Nova Scotia - Best Beaches in Canada

    HALIFAX, NS, July 19, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With more than 7,600 kilometers of shoreline and over 100 beaches, there's a good reason Nova Scotia is home to the best beaches in Canada. The province is a great place to have fun in the sun and dip your toes in the water. From the red cliffs and warm sands of the Northumberland shore, to the white sands and cobbled shores of the Atlantic, there's a favourite spot for everyone. This summer, check out our personal top ten Nova Scotia beaches.

Top 10 Beaches in Nova Scotia
Ingonish Beach
Located on the Cabot Trail just outside of the Highlands National Park, this sandy beach is a terrific stopping point on your Cape Breton journey. Take a dip in the warm fresh water lake or a go for a refreshing swim in the Atlantic. Both the ocean and lakeside beaches are supervised during the summer months. In addition to washrooms and change houses, there's plenty to do out of the water with a playground, picnic area, tennis courts and a canteen open during July and August.

Inverness Beach
A welcoming stretch of sandy beach hugs the Gulf of St. Lawrence just off the Ceilidh Trail in Cape Breton. Another excellent stopping point for travelers, you can refresh with a dip in the water or just curl your toes in the warm sand. The beach is also popular with surfers who come for the ideal waves and warmer water. With a section of supervised beach, the main beach area has a canteen, showers, rest room facilities and change rooms. An expansive boardwalk skirts the ocean, excellent for walkers and naturalists that love revitalizing seaside strolls.

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park
Beachcombing, rock hounding and fossil exploration are just some of the activities to keep you busy on the shores of Cape Chignecto. Located on the Fundy Shore, it is the largest Provincial Park in Nova Scotia at over 4,200 hectares. The beach at Red Rocks is a short and easy stroll from the Visitor Centre. There are also two user-friendly trail systems that will provide an entire day of hiking and beach activity for park visitors. One trail takes you to the famous Three Sisters - three magnificent sea-stacks rising more than 50 m from the beach.

The second trail leads to Squally Point, an actual raised beach that was created thousands of years ago when glaciers covered much of this area. The tremendous weight of the glaciers compressed the land to sea level and, while there, a beach was formed. When the glaciers started to melt and retreat and the weight was removed, the land rebound to its original elevation and the beach came with it, leaving a spectacular wave cut terrace, 35 meters (115 feet) above sea level. Cape Chignecto Provincial Park offers a truly unique day at the beach.

Margaretsville Beach
The pebble beach at Margaretsville, situated along the Bay of Fundy just off Route 362 on the Evangeline Trail, is dotted with picturesque old fishing shacks and is punctuated with a beautiful historic lighthouse built in 1859. You'll want to grab a blanket and cozy up to check out the amazing sunsets here.

Risser's Beach Provincial Park
Recognized for its white sandy beach that stretches for more than a kilometer, the park provides excellent opportunities for swimming, beachcombing for sand dollars, camping, or simply enjoying nature. There is a beautiful picnic park and campground, not to mention amenities such as a canteen, interpretation site, inland boardwalk, picnic area, toilets and showers. Located in Petite Riviere, 24 km south of Bridgewater on Route 331, the popular park is open May 20 to October 10.

Martinique Beach
This long crescent white-sand beach, located on the East Petpeswick Road just south of Musquodoboit Harbour on the province's Eastern Shore, is another great beach to take a stroll and enjoy the surf and sand. The combination of powerful waves and the wide, open shoreline also make Martinique a popular spot for surfers and boogie-boarders. Bird watching is an excellent way to spend a morning here, as the beach is part of a protected area for the small but stout piping plover. Behind the dunes there are both open and wooded picnic areas to enjoy your lunch and boardwalks and hard-surfaced paths allow easy access to the beach.

Melmerby Beach Provincial Park
Taking its name from the barque "Melmerby" which sank off the beach on October 12th, 1890 on route to Quebec City, Melmerby is one of Nova Scotia's most beautiful beach parks. Only a few minutes off Highway 104 between New Glasgow and Antigonish, the "Merb" offers warm waters, a large sandy beach, dunes, showers, change houses, canteen and picnic tables. With lifeguards on duty during the summer, it's a great spot for families and sun revelers to enjoy a care-free day at the beach.

Lawrencetown Beach
When surfers think of Nova Scotia, it's usually this popular sand and cobble beach on the Atlantic Canadian coast that comes to mind.Lawrencetown beach has long been a favorite haunt for surfers year round. It is not uncommon to see them bobbing on the water in wet suits any day in the year - summer or winter. If you feel like joining them, there are nearby surf shops that rent surfboards and offer lessons. However, if you prefer a more relaxed visit, the open sand beach provides an invitation to walk and enjoy the fresh ocean air. As a provincial park, it's also a great spot to take the kids to just enjoy the sun, surf and sand. With amenities such as change rooms, bathrooms and a canteen, you can plan to spend a full day here.

Taylor Head Beach
Jutting six kilometers out into the Atlantic Ocean, Taylor Head is one of Nova Scotia's more rugged beaches but no less beautiful. Located on the Eastern Shore, 11.2 km west of Sheet Harbour on Route 7, this is a great spot for bird watching, hiking or just soaking up some sun and sand.

Mavillette Beach
Mavillette Beach is a provincial park with beautiful sand and amazing dunes, great for bird watching and beachcombing. A 1.5 km long sandy beach backed by fragile marram grass-covered dunes, this beach is renowned across the province for its beauty. Typical of the Fundy shore, extensive sand flats are exposed at low tide, allowing you the rare opportunity to walk on the ocean floor. Change houses, a boardwalk and freshwater taps are available to visitors. Mavillette is situated on Saint Mary's Bay just off Highway 1, about a half hour from Yarmouth.

Find your Perfect Beach in Nova Scotia
Regardless of what you consider to be the perfect beach, you'll find a stretch of sand with your name on it in Nova Scotia. Grab your towel, sand bucket and sunscreen and head to the coast to check out these amazing beaches.

Start planning your Canada Vacation today, Visit www.novascotia.com to learn more.

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