In Joggins Nova Scotia there are fossils 300 million years old - including evidence of the world's first reptile

Joggins, Nova Scotia - Fossilized tree trunks on the Joggins cliffs were found to contain remains of the 30-centimetre Hylonomous, the world’s first reptile (300 million years old!). Over a 100-million-year period these tiny creatures evolved into dinosaurs. The fossil cliffs stretch for 10 km along Fundy’s Chignecto Bay in Northwest Nova Scotia. Twice a day world’s greatest tides erode the shore and expose more fossils of the Carboniferous Period (that’s 280 to 350 million years ago). The cliffs have been designated a Special Place under the Province of Nova Scotia’s Special Places Protection Act and are on Canada's tentative list for World Heritage Sites. Quick Tip: Check tides and weather when planning your visit.

Where: Joggins is near the head of the Bay of Fundy, near Amherst, a two-hour drive from Halifax or a one-hour trip from Moncton, New Brunswick.

In the News: A new Joggins Fossil Centre opened April 22 (Earth Day) 2009. It's located at the end of Main Street overlooking the Joggins Fossil Cliffs.  'Green Technology' has been incorporated into the buildng's design, including a 50 kilowatt wind turbine generator in the parking area and a solar heating system for preheating the hot water for the building.

Canada’s Coolest:

Welcome to a new feature on Canada Cool. I'll be presenting different 'Coolest' lists with my favorites and I encourage you to nominate suggestions from your own experiences. You can Twitter @CanadaCool or email [email protected]. Let me know what makes your suggestion exceptionally cool. Remember, by contributing your comments you are giving Canada Cool permission to quote you. Only a selection of submissions will be included, but all comments and submissions are greatly appreciated!

The first feature is: Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives

Here are some of my favorites...

The Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta - This 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper passes 100 frozen rivers and nudges the base of the Athabasca Glacier - the most accessible glacier in the world. You can stop and explore it. It spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space.

The Corridor, Algonquin Park, Ontario – this 56-km stretch of Hwy 60 cuts through the southwest section of Algonquin Park. Less than three hours north of Toronto the park is a nature-lover's paradise with 7,725 km of lakes, rivers, forest, trails, camping, comfortable lodges and 2000 km of canoe routes. Offers hiking trails to stop and enjoy, but what makes it really cool is that it’s one of the best places in North America to spot moose (especially in May and June). And, on Thursday nights in August up to 600 cars will gather to listen to wolves howl.

The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Driving this 303 km (187 mile) route is like riding a roller-coaster: the road snakes around hairpin turns, rises to heights over 365 metres (1200 ft), weaves around headlands revealing spectacular coastal scenery, and plunges down to sea level taking you into the heart of small fishing communities. The most dramatic scenery is between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance near Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay, so go slow. And, plan some flexibility into your schedule, so you can drive it on a clear day.

And here are some of your nominations for 'Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives'...

More from Canada’s Coolest

'Canada's Coolest' topics we'll be publishing in the future:

• Golf Course Features
• Haunted Hotels
• Hotel Special Services

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