In Search of Leaves Changing in Halifax on the Crystal Serenity

We are taking a Fall Foliage cruise on the Crystal Serenity in 2016. Trying to begin my research early! We will be in Halifax, Nova Scotia the second week of October (on the 12th). We are in search of places to see the leaves change color (being from CA, we don't see much of that). We would like to rent a car and drive to vibrant, extraordinary colors! I certainly recognize that no one can foresee the future and predict exactly which days of October that the leaves will be most vibrant, but I'm hoping that you can recommend places we should drive where the leavings will be popping - provided the climate cooperates to make October 12 a great time to view the colors. If you were renting a car in Halifax and searching for changing leaves, where would you drive?

Thanks,

Shelley

This is a great question and I am so glad you are planning ahead.

You are coming at what should be an ideal time to see the leaves. However, the different species of trees turn colour at different times, with the maples being early and the oak being late so you may not see them all at once.

I used to live in Halifax but now am about two hours away so my Halifax information is more about within the city. There you can go to the Public Gardens and the nearby Camp Hill cemetary. The latter has some great deciduous trees.

https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Camp+Hill+cemetery,+Summer+Street,+Halifax,+NS&hl=en&ll=44.642903,-63.586228&spn=0.008931,0.021136&sll=44.643743,-63.581486&sspn=0.008931,0.021136&oq=Halifax,+NS+camphill+ceme&hq=Camp+Hill+cemetery,&hnear=Summer+St,+Halifax,+Nova+Scotia&t=m&z=16

You could also drive to the Northwest Arm and take a peek. On your way the city streets should have some pretty trees: https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Camp+Hill+cemetery,+Summer+Street,+Halifax&daddr=The+Dingle+Park,+Halifax,+NS&hl=en&sll=44.683618,-63.67552&sspn=0.1428,0.338173&geocode=FVYyqQIdU8A1_CGnp0gSyLuYMSnVKx9eLiJaSzGnp0gSyLuYMQ%3BFagBqQIdn381_CGYram6FlPt0CkLx4OjGyJaSzGYram6FlPt0A&oq=the+dingle&mra=ls&t=m&z=15

My favorite area in the province is Cape Breton, so if you are stopping in Sydney, let me know.

My next favorite is the Wentworth Valley in northern Nova Scotia, but there is not much to see on your way there. In Wentworth you will see a lovely park on the left side of the road going north. I have stopped there to take photos of lovely red maple trees.

Another drive which would be more scenic would be to go to Wolfville and drive around in that area, taking back roads. There are wineries in the Gaspereau area and it should be good for leaves. If you have time also go to the lookoff at Blomidon and perhaps go to Hall's Harbour for lobster or to see the Bay of Fundy. https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Halifax,+NS&daddr=Windsor,+NS+to:Wolfville,+NS+to:Gaspereau,+NS+to:Blomidon+Provincial+Park,+Canning,+NS+to:Halls+Harbour,+NS&hl=en&ll=44.957024,-64.096985&spn=1.136977,2.705383&sll=45.129228,-63.446547&sspn=1.133549,2.705383&geocode=FTxJqQIdOes1_CnF6ybQuxNFSzFbZ0paDWeQzQ%3BFU5_rgIdJHAt_CmRtDxk4qVZSzGNEyY7-q2kMQ%3BFbALsAIdZfIp_CkDPptkCFVYSzFFcrjKzP2RuQ%3BFaaurwId7g4q_ClH_AX75lRYSzHPuWDH37qIvg%3BFQivsgIdLUQq_CHP6NEz4OzxNCk_F6f1WOVYSzHP6NEz4OzxNA%3BFcG1sQIdd_4l_Cnny6XqovVYSzHvpg522K-56Q&oq=hall&mra=ls&t=m&z=9

http://www.wolfville.ca/experiencing-wolfville.html

http://winesofnovascotia.ca/wineries/

http://www.novascotiaparks.ca/parks/blomidon.asp

http://thechronicleherald.ca/travel/1223838-day-tripper-beauty-and-the-beast-await

www.hallsharbour.com

http://www.gonorthtours.com/gonorthtours.html

Thank you so much, Maryann! This is exactly the kind of information I was hoping to receive. I will check out all of your recommendations! Are any of these locations in the Annapolis Valley? Is that an area to see changing leaves?

Yes, we are going to be in Sydney the day after Halifax - Thursday, October 13, 2016. I haven't started my research for Sydney yet. That's my next challenge. Do you have any special advice or recommendations for what we should see and do there, and where we can hope to find changing leaves?

Thanks,

Shelley

Yes, Wolfville is in the Annapolis Valley and it would make a great day trip though your time is tight. You would not likely be able to go to all the places I mentioned.

For Sydney I would suggest you rent a car and if the weather is good go either around the Bras D'Or Lakes or do a partial Cabot Trail drive. I think you will find better colour on the Lakes.

Here are some links to previous threads with some information:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1273622

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2094409 http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g154973-i2203-k6613063-o10-Port_stop_advice-Sydney_Cape_Breton_Island_Nova_Scotia.html#57623877 post #13 etc.

https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Sydney,+NS+Esplanade+%26+York+St&daddr=Keltic+Lodge,+Ingonish,+NS+to:Ingonish,+NS+to:Neils+Harbour,+NS&hl=en&sll=46.458105,-60.37966&sspn=0.959258,2.705383&geocode=FTcUwAIdmXFp_Cnz_heoLvtnSzHjxX5ZuAOCNw%3BFQuvxwIdJU5m_CHEwR7t5eevTSkXP-57e6xnSzHEwR7t5eevTQ%3BFfC6yAIdIttm_Cl5yCvys1RmSzFvNuIPCctS8w%3BFUo_ygIdypJn_CnRl4vg0ldmSzGQGjYJE8iOlQ&oq=neil&mra=ls&t=m&z=9

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1769976&page=5

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1840164

https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Sydney,+NS+B1P+1A1&daddr=Baddeck,+NS+to:Iona,+NS+to:Christmas+Island,+NS+to:Destination+Cape+Breton+Association,+Sydney+Marine+Terminal,+Sydney,+NS+B1P+1A1&hl=en&sll=46.14825,-60.203319&sspn=0.00721,0.021136&geocode=FSgcwAIdzmNp_CmTkRO0KuVnSzF_0zNYc7qlyA%3BFc1tvwIdDPVg_CnPkSNJLGJdSzHz0SeXSM56XA%3BFZJPvQIdijBg_Cl3_U_XX2hdSzG-umoFiqZDow%3BFRVTvQIdPNpg_CmLNVmJ_mddSzHgrABkv7cAyg%3BFeQpwAIdzF5p_CGQbhrxmTgVbg&mra=ls&t=m&z=10

Maryann -

This is fantastic! Thank you so much for providing me with this valuable information! I'm digesting it all, and I'm sure that, at some point, I will have more questions for you. You have made my life so much easier! Thank you!

Shelley

You are welcome. I love for people to have a good, quality time when they visit Nova Scotia. Do come back here if you have more questions.

I absolutely will! You are my new "go to" Nova Scotia person! Thank you again!

Shelley

I grew up in NS, went to Acadia University in Wolfville. I confirm/agree with maryann ns. I'd recommend the Annapolis Valley over Wentworth (have seen leaves change in both).

Thanks for your advice!

Shelley

I haven't been to the Valley in the fall for a while. I guess I need to go back!

Which week is there a better chance of seeing the best foliage- last week in Sept or first week in Oct? I know it is probably "peak" time around third week, but I'd rather be a little before peak times, before leaves have fallen.

The first week in October would be better. To give you an idea, the famous Celtic Colours festival starts October 9 this year and the Wentworth fall festival of colours if Oct. 10-11.

We were disappointed that we did not see more fall colors on our cruise several falls ago. Our cruise was Oct. 5-12. It was a very late year for the leaves to change color. The exception was a brilliant red maple tree in the Public Garden in Halifax.

The first week in October would be better. To give you an idea, the famous Celtic Colours festival starts October 9 this year and the Wentworth fall festival of colours if Oct. 10-11.

We'll be in Sydney and Halifax on the 15th and 16th. We should see some great colors.

As a former Haligonian, I heartily agree with the recommendation that you head to the Annapolis Valley.

Might I suggest that you first visit novascotia.com and order a Doers & Dreamers Guide. It's filled with useful information, including maps, that will help you develop a memorable itinerary for the day. There's also an online version, but I prefer the book.

We return often to Nova Scotia and to Halifax, and will visit for the first time on a cruise this September. It will be a very different experience, arriving by ship. I used to watch them arrive from my office on the top floor of of the highest office tower in the area, never thinking that some day I'd be cruising on one of them!