A taste of Europe in Nova Scotia

If you’re considering a trip outside the U.S. this summer but can’t afford a European vacation, you might want to consider a visit to Nova Scotia, on Canada’s Atlantic coast, to sample its history and culture, picturesque villages and rugged coastal scenery.

On Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton, you can enjoy Gaelic music and watch locals enjoy their step dancing. French Acadian culture is the focus at the Grand Pre National Historic Site, where the story is told of the eviction of Nova Scotia’s Acadians by the British in the 18th century. Their deportation was memorialized in Longfellow’s “Evangeline” poem.

Cajun and bluegrass music are featured at the Festival Acadian de Clare, where boat parades, fireworks, a lumberjack competition and numerous other events are on the program. The festival begins on July 26 and ends with the “tintamarre,” a noise-making tradition held on August 15, National Acadian Day.

The Fortress of Louisbourg is a favorite of military buffs, where encampments are the order of the day from July 25-27. The events are complemented by chowder cook-offs, concerts, fireworks, parades, and street dances.

A visit to Digby is a must for food lovers, particularly to sample the local scallops. Other ways to enjoy the seafood here is to come during Lobsterpalooza, which is a series of feasts and family activities running through July 1.

From the east coast of the U.S., there are six airlines that offer service to Halifax, Nova Scotia: Air Canada, American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United), and United offers flights from Chicago. For those who plan to drive to Maine, it’s possible to travel by high-speed catamaran from Portland or Bar Harbor, Maine, to Nova Scotia.

www.aircanada.com