Visiting Nova Scotia: 10+ Helpful FAQs for the first time visitor

I heard that we should carry light jackets or sweaters with us, even in the summertime. Why?

One saying you may hear in Nova Scotia – “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes or drive five kilometers”.

And it’s true!

Nova Scotia is known as Canada’s Ocean Playground – and for good reason – we’re almost entirely surrounded by water! In fact, we are bordered by three different bodies of water: the Bay of Fundy, the Northumberland Strait and the Atlantic Ocean. Each of these bodies of water influence the weather across Nova Scotia. For example, a south breeze off the Atlantic Ocean in Nova Scotia could mean thick sea fog and mist in Halifax but an hour’s drive away in the Annapolis Valley, it may be sunny and warm.

Fog can often lower the temperature by up to 10C/50F in a short period of time which will make you happy that you have that light jacket or sweater with you. Heading out on a boat tour? That extra layer may come in handy on the water too.

Is there an age limit for consuming alcohol and are there rules regarding dining with children in restaurants and venues that serve liquor?

In Nova Scotia, the provincial liquor regulations state that the minimum legal age for purchasing and/or consuming alcohol is 19.

For travellers with children under 19 years of age, you can dine in establishments that serve food and alcohol up until 10:00 PM. However, if the restaurant has a bar and/or shifts from being a restaurant to become a late night venue such as a lounge, cabaret, tavern, pub, and/or nightclub, travellers with children under 19 years of age would only be permitted to dine in that business until 9:00 PM.

If you are planning to dine later in the evening with children, please check with the restaurant or eatery for more information. Take-out options may be available!

Can I drive around the entire province of Nova Scotia in a day?

You technically can – BUT – Nova Scotia is a lot bigger than it looks!

If you were to arrive in Nova Scotia aboard the CAT Ferry and drive directly from Yarmouth, along the 100 series highways all the way to the Big Fiddle on the Sydney waterfront on Cape Breton Island, it would take you approximately 7 hours, without stops, AND you would cover 700 km / 435 miles… and would miss out on experiencing regional highlights, such as:

• Rich Acadian heritage, lighthouses and so much more in Nova Scotia’s Yarmouth & Acadian Shores and South Shore (440+ km / 273+ miles) regions when you take the scenic coastal routes through quaint towns and working fishing communities, visiting Cape Forchu Lighthouse to climb to the top, the drowned forest at The Hawk Beach, Kejimkujik National Park Seaside, Old Town Lunenburg UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Peggy’s Cove along the way;

• Beach hopping along the Northumberland Shore (approximately 300 km / 186 miles with numerous beaches to check out), visiting towns and villages, dining in local restaurants and cafés, visiting a traditional maple syrup camp serving maple brunches year-round on select weekends at Sugar Moon Farm near Tatamagouche, lavender fields at Seafoam Lavender Gardens, rich Gaelic history in the town of Pictou at the Hector Heritage Quay, and discovering the many artists and artisans, shops and galleries all along the way;
• The world-famous Cabot Trail (295 km / 183 miles in a loop starting and ending in Baddeck); the amazing beaches and golf at Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs along the scenic Ceilidh Trail (107 km / 67 miles Canso Causeway to Margaree); driving around our inland sea, the Bras d’Or Lake (299 km / 186 miles), and driving from Sydney, visiting Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, with a visit to Goat Island to experience Eskasoni Cultural Journeys, and a stop in Isle Madame before returning to the Canso Causeway (266 km / 165 miles), via the connecting Marconi, Fleur-de-Lis, and Metro Cape Breton trails on Cape Breton Island;

• Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley – which includes fossils in the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark and Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site to the site of the highest recorded tidal range in the world at Burntcoat Head Park, award winning wineries, and whale watching off Brier Island (590 km / 367 miles from Amherst to Brier Island);
• Discover the incredible 100 Wild Islands, the longest sandy beach at Martinique and surfers’ paradise at Lawrencetown Beach, step back in time at Memory Lane Heritage Village and Sherbrooke Village – Nova Scotia’s largest living history museum, before arriving to the entrance of Cape Breton Island when you travel along the Eastern Shore (396 km / 246 miles between Halifax and Cape Breton);
• Our capital city of Halifax, with its vibrant energy, walkable waterfront, and multitude of museums, galleries, restaurants, breweries, and pubs offering live music. Be sure to visit Dartmouth, located across the harbour from Halifax for even more eateries, activities, and scenic views;

We require wheelchair accessible or wheelchair friendly places with limited barriers. Can you provide a list of accessible businesses?

We certainly can! Please visit our Wheelchair Accessibility in Nova Scotia section to view businesses and properties in each of Nova Scotia’s seven travel regions that have self-identified as being wheelchair accessible and/or partially accessible / wheelchair friendly.

Many businesses include information around the accessibility of their property in their business listing(s) on our website, however you should always contact businesses directly with questions and for more information about your specific needs.

Are there important laws and rules of the road everyone should be aware of when visiting Nova Scotia?

While wearing seatbelts and having children in appropriate car seats, driving the posted speed limit, and obeying traffic signals and signs are important rules of the road here, there are some laws in Nova Scotia that may not be the same across Canada and/or in other countries, including:

• Sharing the road with Cyclists – One Metre Rule: Ensure you give cyclists on the road 1 metre / 3 feet of space when passing in your vehicle. Learn more here.
• Helmets: It is law to wear helmets while operating a motorcycle, bicycle/e-bike, skateboard, scooter, all-terrain vehicle (ATV/SXS/UTV), etc. in Nova Scotia. Learn more here.
• Cellphone usage while driving: Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel at all times. Cellphones/smartphones should only be used through hands-free methods. Learn more here.

• Crosswalk Safety: pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks (every road intersection has marked and/or unmarked crosswalks) have the right of way and drivers must yield to pedestrians. Learn more here.
• Smoking: All indoor workplaces and public places, select outdoor public spaces, outdoor licensed areas and patios of all restaurants, lounges, beverage rooms and cabarets are smoke-free. This applies to all combustibles, including tobacco, cannabis, e-cigarettes, and waterpipes. Learn more here.
• Slow Down, Move Over: If you see an emergency vehicle pulled over on the side of the road with its emergency lights flashing, slow down to 60 km/hr (37 miles/h) OR obey the speed limit if it’s lower than 60 km/h, before you pass by. If you’re on a road with 2 or more lanes in your direction, you must also move into another lane farther away from the stopped vehicle if you can do so safely. Learn more here.
  • Emergency vehicles with lights flashing have the right of way on the roads: Drivers must slow down and pull to the shoulder of the road when safe to do so and stop to allow the emergency vehicle(s) to pass safely.
• Yield to Transit buses: Drivers are required to yield the right of way to public transit buses signaling their intent to re-enter the traffic stream. Learn more here.

Is there reliable cell service and coverage throughout Nova Scotia?

Cell service is strong along most major routes and in cities, towns and communities throughout Nova Scotia however there are areas where you will find coverage is not as strong and at times, and you may pass through an area with no coverage at all.

The Province of Nova Scotia is continuing to improve service to ensure 95% coverage for standard-definition service (e.g. emails, web browsing and social media) and 99% coverage for making calls on your cellphone or smartphone when travelling throughout the province.

I heard there are ticks in Nova Scotia. What do I need to know about tick safety?

Nova Scotia has several kinds of ticks, including the blacklegged tick that carries the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. We encourage everyone to practice tick prevention and to always check for ticks after you spend time outside in nature.

Tick prevention measures can include:

• Wearing long pants and long sleeves in areas likely to have ticks such as wooded areas, shrubs, leaf litter, long grass, urban parks and gardens.
• Wearing light coloured clothing can make it easier to see a tick, wearing enclosed footwear, and tucking your pants into your socks can help.
• Walking on well-travelled pathways, avoiding long grass and vegetation.
• Applying insect and tick repellents approved by Health Canada to exposed skin and clothing as directed on the packaging.