The best time to travel to each of Canada’s provinces and territories

Nova Scotia is world-famous for its lobster. While you can try lobster all year round, seafood fans shouldn’t miss the lobster crawl in February, which celebrates the peak of the season. Highlights of the festival include Lucy the Lobster (Nova Scotia’s version of Punxsutawney Phil for Groundhog Day), a lobster roll competition and a lobster chowder showdown. There will also be live entertainment and special menus from participating restaurants, serving everything from lobster poutine to lobster boils.

The Bay of Fundy is a popular reason to visit Nova Scotia. Because it has some of the world’s highest tides, the waters are visited by 12 different species of whales. The Bay of Fundy is also known for its nursery for the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Whales begin arriving around May and most will stay until late September or October. To increase your chances of seeing multiple species, however, it’s best to wait until the peak season, around mid-June to August. At this time, you should have good chances of seeing at least humpback, finback and minke whales.

Nova Scotia is also known for its wineries. Although you can drink wine in Nova Scotia year-round, the harvest season is a great time to visit if you want to see the vineyards in action. September promises full vines and October is when the harvesting takes place. It’s quieter than the busy summer months but not so cold that you can’t enjoy wine tasting on the patio. If you’re into your food and drink, other reasons to travel at this time include the Devour Food Film Fest and the Nova Scotia Craft Beer Festival.