Nova Scotia Book of Musts: The 101 Places Every Nova Scotian Must See

Randall White is the author of Voice of Region: On the Long Journey to
Senate Reform in Canada, Too Good to Be True: Toronto in the 1920s, and
Global Spin: Probing the Globalization Debate.

These two studies are from an enterprising publisher in the tourist town of Lunenburg; other books cover the other two Atlantic provinces as well as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and several of our major cities. If the others resemble these two (which I suspect they do, as they follow a format, each covering 101 must-see locations) today’s tourists will get far more than their money’s worth. Both authors are world travellers who have returned to live in their native provinces. Erin Moore’s P.E.I. study gives almost equal treatment to the three counties, although slightly more for the largest centre, Charlottetown (21 out of 50 scattered through the first section). Her style reflects skill and oodles of practical as well as enticing information—and not just about the usual great beaches and Anne of Green Gables but often the kind of places non-Islanders would miss without this pocket-sized, illustrated guide. Each section begins with a very small map showing the main centres in tiny print. At the end of each item she provides a contact phone number and/or the route to take. Among the several individuals giving their five preferences are the current premier and his predecessor plus some well-known media performers—all Islanders, of course, and all sharing the author’s enthusiasm.

I was almost incredulous reading the back cover blurb about Nova Scotia author Allan Lynch. He seems to have been there and done that all over the globe. He begins with 10 events/places from “Here, There or Everywhere” before lively and often witty descriptions of 24 in and around Halifax Metro. This volume seems to have more photos than the P.E.I. effort, and they also seem clearer, although I found the printing on his maps even more difficult to make out without magnification. He also makes greater and better use of quotations from well-known authors and public performers, but like the other volume, he has several well-known Nova Scotians from the public and business sectors briefly describe their five choices. The only areas that seem to have gotten the short stick are the eastern shore (the last section), which had only three entries, and Yarmouth and Acadian shores with four. By comparison, Fundy Shore and Annapolis earned 25, and the much-visited Cape Breton Island got 18. All counting aside, I intend to place these gems in the car’s glove compartment for easy reference during our next foray to my Maritime neighbours. I wish I had had them on earlier trips. Great efforts.