Nova Scotia trips offer glimpses into 10,000-year history

With more than 10,000 years of human history, the land of Nova Scotia and theMi'kmaq packs enough history to fill up your entire summer.

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Here areour suggestions for a five-stop magical history tour.

Mi'kmaqpetroglyphs at Kejimkujik

The ancient soul of the land is carved into rocks in Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site. The park offers guided tours of the more than 500 images covering 4,000 years.

Most gather around the lakeshore and comprise the biggest collection of stone-carved stories in North America. You'll see porpoises, sail-rigged canoes and clothing from centuries past.

After the tour, visit the recreated traditional Mi'kmaq encampment at Merrymakedge. The tours go five times a week until Labour Day. Call 902-682-2772 for dates and times.

Port-Royal National Historic Site

Europeans had been trading with theMi'kmaq for more than a century when Samuel de Champlain arrived and created the first permanent European settlement at Port Royal.

The Parks Canada site in the Annapolis Valley offers a reconstruction of the habitation where Champlain held his famous Order of Good Cheer dinners with Grand Chief Membertou.

In fact, you'll likely meet Champlain himself, as the park's costumed interpreters bring history to life.

Citadel Hill National Historic Site

If you live in Halifax, there's a decent chance you've never set foot inside Citadel Hill. Change that this summer and go inside to learn why the British chose that spot for their new city of Halifax in 1749.

Inside, you can walk the ramparts, tour the underbellyand hear ghost stories. The Over the Top exhibit this summerincludes a life-sized trench replicafromthe First World War.

The Army Museum takes you through centuries of British and later Canadian history in Nova Scotia.

Black Loyalists Heritage Centre

Discover the story of what was once the world's biggest free African population outside of Africa at Birchtown's BlackLoyalist Heritage Centre.

The new museum and nearby historic buildings create an immersive experience that retracethe footsteps of those who came here for freedom, and the battles they had to fight to hold that freedom.

You can also add a virtual quilt square to the digital project to share your experience before you go.

Highland Village

Nova Scotia means "New Scotland," and a trip to Cape Breton's Highland Village Museum will tell you how that came to be.

The outdoor living museum recounts the global events that drove so many Scots to the province and show you what their daily lives were like.

The 11 historic buildings overlook the glorious Bras d'Or Lakes in Iona. Costumed staff demonstrate old skills like rug hooking, blacksmithing and quilting.