This historic seaport is the largest town southwest of Halifax and the gateway to Nova Scotia from New England. While the town of Yarmouth was first settled by New Englanders in 1761, the Yarmouth County area was previously inhabited by the MicMac and French Acadians. Today it serves as the hub of the fishing, shipping, and transportation industries of western Nova Scotia.

During the days of sail in the 1800s, this was one of the major shipbuilding and ship owning ports in the world. There is much evidence of this "Golden Age of Sail" to be found in the architecture of many of its fine old homes as well as ship paintings and artifacts exhibited in museums. Travel north on the Evangeline Trail, which passes through French Acadian settlements, fishing centers and rich orchards and farmlands. South, follow the Lighthouse Route, which parallels the Atlantic coastline and passes near many picturesque lighthouses and fishing ports.