250 Years of Maritime Tradition
'Tours of Discover' in Nova Scotia
There's a celebration going on this year (besides the Millennium events that everyone is touting) and there's still time to join in the fun and enjoy what easily could be the most relaxing and memorable vacation you've ever taken.
This year, the city of Halifax is celebrating 250 years of rich maritime tradition and visitors are invited to catch some of the action as they enjoy laid-back "tours of discovery" in one of Canada's most scenic and welcoming regions. Providing an opportunity to explore the enchanting city Halifax and elsewhere in the beautiful maritime province of Nova Scotia are a number of tempting and surprisingly affordable tour packages.
"A Titanic Historical Tour" provides a six-day visit to Halifax and a look at its connections to the Titanic disaster (in 1912 the city was the lead coordinating point for rescue and recovery efforts). Visiting the "Titanic Exhibit" at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic you'll see the only surviving deck chair from the luxury liner, the original wireless log from Cape Race, and a remnant of a carved wooden archway from the First Class Lounge (actress Kate Winslet floated on this at the end of the movie Titanic). You can tour locations used in making the movie, and at three Halifax cemeteries visit 150 Titanic burial sites, including the gravesites of a violinist from the orchestra.
Halifax, with the world's second-largest natural harbor, is home to Bluenose II, a replica of Nova Scotia's most famous sailing ship. The sleek schooner docks alongside a historic waterfront crammed with shops, pubs, and eateries, and offers tours and excursions.
Other attractions include the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, a star-shaped fortress that has watched protectively over the city since 1828, and the city's most familiar landmark, the Town Clock, which has been keeping time since 1803. On Sundays in summer, outdoor concerts are held at the Public Gardens, the oldest formal Victorian gardens in North America.
This tour is priced at $739 including round-trip airfare to Halifax from Boston ($759 from New York), five nights accommodations in a downtown hotel (based on double occupancy), and five-day rental car with unlimited mileage. The price also includes an escorted "Titanic City Tour" and museum admission.
Venturing beyond the city, the "Carefree Coastal Village Tour" that lets you explore at your own pace Nova Scotia's famous coastal communities as you drive the Lighthouse Route on the South Shore and the Evangeline Trail on the North Shore. Maxxim will fly you in, provide a rental car and accommodations, help you plan your route, and send you on your way all for only $899 from New York or Boston.
This incredibly low price includes roundtrip airfare by scheduled Air Canada service, seven nights' accommodation (based on double occupancy) in selected country inns or B&B's, seven-day rental vehicle with unlimited mileage, a city tour of historic Halifax, and a boat tour in Lunenburg.
This tour takes you on a circular swing from Halifax to the historic port of Lunenburg, settled by Germans (try their famous spicy Lunenburg sausage) and homeport of the championship racing schooner Bluenose. You'll journey through the Annapolis Valley, that has changed little in 200 years, and stay at Annapolis Royal, one of the North Shore's most picturesque communities. You'll also visit Wolfville, a town known for Georgian architecture, monumental tides, and excellent bird watching. Awaiting there is an evening of heritage and theater.
"A Cape Breton Discovery" is another fly-drive vacation that lets you set your own pace while providing a loose-but-workable itinerary and accommodations in country inns and B&B's. It is a 6-days/5-nights vacation priced at only $799 per person. As you explore Cape Breton, wild and beautiful and with strong Scottish roots, you'll likely experience a Ceilidh, a traditional Scottish party held in the kitchen and featuring lively fiddle music. This tour takes you along the famed Cabot Trail to seaside villages and includes a boat tour of the Bras d'Or lakes and admission to Fortress Louisbourg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
All Maxxim Nova Scotia tour programs are available from other U.S. cities at slightly higher prices.
Maxxim Vacations
P.O. Box 23055
Churchill Square P.O., St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1B 4J9
709-754-6666 or 1-800-567-6666
http://www.maxximvacations.com
Edited by Dave Shultz
