Are you itching to travel again? A February 2021 survey by Bruce Poon Tip, founder of the adventure travel company G Adventures, said that 51% of Canadian travellers say Covid-19 lockdowns have made them want to travel more than ever before. But the survey also predicted that in the mid-term, international travel prices will rise. What better reason for Nova Scotian families to stay home and start planning a Nova Scotia road trip!

We’ve started the research for you with this collection of best Nova Scotia travel books to inspire your locals travels. Most of the books are new – and they’re all educational. Happy reading, happy planning – and most of all, happy travels!

The Ultimate Nova Scotia Quiz Book, by Kara Turner (2020)

The Ultimate Nova Scotia quiz book

This laugh-out-loud quiz book is one of the best Nova Scotia travel books for trivia- buffs. Loaded with legends, landmarks, sporting triumphs, funny sayings, jokes and much more, The Ultimate Nova Scotia Quiz Book  includes a map of the province, a spread on lobster lore and Nova Scotia record-breakers. This handy-sized book makes a great gift, souvenir and keepsake, but would also be a really fun thing to have in the back of the car on road trips. Stump your parents with the Ultimate Nova Scotia Quiz book!

Waterfalls of Nova Scotia: A Guide, by Benoit Lalonde (2018)

Best Nova Scotia travel book Waterfalls of Nova Scotia by Benoit Lalonde

Waterfall addict Benoit Lalonde has arranged 100 scenic waterfalls, according to the Nova scenic roadways, creating a perfect guide to accompany your Nova Scotia family travels. Waterfalls of Nova Scotia: A Guide includes easy, short family-friendly hikes to beautiful falls such as Beaverdam Brook Fall, and Webber Lake Fall, as well as more difficult journeys for experienced waterfall hunters. This is a lovely, easy to read book, with stunning colour photos is a pleasure to have in the backpack or on your coffee table. Caution: even experienced hikers can get lost finding waterfalls, as proved in March 2020 when hiker Sarah Roberts got lost in the woods near Shelburne. Always tell someone where you are going, and never travel without snacks, a first-aid kit, and a fully charged cell phone.

100 Things You Don’t Know About Atlantic Canada (for Kids) by Sarah Sawlor (2018)

100 Things you don't know about Atlantic Canada for kids by Sarah Sawlor

Did you know that someone found a real Maud Lewis painting in a thrift shop, or that there was a UFO sighting on Prince Edward Island? Journalist Sarah Sawler has collected the most interesting, surprising, and bizarre facts that you never knew about Atlantic Canada in her 2018 fact-book, 100 Things You Don’t Know About Atlantic Canada (for Kids). This book is chock-full of interesting and quirky facts about Nova Scotia – and beyond. As an added bonus, each fun fact is paired with an interactive sidebar suggesting fun family activities, and places to visit. This book is perfect for planning your next stay-cation, and keeping the kids entertained while on the road.

25 Family Adventures in Nova Scotia, by Helen Earley (2021)

25 Family Adventures in Nova Scotia - one of the best Nova Scotia travel books

Full disclosure: I wrote this one…and I am hoping it will become one one of the best Nova Scotia travel books for families. 25 Family Adventures in Nova Scotia: Making The Most of Your Travels with Kids is a beautiful, full-colour Nova Scotia travel book, outlining 25 local adventures you can do together. The book tells you where to stay and what to do in places such as Sherbrooke Village, Tatamagouche, Parrsboro, Halifax and even the Tusket Islands.  Each chapter has a “Plan Your Adventure” section with helpful links and phone numbers. Some chapters also take  a “deep dive” into history, offering stories that align with the new Nova Scotia junior high social studies curriculum. If whale-watching, surfing, mine exploration – and eating ice cream – is on your Nova Scotia bucket list, this is definitely the travel guide for you.

Peace by Chocolate…by John Tattrie (2020)

Peace by Chocolate book

This book is not technically a travel guide, but it tells the story of one family’s journey from war-torn Syria, to Antigonish, Nova Scotia.  Peace by Chocolate: The Hadhad’s Remarkable Journey from Syria to Canada was written by local author and historian John Tattrie. This is the perfect book for Moms and Dads to bring along on their next Nova Scotia road trip, as some interesting vacation reading. If you want to visit the Hadhad’s in person, you can see their original chocolate shop (no more than a small garden shed) in Antigonish. Or if you are staycationing on the Halifax waterfront, stop into their beautiful new flagship store at Queens’ Marque on the Halifax Waterfront. As the saying goes, “one peace won’t hurt.”

East Coast Whales, Sharks and Dolphins by Jeffery Domm (2019)

Book about Nova Scotia whales

This wildlife guide is part of a bestselling series by nature writer and illustrator Jeffrey Domm. The pocket guide series also includes East Coast Seabirds and the Canada’s Atlantic Seashore. Our family took this book along with us on a whale watching tour this summer, and it became one of our best Nova Scotia travel books. The kids really enjoyed gaining control over their experience, by cross-referencing their experience with the pictures in the book.

More best Nova Scotia travel books

There are plenty of other travel guide books available as you plan your Nova Scotia family adventure.  Here are a few more to look out for on the shelves at your local bookstore, or as you shop online:

  • The Scotia Bucket List by Dale Dunlop (2020) is another great guide book that looks at 25 key Nova Scotia adventures, from firing a cannon at Louisbourg to exploring Sable Island.