥檚 Cove, with its iconic lighthouse, or embrace surf culture and hiking trails at Lawrencetown Beach. For history enthusiasts, Annapolis Royal and Lunenburg reveal stories of colonial heritage and maritime traditions. Nature lovers can hike the cliffs of Cape Split, kayak around sea stacks in the Bay of Fundy or stargaze at Kejimkujik National Park. With opportunities for wine tasting, culture, and wildlife spotting, the Maritimes offer diverse experiences, most just a short drive from Halifax.