I’m proud to say I’m a CFA. That’s what maritimers call a visitor to Atlantic Canada who wasn’t born there: a CFA—Come From Away.
I was in Halifax in May for Rendez-vous Canada, and after attending the country’s premier travel show, I joined with other CFAs—tour operators from seven countries—to explore Nova Scotia’s southwestern shores.
And let me say that springtime in Nova Scotia is beguiling. Our visit was just ahead of tourist season, but in every town and at every attraction, the locals welcomed us to their beautiful surroundings and shared their fascinating heritage.
My city tour of Halifax and the Fam trip down the coast were both led by Gary Biddle of NTA-member Atlantic Tours & Travel; he works with Richard Arnold, who I know from every NTA convention I’ve attended. Those guys really do wear kilts every day.
Our journey along the shores of the Atlantic revealed quaint fishing villages that welcome visitors during the warm months. We feasted on lobster and lore. The region was home to Acadians, French colonists who were booted out by the British and, in many cases, returned to the province to repopulate their communities. And where the cultures of England and France meshed with the region’s native peoples, a unique story emerged.
I’m glad I learned that story—or part of it, anyway. I won’t feel like I’m coming from so far away the next time I visit.
For details about Halifax, email Michele Bourgeois. To get information about Nova Scotia, email Meghan Lloyd.
Top photo: An old cannon rests atop the grassy ramparts of Fort Anne National Historic Site in Annapolis Royal. The site, where French and British troops clashed regularly until 1710, is said to be the most fought-over territory in North America.
Photos by Bob Rouse
