Canada’s most spectacular coastline

Canada’s most spectacular coastline and every seaside activity you can imagine – these are the big reasons for visiting the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island – and the reasons I recommend them so highly to my clients looking for a holiday on the coast that’s about more than lounging on a beach. Think warm water swimming, long walks on uncrowded beaches, and nature viewing on a grand scale.

Atlantic Canada is also famous around the globe for its fresh and abundant seafood, especially lobster, scallops, mussels, oysters, and cod. This is one of the world’s great foodie paradises – one of seaside restaurants, farmers’ markets, and a packed schedule of culinary and cultural festivals.

Another big attraction is that Atlantic Canada is closer to Europe than any other part of North America, while still feeling a world apart – arriving from London in as little as six hours, you’ll be awestruck by the landscapes and the wildlife that inhabits them, including rare whales, porpoises, seals, moose, deer, beaver, black bears, bobcats, lynx, and an array of birds.

Best time to visit

Spring is a lovely time in Atlantic Canada, with the temperature in May and June perfect for touring. All four provinces offer a pleasant climate with sea breezes near the coast and warmer inland temperatures.

July and August are the warmest months, with daytime highs between 20 and 30°C. The autumn months of September and October are another wonderful time to visit, with warm days, cooler evenings, and fewer crowds. This is also the best time to see the burst of autumn colours, from mid-September, in more northern areas, to late September into October in the southern coastal areas.

I advise going for at least two weeks to really get to know all four provinces, but there are plenty of 7 to 10-day trip combinations allowing you to visit one or two in one trip.