DAY 1	Halifax, NS
Independent arrivals in Halifax and check into hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Participant introductions and orientation to the program.
Accommodations: Atlantica Hotel Halifax

DAY 2	Halifax, NS
Breakfast at the hotel. A guided walk through central Halifax with a local historian will introduce you to the history of this city. Continue this examination at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, where Parks Canada interpretive staff will give you a comprehensive overview of the fort and its history within the context of the history of Halifax and Atlantic Canada. Walking through central Halifax, you will see evidence of the long history of Nova Scotia’s capital city. Halifax has always been a significant port as well as a site of extreme strategic importance for the Atlantic coast. Today, Halifax is a busy international port, boasting the second-largest natural harbor in the world, and its maritime heritage blends easily with modern-day business and commerce. It is the center of many maritime activities, particularly along its busy, scenic waterfront. On a field trip to Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, you will learn the history of the fort, the major role it has played in the development of Halifax and the importance of the city as a major North American port. From its founding in 1749 through the 19th century, Halifax was one of four principal overseas naval stations in the British Empire. To defend the city, British military authorities built a series of fortifications in and around this strategic port. The present Citadel, completed in 1856, is the fourth fort to occupy the hill overlooking Halifax Harbour. It was established to guard against a land-based attack from the United States. This massive, star-shaped masonry structure is an excellent example of a 19th-century bastion fortification. Lunch at a local restaurant. On a guided coach excursion of the city of Halifax hosted by Tourism Nova Scotia, you will gain added insight into the history and culture of this vibrant port city. From the comfort of the coach, enjoy the historical highlights of this port city, such as Pier 21 (Canada’s Ellis Island) and the Historic Properties district. On a field trip to Pier 21, “Canada’s Ellis Island,” an experienced guide will give you a tour of the Exhibition Hall. You will also view the multimedia production “Oceans of Hope” and have access to the resource center. From the 1920s to the 1970s, Pier 21 was Canada’s “front door” to over a million immigrants, Home Children, wartime evacuees, refugees, returning troops and war brides. Pier 21 is now a National Historic Site and a monument to Canada’s immigration experience. By viewing the interactive displays, virtual projections and many fascinating images, you will understand how immigration to Canada enriched the country’s social and cultural landscape and changed a nation forever. Dinner at a local restaurant overlooking beautiful Halifax Harbour. Enjoy a free evening to explore on your own or relax at your hotel.
Accommodations: Atlantica Hotel Halifax

DAY 3	Baddeck, NS
Breakfast at the hotel. Travel by coach to Baddeck. En route, we stop at the Hector Heritage Quay to gain a unique insight into 18th-century life in Nova Scotia. Study the replica of the Hector, the three-masted sailing ship that brought the early Scottish settlers from Loch Broom in 1773. Learn about the often harrowing passage that the early immigrants had to endure, and experience the rolling motion of the deck as the passengers disembark the Hector to begin their new lives. The Hector Heritage Quay is located on the beautiful Pictou waterfront. It also features a working carpentry shop, blacksmith shop and resident artist’s studio. Lunch en route. Following lunch, enjoy lively, toe-tapping entertainment provided by the Pictou County Fiddlers. Travel by coach to Baddeck and check into the inn. Dinner at the inn.
Accommodations: Lynwood Inn, Baddeck, NS

DAY 4	Baddeck, NS
Breakfast at the inn. A visit to Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site and a lecture by interpretive staff will deepen your understanding of the history of Nova Scotia and the battle between the French and the English for control of North America. Founded by the French in 1763 and abandoned by the British in 1768, Louisbourg was a place of great importance in North America. It was the administrative capital of French holdings in Atlantic Canada and one of France’s key economic and military centers in the New World. It was also a center for trade with France, the French West Indies, Lower Canada (now Québec), Acadia and New England. Over 100 trading vessels a year sailed in and out of the harbor. This site is North America’s largest historical reconstruction. Unlike most colonial settlements, no modern city was built here; thus, the site preserves a massive archaeological time capsule. Lunch on site at Hotel de la Marine. Following your return to Baddeck in late afternoon, enjoy free time to explore this quaint town. Dinner at the inn. Free evening to continue exploring Baddeck.
Accommodations: Lynwood Inn, Baddeck, NS

DAY 5	Baddeck, NS
Breakfast at the inn During a lecture by museum staff at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, discover how air and water captured Alexander Graham Bell’s imagination. Explore the amazing life of the man who invented the telephone and his many accomplishments, including his work to bridge the world between sound and silence by teaching the deaf to speak. Lunch en route. On a guided field trip with a local historian, discover the history and culture of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. You will travel along a portion of the Cabot Trail and through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a spectacularly scenic area. The Cabot Trail is a paved road that loops 185 miles (298 kilometers) around the northern tip of Cape Breton. It passes through many charming communities, each with breathtaking scenery and unforgettable hospitality. Cape Breton Highlands National Park is part of the Cabot Trail, created in 1936 and 9366 square miles (50 square kilometers) in size. It conserves and protects the majestic highlands and coastal wilderness stretching across the northern tip of Cape Breton Island between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy a demonstration of rug hooking in Cheticamp before returning to Baddeck. The internationally renowned Cheticamp hooked rug enjoys a colorful history. Their popularity is due to the perfect workmanship, rich pastel colors, diversity of design and the distinguished owners who display them with pride of history and talent. Dinner at the inn. The evening is free to explore on your own or relax at the inn.
Accommodations: Lynwood Inn, Baddeck, NS

DAY 6	Kensington, PEI
Breakfast at the inn. Travel by ferry from Caribou, Nova Scotia, to Wood Island, Prince Edward Island. The relaxing ride allows you to breathe in the bracing sea air and photograph the picturesque views. Once at Wood Island, travel on to Charlottetown. Picnic lunch on the ferry. Gain a comprehensive overview of Prince Edward Island by listening to a lecture by a local historian. A field trip follows to Province House National Historic Site, where you will hear a lecture by professional Parks Canada staff. At Province House National Historic Site, you will discover the significant role this building has played in the history of Canada. The Charlottetown Conference was held here in 1864. The delegates were driven by fears of American expansionism and by Britain’s growing desire that its North American colonies should look after themselves. Yet these men were gripped by the idea of a new, independent nation. After further conferences in Halifax and Quebec, the delegates hammered out the terms of Confederation, and Canada was born on July 1, 1867. Province House is also the seat of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Legislature, which has in the assembly chamber since 1847. Look for the “tax record,” a path in the stones of the main floor where farmers’ hobnailed boots etched a valley in the floor as they walked to the old tax office. A spool of cotton ribbon on a table in the library was once used to tie up bundles of documents, thereby coining the term “red tape.” And as you enter Province House, look down at the stone step, worn in the middle from the weight of so many people entering the building. Dinner at the resort. Participate in an evening of traditional Scottish music and dancing, called a ceilidh. The word “ceilidh” derives from the Gaelic word meaning “visit.” Enjoy lively music provided by local musicians.
Accommodations: Stanley Bridge Country Resort

DAY 7	Kensington, PEI
Breakfast at the resort. A lecture by a local historian will describe the early settlement of Prince Edward Island as well as the island’s rich natural and cultural heritage. Green Gables, part of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site, has become famous around the world as the inspiration for the setting in Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic tale of fiction, Anne of Green Gables. In real life, this farm was the home of David Jr. and Margaret Macneill, who were cousins of Montgomery's grandfather. Shortly after her death in 1942, Lucy Maud Montgomery was recognized by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada as being a person of national historic significance, and a monument and plaque were erected at Green Gables in 1948. Designated in 2005, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site includes the Site of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Cavendish Home and Green Gables. Lunch at a nearby restaurant. Prince Edward Island National Park is located along the beautiful north shore of the island. It has long stretches of sand dunes and beaches at its eastern end. The park is a dynamic system of shifting sand carried by wind and waves, and it is the finest example of sand-dune ecosystems in Atlantic Canada. The park also contains heritage cultural sites, notably Green Gables and Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site. In 1998, 10 miles (6 km) of the Greenwich Peninsula were added to the park to protect unique dune formations, rare plants and animals as well as archaeological findings dating back 10,000 years. On a field tip to the Dunelands Trail area of Prince Edward Island National Park, you will see how the park is an area of diverse habitats. It is known for its wetlands and forests, which provide a home for a variety of plants and animals, but more for its beaches, sandstone cliffs sand dunes, barrier islands and sand pits. The coastal area is inhabited by the endangered Piping Plover, whose nesting sites are protected. You will have some time to walk along the beach. Dinner at the resort. Participate in a cultural showcase that includes presentations by local artisans.
Accommodations: Stanley Bridge Country Resort

DAY 8	Kensington, PEI
Breakfast at the inn Listen to local storytellers and musicians as they present stories of the colorful characters of Prince Edward Island. Take a field trip to the Macneill Homestead, the site of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s home in Cavendish. The curator will present a lecture describing the significance of this site to Canadian literature. On a field trip to Green Gables National Historic Site, a lecture by Parks Canada staff will describe the history of this site and its significance to Canadian literary history. You will spend time at Green Gables, the fictional home of red-haired Anne Shirley, the heroine of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables. You will learn the history of the house as well as biographical information about Montgomery. Because the house is furnished to reflect the period of the novel, you will gain insight into household life in early 20th-century Canada. Afterwards, discover the charm of Lover’s Lane, Haunted Wood and Balsam Hollow first experienced by Montgomery during her childhood. In real life, this farm was the home of David Jr. and Margaret Macneill, cousins of Montgomery’s grandfather. Although Montgomery never lived here, she grew up nearby. Green Gables is famous the world over as the inspiration for the setting of this 1908 classic. Lunch in Charlottetown Free time in downtown Charlottetown. Explore the historic district of the city and the heritage waterfront. Enjoy a traditional PEI lobster supper Free evening
Accommodations: Stanley Bridge Country Resort

DAY 9	Halifax, NS
Breakfast at the resort Today's first field trip will visit Fort Beausejour. This National Historic Site commemorates the role of the Fort in the struggle between France and Britain, and subsequently between Britain and the American colonies, for North America during the period 1751-1783. You will step back in time to an era when England and France were caught up in a tug-of-war for supremacy in Acadia. You will also learn about the origins and history of the area's inhabitants. Fort Beauséjour was built by the French in 1751 to defend their interests in the region and to counterbalance the construction of the British Fort Lawrence built a year previously in the area. After four years of an uneasy stalemate, the Fort fell to British and colonial forces after a two-week siege in June 1755. It played a role in the Deportation of the Acadians in the late 1750s and early 1760s. The fort was renamed Fort Cumberland after it was captured by the British in 1755. A generation later, in 1776 during the early stages of the American Revolution, dozens of disgruntled English-speaking inhabitants of the Chignecto region and beyond, along with smaller numbers of Acadians, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Mi'kmaq, joined a group of American patriots to attack Fort Cumberland. The British soldiers successfully defended the fort, dispersing the rebels and capturing many of them. Reinforced for the War of 1812, it was abandoned in 1835 and declared a national historic site in 1926. Lunch en route. Grand-Pré National Historic Site of Canada commemorates the Acadians of Minas Basin and the Grand-Pré area as a centre of Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755. It also commemorates the event which took them from their homes, the Deportation, which began in 1755 and continued until 1762. The gardens, the monuments, the church with its paintings, stained glass, and exhibits are there to tell you the story of the Acadian people. It is a story of happiness and success, of sadness and tragedy. Following your visit to Grand-Pré National Historic Site enjoy an excursion to a local winery. Dinner at the hotel Free evening
Accommodations: Atlantica Hotel Halifax

DAY 10	Halifax, NS
Breakfast at the hotel. With a field trip to Lunenburg and a lecture by professional Parks Canada staff, you will learn what makes Lunenburg one of only two urban UNESCO world heritage sites in North America. Explore historic Lunenburg’s narrow streets, visit its historic churches and examine the Victorian architecture of the Old Town. The town’s picture-postcard harbor, its colorful waterfront and the homes of flamboyant sea captains reflect its seafaring heritage. Many of these beautifully maintained homes were on the original town plan. Lunenburg was established in 1753 as the first British colonial settlement in Nova Scotia outside Halifax. Early European settlers were mainly farmers and tradesmen, German Lutherans and French-speaking Calvinists who followed in the footsteps of earlier Mi’kmaq and Acadian inhabitants. A vibrant economy was built on farming, fishing, shipbuilding and trade, particularly with the West Indies. The renowned fishing and racing schooner Bluenose was built here in 1912, as was the replica Bluenose II in 1963. The famous Bounty was also built here. Lunch at a local restaurant Enjoy some free time to explore historic Lunenburg on your own before traveling to Peggy’s Cove. This is one of the most picturesque and charming fishing villages on the East Coast, its rustic, weathered wharves balanced on huge granite boulders. The town is named for the sole survivor of a schooner shipwrecked on Halibut Rock off Lighthouse Point. Her name was Margaret, and she married one of the Cove’s eligible bachelors. People came from nearby to visit Peggy of the Cove, and soon they began to call the town Peggy’s Cove. If you climb the rocks at the water’s edge, be careful – people have been swept out to sea by a sudden wave! The most well-known lighthouse in Canada, and one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world, was built here in 1914. It is positioned on a granite ledge, and in the summertime, it serves as the local post office. In 1998, Swissair Flight 111 crashed into the ocean off Peggy’s Cove. Victims of the crash are interred at a memorial site in a peaceful, park-like setting. Dinner at the hotel Farewell activities will be held at the hotel.
Accommodations: Atlantica Hotel Halifax

DAY 11
Breakfast at the hotel. Independent departures.