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
Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Southwest Nova Scotia, Southwest Nova Scotia
Discover the best top things to do in Southwest Nova Scotia, United States including Brier Island, Laurie Swim Gallery, Gaff Point Trail, Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, Cape Forchu Lighthouse, Cape Split Hiking Trail, Bluenose II, Ironworks Distillery, Cape Chignecto Provincial Park.
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. Laurie Swim Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 66 reviews
Award-winning visual artist and author, who is nationally and internationally recognized; Laurie creates painterly works of art in fabric and thread portraying the landscapes and people of the South Shore. Visit the Laurie Swim Gallery in beautiful Old Town Lunenburg and see these beautiful works for yourself.
3. 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.
4. Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 902 reviews
2020 Guided Tour Experience In order to keep our visitors and staff safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, we have adapted the museum experience we offer this season. We are offering a guided tour of the first floor. The small group sizes allow for easy physical distancing and the wearing of a non-medical face mask is strongly recommended while on site. This high value experience gives the opportunity to discover how our ocean connects to our maritime identity. Small groups sizes allow for the benefit of a 1 to 5 staff to visitor ratio, and our staff are wow makers! Our ocean is a pillar of Nova Scotia’s natural and cultural heritage. We identify with our ocean but what are we doing to protect it? This tour will touch on some ocean preservation initiatives plus more! To book your tour: Call 902-930- FISH (3474)
Reviewed By cliffl973
My wife and I visited in late September. We expected to breeze through in maybe half an hour. Actually spent a couple of hours, and it was educational and informative and very entertaining. They have the best collections of shipbuilding tools I've seen, and a wonderful old birchbark canoe—just two of the many highlights of our visit. And make sure to view the cod-cleaning video by Rosie Tanner (I bough a DVD copy at the well-stocked gift shop for a friend who fancies himself an expert fish cleaner). Lisa, the interpretive guide at the aquarium, was personable, enthusiastic, and a font of knowledge. My only suggestion for the acquarium might be that they provide a nook or crevice for the Wolf Fish to retire to when he's feeling shy. On our two-week driving tour of Western Nova Scotia, this was certainly one of the most enjoyable experiences.
5. 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.
6. Cape Forchu Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 508 reviews
Welcome to Cape Forchu, a Light Like No Other. This spectacular and unique "apple core" lighthouse is the second most photographed lighthouse in Nova Scotia and located just 10 minutes outside the Town of Yarmouth. The Cape has been welcoming visitors since 1604, when Samuel de Champlain landed and named the area "Cap Forchu," meaning "Forked tongue of land."
Reviewed By PitaLemon - Melbourne, United States
It's not just a lighthouse to take photos. It is a beautiful location to hike and enjoy the cool breezes on a hot summer day. Nice people working in the gift shop, too.
7. 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.
8. Bluenose II
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 440 reviews
Nova Scotia's Sailing Ambassador, Bluenose II, is an exact replica of Bluenose -- the famed schooner and undefeated champion in the International Fisherman's Races. Bluenose II is available for deck tours, and harbour sails twice daily when in port. Please check our schedule for more information .
Reviewed By MartyF_12 - Plymouth, United States
Bluenose II is a 1963-launched replica of the original 1921 Bluenose, a working fishing schooner that made history starting in October, 1921, by winning the International Fishermen's Race, an end-of-the-season race against other Canadian and American fishing vessels. In 17 years of racing, Bluenose was never defeated; she became the pride of Nova Scotia and is now represented on the back of the Canadian dime. "Bluenose" is a nickname for Nova Scotians. For much more detail about her history, go to the Bluenose II website. Bluenose II is a beautiful vessel, lovingly cared for by a dedicated crew. You can book a cruise on Bluenose II (from early June to the end of September) when she's in port in Lunenburg, or you might be lucky enough to see her at other ports around Nova Scotia or throughout the Great Lakes as she tours during the summer months. We were fortunate to be able to board Bluenose II in Kingsville, Ontario, in summer, 2019, when she visited that port as part of a group of five tall ships, and then saw her again in Lunenburg on October 2 as she was being readied for winter. Cruises in Lunenburg are at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., weather permitting, and last for two hours. Check the Bluenose II website for cruise prices. Just steps away form Bluenose II's mooring spot in Lunenburg is the Bluenose II store, where you can find all kinds of Bluenose II goodies. I love my new Bluenose II t-shirt, complete with an outline drawing of the ship on the back, puchased at $25 plus tax. Enjoy Bluenose II -- hope you can get on board for a cruise!
9. Ironworks Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 373 reviews
Ironworks Distillery opened its doors to the public in June 2010. Situated in the old town of Lunenburg and residing in the building that used to be the old marine blacksmith shop, we create small batches of artisan spirits using produce from the Maritimes. We make vodka and brandy using Annapolis Valley apples, Pear Eau-de-vie, Rum, Gin and several delicious fruit liqueurs. Tastings are free. Please contact us to check on the tour availability.
Reviewed By AndyANew - Flower Mound, United States
Ironworks is an artisanal cute little distillery located in the historic port town of Lunenburg. My wife and I stopped in while we were visiting Lunenburg. We sampled several different liqueurs and vodka and loved all the sampling, especially the sweet blueberry liqueur. The shop was beautiful and well preserved. Friendly staff. Would definitely recommend this stop in Lunenburg!
10. 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.
