Top Things to do in Southwest Nova Scotia
Top Hotels in Southwest Nova Scotia
- 1. Days Inn by Wyndham Bridgewater Conference Center
- 2. Rum Runner Inn
- 3. Bayside Inn
- 4. Best Western Plus Bridgewater Hotel & Convention Centre
- 5. Dockside Suites
- 6. Tru By Hilton Yarmouth
- 7. Lakelawn B&B Motel
- 8. Rodd Grand Yarmouth Hotel
- 9. Smugglers Cove Inn
- 10. A Seafaring Maiden Bed and Breakfast
10 Nature & Parks in Southwest Nova Scotia That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Southwest Nova Scotia, United States including Brier Island, Kejimkujik National Park Seaside, Seal Cove, Gaff Point Trail, LaHave River Trail, Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, Cape Split Hiking Trail, Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, Oaklawn Farm Zoo.
Restaurants in Southwest Nova Scotia
1. Brier Island
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 121 reviews
Reviewed By crmanager2016 - Burlington, Canada
Brier Island is a great spot for the outdoor enthusiast. Two short ferry rides @ $7 CDN each for your return trips. After a whale watching excursion we did a little poking around. After a visit to the general store for gas & directions we set off to find Pond Cove beach. There is a small painted sign on a shed pointing the way down a dirt road. At some points it seems to be nothing more than a footpath. Finally, we reach the beach! It is helpful to know the tide times to be able to fully explore the beach at low tide. It is quite rocky at points but lovely sand beach beyond. Lots of interesting rocks, shells, & sea birds and we even spotted gray seals. Plenty of photographic opportunities to capture maritime life at it's best. Spend the day & enjoy exploring!
2. Kejimkujik National Park Seaside
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By dorisdaigle - Moncton, Canada
This is a fabulous almost pristine nature hike to be enjoyed by anyone who can walk, simply! I say almost pristine as the trail is maintained and so it makes for a better hike but of course that part is man made. The trees, the bogs, the flora and fauna is fabulous, the scents magical, and you eventually get to a spellbindingly beautiful coast and beaches, turquoise waters and soft while rocks polished by erosion. My second visit, just as wonderful as the first.
3. Seal Cove
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By LaurenBowes903 - Peggy's Cove, Canada
Enjoy this relatively easy hike along the coast with views of the ocean, lighthouse, and hopefully seals!
4. Gaff Point Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Justtravelling4 - Halifax, Canada
We thoroughly enjoyed hiking this trail, it really had a little bit of everything. A beautiful beach, stunning water views, and stunning treks through wooded areas. The walk through the fir trees was one of my favourite portions of the trail, the smell was amazing. There are some exposed roots in places and the walk across the beach rocks is a little challenging on the ankles, but overall a pretty easy to moderate trail. I recommend walking the farm land area over the hill instead of the entire beach as it gives you a break from the sea rocks. The owners have it marked and don’t mind as long as the horses are not in the field. Once you get to the loop we went to the right first. It means you finish on the water view side of the trail. The trail in total including walking Hirtle Beach is about 6.6 km. We finished the entire trail in about 90 mins, this included stopping for pics etc. I highly recommend for anyone of any age, definitely a trail I’d return to.
5. LaHave River Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By irenetH159ZZ
This is a easy level walk up the lahave river. It has nice shady areas so great to walk on a hit day. the grade to the trail is very slight. it has pretty views of the river.
6. Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 733 reviews
ESCAPE from the hectic pace of everyday life with a visit to Annapolis Royal’s beautiful Historic Gardens!In a beautiful setting overlooking a tidal river valley, the 17 acre Historic Gardens is a premiere Nova Scotia attraction showcasing gardening methods, designs and materials representing more than four hundred years of local history. Highlights include a Rose collection of more than 270 cultivars, an Acadian House representing pre-deportation 1671 time period, and much more…
Reviewed By BenLar137 - Calgary, Canada
We visited early October, and so, while there were flowers, the blossoms were not at their peak. Also, it was a little early in the autumn colour season, and so the leaves had just started turning. BUT, we had a fantastic visit nonetheless! The Acadian cottage is quite charming, the main garden spaces were still green and meticulously maintained, with a few blossoms still popping. For us, we were most impressed by their garden innovation section, where we learned about several techniques that we could use in our own garden. Their statue collection in the garden was also amazing. Staff were pleasant and helpful, and we would say this is a must-see, extremely highly recommended attraction for this fabulous part of Nova Scotia.
7. Shubenacadie Wildlife Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 132 reviews
8. Cape Split Hiking Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 245 reviews
Reviewed By 2015eastcoasters - Nova Scotia, Canada
A long hike along a trail to a beautiful view. Wear comfortable footwear because its a long walk but worth the time.
9. Cape Chignecto Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 120 reviews
At Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, towering 185-meter (600-foot) cliffs rise from the Bay of Fundy while the world’s highest tides lap at their base. Cape Chignecto is a 4,200-hectare natural environment park on a dramatic coastal peninsula. The park features 29 kilometres (18 miles) of pristine coastline, some of Nova Scotia’s most significant geological features, deep valleys, sheltered coves, rare plants, remnant old growth forest, scenic views, and a rich cultural heritage. We offer wilderness camping in secluded coves and ravines, while a spectacular coastal hiking trail leads visitors along high cliffs and deep valleys. Because Cape Chignecto is a wilderness hiking park, there are no drive-up camping sites.
Reviewed By G5259KFshannonb
Cape Chignecto is a truly stunning place for anything from a half-hour stop at the Interpretive Centre and beach to a four-day hike around the whole trail. It has a great mixture of rocky beaches, dramatic cliffs, ocean views, and hikes through coniferous forest, deciduous forest, and mixed forest. And the staff are truly excellent - very knowledgable and helpful (and kind: I moronically left my car keys in the cabin, and they were promptly returned to me by eagle-eyed staff members). This is Nova Scotian hospitality at its best. I've done day hikes from the Visitor's Centre in the summer. Tip: even for day hikes, bring a water filter to save yourself from being weighed down by water bottles, especially in hotter weather. There are streams at very regular intervals throughout the park, and if you drink at each of them, you'll never be thirsty. This Thanksgiving weekend, I did the trail clockwise in three days - fairly strenuous, but doable - although it's more common to do it in four days, and I stayed in the cabin at Big Bald Rock and the Bunkhouse near Eatonville. (The campsites are great, too, but I gave myself the luxury of going tent-free because I was moving quite quickly.) The first day, from the Visitor's Centre to Big Bald Rock, was intense but inspiring. The other two days were very manageable; the last was only five hours' hiking, and that included lots of breaks. It was varied, beautiful, and quiet. The trail along the southern shore from the Visitor's Centre to the Cape has a lot of larger climbs and descents, but it's a bit smoother; the trail along the Western coast from the Cape up to the turn-in to Eatonville is a little more uneven and has the most stunning coastline and views; and the trail from the coast back through the interior makes for a more relaxing (though still challenging enough to keep one's interest) woodland hike. Practicalities: the cabins are extremely well equipped with drinking water, wood stoves and firewood, privies, and two "rooms" of bunks. The ones I stayed at also had Adirondack chairs and picnic tables outside, tables with benches inside, packs of cards (a very nice way to pass the evening), and some other bibs and bobs. This is very cushy back-country camping, giving you the experience of a true back-country trail but a lovely place to spread out and dry out in the evenings if you've gotten wet. There is cel reception intermittently on the trail, generally in higher places and on the beaches. There is cel reception in the Big Bald Rock cabin but not the Bunkhouse, although you only have to walk a few minutes up the hill from the Bunkhouse for reception. (I'm on Telus; reception for other carriers may vary.) I also recommend bringing hiking poles. There are quite a few hills to give you a good workout, including a couple of steep ones, especially the descent into Mill Brook from the East. I've done it without poles, but descending it, in particular, feels much safer with them. And remember to pack all your garbage out. The park is really pristine - you don't want to do anything to spoil it. This is one of my absolute favourite spots in Nova Scotia, and that's saying a lot. Other favourite things in the area: in Advocate, the Hook & Anchor restaurant for the superb lobster roll or the Wild Caraway for fine dining; the Age of Sail Museum in Port Greville; the Joggins Fossil Museum and beach; Parrsboro (all of it); Mo's Family Restaurant and Accommodations in Five Islands; and Five Islands Provincial Park.
10. Oaklawn Farm Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Reviewed By messengrl - Shelburne, Canada
This was our fifth trip to Oaklawn Farm Zoo. After our first visit in 2012, it became one of our favourite places in Nova Scotia. The main attraction, for us, is the pride of African lions (Sterk, Nyah, Hunter and Nnenne). But all the animals are wonderful. With schools in session, relatively few people were on the zoo grounds, which made for a calm, relaxing experience as we walked around and viewed the animals. Sadly, some of the animals we have seen during previous visits are no longer there (Fury, Czar, Obi, etc.). We miss them, but we are glad to have had the opportunity to see and enjoy them.
