During the late 19th-century, Nova Scotia beckoned a select group of wealthy families, who traveled by train and steamer to their grand seaside Victorian “cottages” from New York, Boston, Philadelphia and other industrial hotbeds.

Little has changed in 100 years at this summer colony in the North Atlantic: The atmosphere is still somewhat staid, unhurried and family-oriented. The pristine coast is uncrowded and less developed than anywhere in North America; the real estate still costs just a fraction of that in the United States and Europe.

Nova Scotia, located on Canada’s Atlantic coast east of Maine, is shaped like a lobster with its claws grasping toward the remote province of Newfoundland and its tail pointing in the direction of New York and Boston. Latin for “New Scotland,” Nova Scotia is named for its resemblance to the homeland of some its first European settlers. The Scottish print on this land is large, but so is that of the Irish, French and the British—with each culture having left its mark.

About half the size of New York State with a population just under a million, Nova Scotia boasts 3,600-miles of craggy shoreline sprinkled with scenic fishing villages and quaint small towns. Long a destination for vacationers and retirees from throughout Canada, in recent years, the once sleepy region has been attracting American and European transplants with its seductive beauty, rich history, slow pace, proximity to the United States and, of course, affordable real estate.

Perhaps nowhere in Nova Scotia is the official label “Canada’s Ocean Playground” more pronounced than on the South Shore. In the heart of this region along Nova Scotia’s picturesque Lighthouse Route lies White Point Estates, a charming oceanside residential community developed amid White Point Beach Resort & Country Club—once a private lodge for well-heeled outdoorsmen. On prime oceanfront fringed by white sand beaches, lush woodlands and a flowing river, White Point, is a microcosm of the best of Nova Scotia. With its laid-back historic ambience and hypnotic water views, the new seaside enclave seems almost too good to be true.

In the midst of a sprawling 159-room resort with lodges and private cottages and a 9-hole CPGA-rated golf course to boot, White Point offers a variety of lots to build on. They range from 3/4 of an acre to roughly 2 acres and are priced starting at $45,000. Building lot choices offer something for everyone; including gently-sloping wooded spreads and stunning oceanfront (and waterview) sites. Here, in-the-know expatriates and Canadians are buying lots to build vacation and full-time residences in an area where they will rub elbows with cosmopolitan transplants, tourists, seafarers and locals. So far, a handful of lots have been sold, but given their prices and the accompanying amenities, including a a host of services and recreational opportunities, they are sure to go fast. And, White Point will work with you through every step of the home-building process.

Sales of vacation and future retirement properties in places like White Point Estates are booming, real estate specialists say. Cost-conscious and city-weary arrivals from afar increasingly seek respite and new starts in Nova Scotia. No wonder the maritime province is increasingly lighting up the radar screens of those searching for an affordable alternative to traditional vacation, second home and retirement retreats, where rising home prices have left many priced-out of the market.

Since the media—including the likes of Consumer Reports, International Living and CNN—have begun to rate Nova Scotia among the world’s best places to vacation, live and retire, property costs have risen as much as 50% annually in some areas of the province. Yet despite the price increases, property here remains a fraction of what one would pay for similar real estate back home. And with enticements like some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, a relatively temperate climate (winters are milder than the northern U.S.), and a low profile, stress-free lifestyle far from the rat race, wars and terrorism, it’s easy to see why life looks so good under the Maple Leaf.

For details about White Point Estates, visit www.whitepointestates.com or contact Doug Fawthrop at 902-354-2711, ext. 370 (toll-free 800-613-2171), e-mail: doug@whitepoint.com.

Getting There

Nova Scotia is close enough to the U.S. and Europe that you won’t get jet lag getting there. The capital Halifax is a 2-hour flight from New York; 6 hours from London. Portland, Maine, from which the 5.5-hour ferry departs to Nova Scotia, is about a 90-minute drive from Boston. For ferry information, visit: www.catferry.com.

Where to Stay

White Point Estates offers a Site Inspection Package (couples for $159 weekdays; $199 weekends), allowing prospective buyers to visit for two nights at White Point Beach Resort while exploring all that the community has to offer. To reserve a tour, call 1-800-613-2171.

The greatest thing about vacationing to Canada, besides that fact that everyone there speaks English and their similar culture, is the fact that you can travel there by car if you so desire. While plane trips may appeal to some people, being able to actually hop into your own car, plan a route, and drive to your vacation destination is something that you have to experience to really appreciate. Sure, border security has gotten a little more stringent in recent years, but if you have nothing to hide then you will have no problems getting over the Canadian border and having a grand time with out neighbors to the north. And don’t worry about having to win some sort of ridiculous automobile sweepstakes to get a vehicle that will be good enough to make the trip; for most of the northern United States, Canada is merely a short trip away, and won’t cost as much in gas money as you think it might.

For the average American tourist in Canada, the prices for lodging and entertainment may seem a little extravagant, but that also depends on what location you visit. For more popular cities, things might cost a pretty penny, but there is an endless amount of smaller, more quaint destination that will both save you money and appeal to some people’s love for more rural landscapes. When visiting Canada, make sure you do your research before deciding exactly what sort of trip you want to have, and what kind of sights you desire to see. If you check on prices and feel that you’ll need to win a cash sweepstakes just to make ends meet on your trip, then you might want to look at a different area of Canada when putting together your itinerary.

The country of Canada is a vast, often under-appreciated source of wonderful opportunities, sights and experiences for American tourists, and if you haven’t yet visited, now is the time to do it. By making some very careful planning and being careful with budgeting the amount of money you are willing to spend, Canada might be exactly the right place for you and your family to visit on your next big vacation together.

Montrealers are intensely proud of their city, and for good reason. Montreal is difficult to top for its vitality, beauty and lifestyle. “It’s a little piece of Europe in North America,” says Montreal real estate agent Steve Osgood. Montreal is the second largest French speaking city in the world, but also has a sizable English population. Most Montrealers are bilingual, and many are trilingual and there are substantial communities of Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Portugese, Greek and Chinese speakers. The Montreal metropolitan region comprises 3.5 million people, with about half that number living on the Island of Montreal.

Founded in 1642, Montreal’s location in the St. Lawrence River made it one of North America’s early crossroads and a hub for the fur trade. In the 1800s, Montreal established itself as a leading port and industrial and commercial center. Montreal is Quebec’s largest city, and the second largest in Canada (after Toronto). One of the city’s great features is its livability – housing is affordable, the rate of violent crime very low compared to the US, and the central city bustles with people. Moreover, it’s quite possible to live well in central Montreal without a car – the combination of walking, public transportation (particularly the clean and efficient Metro), and taxis serve many residents well.

Old Montreal is where the city was founded, and there is evidence of human habitation in the area dating back 1,000 years, well before the arrival of the first Europeans. In the 1800s Old Montreal was packed with warehouses, merchants, and tradespeople, and was the financial center of Canada. This is no longer the case, but Old Montreal remains a vital part of the city and the gray stone buildings, cobbled streets, and St. Lawrence River make for an enchanting and romantic setting. “They come up for a vacation,” says Osgood of many of his clients, “and fall in love with the city.”

Old Montreal is popular with tourists, but there are also many people who live and work in the area. Osgood, who specializes in second homes, says most of the properties he sells are condos and lofts in historic buildings. Such properties are in the $200,000 to $250,000 USD range, while two bedroom places in Old Montreal fetch around $300,000 USD.

In addition to Old Montreal, another area attractive for second home buyers is the Plateau Mont-Royal, known locally “the Plateau.” This lively and diverse area lies to the East of Mount Royal and Park Avenue, and as one moves east it becomes progressively more French speaking. The Plateau is home to the characteristic Montreal form of housing: duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes with winding outside staircases. Within the Plateau there are a number of different neighborhoods, and several vibrant commercial districts and boulevards, each with its own character. The area is home to numerous artists, musicians and other creative types, as well as many students and professionals. It’s a dense, but not oppressively crowded residential and commercial area that is ideal for pedestrians. And there’s lots to walk to, including hundreds of restaurants, bars, cafes, and boutiques. You’ll find some of the hippest places in North America on the Plateau, as well as the simplest of markets and convenience stores, or dépanneurs as they are known locally.

Judy Thompson, a Houston real estate broker, and her husband bought the middle floor of a classic Plateau duplex in 2006. They’d been visiting Montreal since 2000; Thompson says she became hooked on the city “after the first few days when I saw the way people live.” Their two-bedroom place, located in a renovated 1906 building, is close to just about everything, and was very reasonable. Prices in the area average around $200 USD a square foot, depending, naturally, on the quality of the premises.

Summers in Montreal are packed with myriad events, parades, and festivals. Thompson doesn’t discount these, but says she and her husband “do real simple kinds of things.” She cites Montreal’s culture and lifestyle as its main selling points. “I love living without a car, without air conditioning, and being able to walk wherever I go.” Going out for coffee ranks highly on Thompson’s daily agenda, as does exploring the city and walking in Parc LaFontaine. “I love that park,” she says, “I couldn’t believe how big and beautiful it was.”

Renting out a city property is different from a vacation place, where monthly and even weekly rentals are common. Osgood notes that condo associations typically have regulations barring short term rentals. As well, locals are typically seeking unfurnished accommodations with year-long leases. This combination can leave some second home owners holding property that is vacant most of the year, or having their pied-à-terre become a full-time rental. Thompson says she was able to rent her property (“a well appointed place in an A+ location”) for an eleven-month lease relatively easily. She did so by pricing it slightly below market value, obtaining a dependable tenant willing to accept a shorter lease than is typical.

Quebec, both rural and urban, is truly different from the rest of North America. Fortunately, it combines unique attributes with affordability, accessability and livability. Home prices in Quebec are continuing to rise, but the market is steady and the spikes typical of other areas haven’t occurred. Steve Osgood says appreciation is expected to be in the 4-5% range in Montreal for the foreseeable future. Prices in the Townships and Laurentians are expected to show similar moderate increases. The Canadian dollar is currently strong against the US greenback, trading in the mid 90 cent range. It’s expected to remain above .90 US for some time, and may reach parity with the US dollar. This means there’s no scooping up properties at bargain basement prices thanks to a weak local currency, on the other hand, owners of property in Quebec can sleep easy knowing the currency is unlikely to tumble, lowering the value of their asset.

Quebec, both rural and urban, is a North American jewel. As anyone who’s spent time in the province can attest, it’s a place whose history, beauty and unique culture render it distinct. As a bonus, it’s right in the United States’ backyard, and affordable relative to comparable areas in North America.