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 Things to do Good for Kids in Southwest Nova Scotia, Southwest Nova Scotia
Discover the best top things to do in Southwest Nova Scotia, United States including Brier Island, Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, Hall's Harbour, Cape Forchu Lighthouse, Grand Pre National Historic Site, Bluenose II, Blomidon Provincial Park, Victoria Park, Wile Carding Mill Museum.
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. 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.
3. 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.
4. Hall's Harbour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 166 reviews
Reviewed By PaulH4266
It is always nice to be by the water and to comb the beach. The highest tides in the world. Beautiful sunsets. Gift shops and fine seafood. Watch fishing boats come in to dock , or go on their way out to make their living.
5. 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.
6. Grand Pre National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 442 reviews
At Grand-Pre, get to know the Acadians, Nova Scotia's early French settlers. Theirs is a story of pioneer life, tragedy, and triumphant survival. This commemorative site was the heart of the 17th and 18th century Acadian village that became the scenic setting for Longfellow's narative poem Evangeline. A Visitor Reception and Interpretation Centre opened in September 2003 with new interpretation exhibits and a multimedia theater. Take time to walk in the superb flower gardens and admire the beautiful scenery. You will be charmed by the natural beauty of the surroundings.
Reviewed By c0verdale - Riverview, Canada
Created to commemorate the Grand-Pré area of Nova Scotia as a centre of Acadian settlement from 1682 to 1755, at this Unesco World Heritage site you will learn all about the Acadian culture, history as well as the expulsion of the Acadians, which began in 1755 and continued until 1762. The visitor center offers a short video explaining the story of the Acadians and there is also a small interpretive center, and then you can wonder around the beautiful grounds which also contain a Memorial Church containing several displays, statue of Evangeline and a recreated Black Smith Shop. The grounds are well kept / beautiful. A very important piece of history that I highly recommend visiting if you're in the area.
7. 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!
8. Blomidon Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 134 reviews
Reviewed By Resort796477 - Nova Scotia, Canada
Well maintained trail leading to amazing views! 12 km round trip - bring a picnic to have at the end and enjoy!
9. Victoria Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 524 reviews
Reviewed By KennO555 - Halifax, Canada
This is the best thing about Truro. Victoria Park is truly a lovely place with great trails and it is kept clean.
10. Wile Carding Mill Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By kenbQ167LZ - North Bay, Canada
My wife and I visited this old, water powered carding mill in mid-August of 2019. As we entered another couple left. This meant we were the only visitors in the small mill. To our surprise and delight we were given an almost one hour informative and enjoyable guided tour by a very knowledgeable guide. As we left another couple were just entering. What a shame to see so few people during the height of the tourist season and from what our guide told us this was not unusual. The mill itself was in continuous operation from 1860 intil 1968. All of the original machinery is still in the mill. The entire milling operation is explained in detail including prices per pound (to the customer) for various operation and an explanation as to why a 12 hour trip in the 1800's was a worthwhile investment to have one's wool carded. One of the interesting things about this mill was that customers were guaranteed that the raw wool that they brought in would be the carded wool they received back - not mixed with somebody else's which was usually the case. Take the time - an hour or so to be pleasantly surprised.
