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Fall in Nova Scotia brings poets and songsmiths to mind. Sting’s “Fields of Gold,” say, or Keats’ “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.” There’s that kind of glow to the fields and hills. And all kinds of things to do that let you join in the spirit—literally!

Celtic Colours International Festival is an annual festival celebrating the music and culture of rugged Cape Breton Island. This year’s festival, Oct. 9 to 17, focuses on the Irish and features dozens of concerts and musical workshops, plus visual arts exhibits and guided walks, bike rides and boat tours. The festival is a golden opportunity to drink up the local colour.

And talking about drinking while you’re on Cape Breton, check out Glenora Inn & Distillery, North America’s only single malt distillery. You can taste New Scotland’s take on old Scotland’s pride on a tour of the distillery; the 120-ha (300-ac) site also includes a pub and a country inn.

Back on the mainland, the Nova Scotia Fall Wine Festival is a season-long chance to rove the wineries that dot the Annapolis and Gaspereau valleys. Fall is also ideal for visiting the local orchards, where you can enjoy the fresh crop and the new-pressed cider.

At the far tip of the Annapolis Valley, two short and cheap ($1 CDN round-trip for cars; pedestrians free) ferry rides bring you to tiny Brier Island, Nova Scotia’s most westerly point with its lighthouse, cliffs and hiking trails. The island’s prime location on the Atlantic Flyway, the migratory route followed by millions of birds, makes it the perfect fall getaway.
novascotia.com