#75 Spring 2014 Columns Regional Reads ,
Regional Reads: Armchair adventures
Spring is a great time to enjoy the outdoors in Atlantic Canada and we’ve got some terrific suggestions for books that will help you choose your next outdoor adventure—or at least dream about one from the comfort of your armchair.
For the traveller
Exploring Nova Scotia: A Guide to 400+ Unique Adventures and Activities (Formac, 2010) by Dale Dunlop and
Alison Scott is a thorough travel guide to the province’s sights and activities. If you’re planning to explore Atlantic Canada, here are some other books you may also enjoy:
- Scenic Driving Atlantic Canada by Chloe Ernst (GPP Travel, 2011), which guides the reader along nearly 30 beautiful drives in our region;
- MacIntyre Purcell Publishing’s series of ultimate insider guides offer advice on “must see” Atlantic Canadian destinations via Newfoundland and Labrador Book Of Musts by Janice Wells (2010), Prince Edward Island Book Of Musts by Erin Moore (2008), and Nova Scotia Book Of Musts by Allan Lynch (2008);
- And for anyone in search of historical adventure, Harbour Hopper’s Best Halifax Stories: Hangings, Explosions, Tunnels, Romance, Politics, Riots and More! by Dianne Marshall (Formac, 2013) takes readers on a guided tour of historic highlights in downtown Halifax, and features fascinating accounts of ghosts and scandals.
For the nature-lover
Harry Thurston’s The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History Greystone Books, 2011) is a stunning, award-winning reference guide to our region’s natural wonders. Readers who enjoy this book may also enjoy these field guides:
- Formac’s series of pocketguides to the natural world by Jeffrey C. Domm; titles include Pocketguide to Canada’s Atlantic Seashore; Fossils, Rocks & Minerals in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island; Pocketguide to Whale Watching on Canada’s East Coast; also available are pocketguides to birds of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island;
- Breakwater’s new Field Guide to Newfoundland and Labrador, compiled and edited by Michael Collins, which will be released later this spring; it features more than 900 photographs and illustrations of the province’s lush life and landscape;
- Trees and Shrubs of the Maritimes by Todd Boland (Boulder, 2012) and Edible Plants of Atlantic Canada by Peter Scott (Boulder, 2010); both offer comprehensive information about the region’s plant life.
For the outdoor sportsperson
Michael Haynes’ authoritative hiking trail guides—Hiking Trails of Mainland Nova Scotia (2012); Hiking Trails of Cape Breton (2012); and Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality (2010), all published by Goose Lane—are favourites for those who love a good walk. If you enjoy outdoor activities, you may also want to check out:
- Scott Cunningham’s Sea Kayaking In Nova Scotia: A Guide to Paddling Routes Along the Coast (Nimbus, 2013); this excellent guide can help you plan your kayak tour of the province’s coastline;
- Biking to Blissville: A Cycling Guide to the Maritimes and the Magdalen Islands by Kent Thompson (Goose Lane, 1993), which provides details on 40 bike rides through the Maritimes;
- Mike Parker’s Into The Deep Unknown: Land of the Tent Dwellers (Pottersfield Press, 2013), which offers a historical perspective on the life of the outdoorsman;
- And Salmon Country: New Brunswick’s Great Angling Rivers by Doug Underhill (Goose Lane, 2011); this edition takes readers on a tour of New Brunswick’s salmon rivers through photos and essays that explore the joys of fly fishing.
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