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Looping from Yarmouth along the South Shore of Nova Scotia to Halifax will take visitors past picturesque fishing villages and into the capital city. Continuing across the province, through the Annapolis Valley and to the Fundy coast before heading back to Yarmouth, will offer vistas of lush farmland: the Annapolis Valley is often called the breadbasket of Nova Scotia.

For anyone arriving on The CAT, it's worth taking some time to explore Yarmouth. Once a major boatbuilding and trade port, the town features a vibrant waterfront, a theatre and art gallery, three fine museums and some great tours, including bicycle tours. Take a side trip to the Cape Forchu lighthouse complex, then slip into nearby Pubnic, a lively Acadian community that continues to enthusiastically honour its French heritage.

Traveling Route 3, which hugs the coast, the working fishing village of Cape Sable Island is the most southerly point of Nova Scotia. To reach it, follow Route 330, which crosses Barrington Passage to the island. Further along the shore on Route 3, you'll come upon Shelburne with its colourful historic waterfront and dynamic arts centre. Liverpool has several compelling attractions, including a photography museum, cultural centre and breathtaking beaches.

Bridgewater is home to the impressive DesBrisay Museum. Continuing along the coast, you'll find Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many fine attractions. Close by is Mahone Bay, famous for fine art and great culinary offerings. Chester, a mecca for yachting and sailing enthusiasts, is a stone's throw away. Route 333 will take you into the fishing village of Peggy's Cove, where you'll find the most photographed lighthouse in the world. From here you can follow Route 333 into Halifax.

To experience the Annapolis Valley, from Halifax take Highway 101 to Windsor. The town boasts several achievements, including the oldest continuing Agricultural fair in North America and and the very first game of hockey anywhere (although the origins of that sport are still being disputed). Further along the 101, Exit 10 will take you to Grand-Pré, home of Longfellow's fictional Evangeline as well as one of Canada's finest wineries, Domain de Grand-Pré. Close by is Wolfville, a delightful college town (home to Acadia University). This is the region where the Bay of Fundy demonstrates its dramatic tides.

Continuing along Highway 101, Annapolis Royal is rich in history, art and award-winning gardens. A detour into nearby Bear River will lead you into the fascinating First Nation Heritage and Cultural Centre. Next comes Digby, rooted in a rich fishing history and famous for scallops.

To reach Yarmouth, take Route 1 from Weymouth and enjoy the region of Clare, a unique collection of Acadian villages. Also called Baie Sainte-Marie, the French Acadian shore is home to historic churches, museums, the Bangor Sawmill Museum, and Electric City, the restored site of an early electric village in the middle of a forest. Every year the region hosts the oldest Acadian festival in the world: in 2008 Festival Acadien de Clare runs from July 26 to August 15.