by Lisa Banks

Feast on the bounty of the world's largest scallop fleet, follow the passionate steps of a French mistress separated from her lost love, and catch the wafting of bagpipes caressing a peaceful highland breeze at dusk-without leaving North America.

Just a bit north, where the summer air is clear and fresh and the seafood is exquisite, Nova Scotia imparts a festive touch of old world history served up with traditional Canadian hospitality.

In the days of swashbuckling pirates and rum running, even Captain Kidd vacationed in Nova Scotia. He'd retire to Oak Island just off the coast to rest and repair his ships. It is even rumored that it's his fortune buried in the 200-foot-deep treasure pit that has thwarted the excavation attempts of hundreds of treasure hunters since 1795, including
Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Wayne.

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia and Canada's largest east coast city, is a thriving Mecca of culture and celebrations. The Atlantic gateway to Canada since 1749 and first British settlement in Canada, it's host to hundreds of festivals from the month-long street performer Buskerfest in August to Scottish ceilidhs, jazz festivals, farmer's markets, historic re-enactments, and displays of art along lively tree-lined streets.

The sea has shaped the lives of the friendly maritime people, and today the Halifax Harbor boardwalk is still a favorite hangout for locals and visitors alike. With fine dockside dining, exotic shops, luxury hotels, and a casino, there's a bit of something for everyone. You can spend a leisurely afternoon taking in everything from pillaged pieces of the Titanic in the Maritime Museum to the largest gathering of majestic tall ships in the Americas.

And with the highest number of pubs per capita in a nation that takes its fun-loving, relaxed attitude seriously, you'll likely want to catch a rousing performance of local Irish music. Stroll the historic district's cobblestone streets and you may stumble into the Lower Deck, a cozy pub fashioned like the berth of a ship. Don't be surprised when the music breaks for a split second and the entire pub cries with one voice "Sociable!" That's the Haligonian signal for the raising of glasses of ale toward the wooden beamed ceiling in preparation of a deep, collective drink.

Although you're not likely to want to leave Halifax, the ideal Nova Scotian vacation involves a fair sampling of time away from celebratory crowds. One of the best ways to experience the natural paradise of Nova Scotia is by renting a car and driving a few of the province's scenic trails. (CONTINUED...)