Few places are left in the world that will set you back in time where life is slow and relaxed, people are warm and festive, and nature is preserved. Nova Scotia is a small town in one of the Maritime Provinces of Canada. It is nestled along the easternmost peninsula of Canada. Its rustic and unspoiled traditions and culture has largely escaped aggressive urbanization, leaving a beautiful strand of ethnicity and sometimes primitive traditions that define this little fishing town.
Tasting Nova Scotia
A good traveler knows that one of the best defining aspects of culture is food. This never fails the intrepid palate. Literally, you are sensing, tasting the very culture of a place, the people, and the natural resources available to them, and these are all found in the ingredients. Whether it is a fat red lobster baked in butter, or a grilled salmon in corn and peas.
Noggins Corner Farm
Just like many hidden things, the best kept secrets of Nova Scotia are hiding from view of Halifax. For an authentic taste of rural, you can go to this place called Noggins Corner Farm, an inconspicuous property that bakes the most wonderful pies in the island. On this plot of land, everything is brown and crisp; from roasted meats, baked pies, and braised beefs.
Okay, you’re in a farm, and everything is supposed to be fresh and bountiful. Enjoy fresh produce like milk, and the finest corn, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and the best part is that all of these are organic. You will have an unlimited supply of broccoli, crimini mushrooms, root vegetables, and some of the best organically produced ciders.
Brooklyn Warehouse
Since 2007, the Brooklyn Warehouse Restaurant has reaped numerous awards for its food, ambience, and its collection of local wines. Here, you can try the popular Wasabi Caesar, an explosive punch of cocktail that sets the standard for the rest of your dining experience.
The Beef Cheeks are worth a try; braised in grilled onions and red wine and topped with exotic cheese (they call it That Dutchmans Dragons Breath), the broth is an excellent choice to partner with a couple of bread slices.
Finally, you must try the Lemon Meringue Pie for dessert. It consists of a homemade marshmallow, lemon custard, and a blueberry spray. Combined together, these three ingredients play a ticklish soft and tangy taste in your mouth.
Holidays Nova Scotia
The coast is Nova Scotias most valued resource, and the people preserve this with care. Some of the fishing villages traditions that are still held today are dying fabric by the shore, and well, eating delicious food, which are mainly based in local produce. The activities in Nova Scotia depends on the season. Plan your vacation around the four seasons and make sure you do not miss these trips:
Winter
Outdoor action is the best offer of Nova Scotia fishing villages during the winter. The town celebrates father Christmas Festival, a merriment of presents, drinks, and parties that center on Father Christmas models that are larger than life. You can also experience a little more sophistication when you watch The Nutcracker Ballet in Dartmouth Alderney Landing Theatre. You can visit the Yuletide Gourmet Market for your Christmas treats and nitpicks. Finally, visit the Enchanted Villages, designed and crafted by Nova Scotias very own artists.
Spring
Spring is a perfect time to experience the fishing villages of Nova Scotia. Get on the rising tides as you kayak along the natural rock formations carved out by the sea, witness spectacular geological formations including the Three Sisters. You can actually book a kayak guided tour of the Eastern Shores, where the high tides are highest and the waters are calm and peaceful. You can also catch fish with the local fishermen, and earn your reward when you cook and eat your own fresh catch.
Summer
The summer brings the people to the beach. Thankfully, Nova Scotia has miles and miles of coastline littered with white sandy beaches. Pick any beach! Some of the most popular beaches include Clam Harbour, Melmerby Beach, and the Five Islands Provincial Park Beach.
Fall
Parties come alive in Nova Scotia come fall. Halloween is one of the largest events in the province. Live music, harvest festivals, and leaf tours packages are some of the best fall Holiday ideas for Nova Scotia. This is also the best season to pick wines, which by the way are some of the best in the world.
Idyllic Nova Scotia
Much of Nova Scotia is populated by fishing villages, which seem to be frozen in time in a landscape that is pristine and untouched by massive industrialization and urbanization. Life is paced at a relaxed rate, and the old natural clockwork of seasons is still prevalent.
Here, it is not uncommon to see houses on prairies, houses overlooking the sea, and stretches of land filled with purple flowering plants and fields of vineyards that roll away into a violet horizon. There are still houses with ivy shawls, there are still classic wells with bucket-laden pulleys, and there are still chickens crossing the road!
Forget about your stress and worries and discover a world tucked away from modern-day realities. Here in Nova Scotia, you have a relaxed life that overflows with good food, good wine, and the gentle sound of the sea licking the shores. Smell the sea breeze as you inhale clean air; pollution does not exist here, that’s a thing of the future.
Overall, Nova Scotia is a province where fishing villages are the pace of life, where abundance is seasonal. If you want to experience and discover the true culture and life in Nova Scotia, there are two things you can do; taste the food, and get out of your way to experience the curious and hidden things about this Maritime Province of Canada. It has the best White Truffles in the world (which are so rare!), and they just splash it about during the White Truffles festival! Enjoy a plateful of this coveted luxury only in Nova Scotia.
