The largest city in Maine and the state's social and economic capital, Portland is a vibrant and historic destination. A favorite place for strolling, dining, shopping and entertainment is the Old Port, a revitalized warehouse district made all the more interesting for its connection to the working waterfront. The Arts District is situated just a few blocks away and is considered the city's secret treasure. Word is fast getting out, however, because the neighborhood is home to an array of art galleries, antiques shops, artists' studios and world-class museums such as the Portland Museum of Art. Any exploration of the Arts District should include a walk along Congress Street for a glimpse into the city’s history, a highlight of which is the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, the 19th-century home of the famed poet. Another well-known writer, Stephen King, was born here in Portland in 1947.

Here on the Bay of Fundy, a rare phenomenon known as the Reversing Rapids occurs when high bay tides collide with the Saint John River. History is impressive, too, with Canada's oldest continuously operating farmers' market and oldest museum. Nearby, Irving Nature Park's salt marshes, volcanic rock and forests are explored on winding trails.

A prime location at the mouth of the Gulf of Maine established this port's strategic importance centuries ago. Today you can unpick this rich history at Yarmouth's museums, which chart its origins as a settlement of the Mi'kmaq nation and the arrival of the French Acadians and English. The landscape offers many attractive clues to Yarmouth's heritage, too. Stroll about its streets to find fishing wharves and grand homes built for sea captains. Along the way, enjoy a local craft beer and snack on a lobster roll or a warming bowl of seafood chowder, courtesy of the fishing boats bobbing in the harbor. Yarmouth's natural surroundings are as charming as the town itself. Climb the 77 steps of the Cape Forchu Lighthouse for superb views of the rugged coastline. Take a walk in pretty Frost Park, particularly eye-catching during fall. And, at night, look up at the explosion of stars in the clear, dark skies for which this part of the wild east coast of Canada is famed.

Bagpipers bid a warm welcome to Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia and the most Scottish of all Canada's great cities. The Citadel Fortress, which dates to the city's founding in 1749, stands over the thriving downtown area, where modern buildings nestle alongside the exquisitely restored Historic Properties waterfront. Here you can shop for authentic Scottish tartans and superb hand-knit woolens. Nova Scotians claim they have the freshest air and warmest smiles in Canada.