You may come to Nova Scotia for the seafood, the rugged coastline, or the sheer natural beauty of the place, but once you arrive you’ll discover just how much there is to this gloriously diverse part of Canada. We asked interesting locals for their hidden gems, so you can check out some delightful off-the-tourist-track places on your next visit.
David Myles, Halifax based multi-platinum selling Canadian recording artist:
“Eating at The Flying Apron in Summerville is an amazing experience. It has this crazy good cook who makes everything – the jam, the sauerkraut, sausages. He cures his own meats – you can have three meals there and nothing would ever be the same.”
Trevor Munroe, owner of Sober Island Oysters, Sheet Harbour:
“We love Irwin Lake Chalets, which is up by Truro and has these little cabins with hot tubs on the decks. It’s a great little spot surrounded by woods, so you can just escape for a romantic getaway – we love staying there.”
Erica Fraser, brewer at Good Robot Brewing Co, Halifax:
“Point Michaud beach in Cape Breton is where it’s at. All white sand with decent surfing, and onsite lessons and rentals. After heading there, hit up Jiggs in St Peter’s for some greasy-spoon goodness and ice-cream.”
Steph Ogilvie, chef of The Brooklyn Warehouse, Halifax
“I love heading to Lawrencetown beach on the Eastern Shore because it is great for foraging beach greens, but also because people are always surfing and kite surfing, no matter the weather or season, and that’s fun to watch. Not everyone realises that we have great surf in Nova Scotia.”
Mari Ann Stiles, owner/operator of Taco Stiles food truck, Truro
“Blue Sea Beach provincial park in Malagash is where I go to get away from everybody. It’s this sandy little beach with no rocks that just feels so private. Also, it’s right by Jost Vineyards – it’s a gorgeous spot that most people don’t know about.”
Ross Patterson, chef and owner at the Noodle Guy, Port Williams
“Most people don’t realise that Nova Scotia produces all this truly excellent wine – L’Acadie Vineyards is this little winery with an incredible winemaker who makes award-winning sparkling wines and big reds. There’s an incredible tasting room there too.”
John Campbell, owner of the Sou’Wester Restaurant, Peggy’s Cove
“Bear River is a tiny village between Annapolis Royal and Digby, and it is such a unique spot with these homes and businesses on stilts over the river – stopping there is like going back in time. There’s a restaurant in Bear River that we always stop at, Myrtle and Rosie’s Cafe, which does really good, simple food. I love the scallops.”
Jim Dikaios, owner of Java Blend Coffee Roasters, Halifax
“The lighthouse on Cape d’Or near Advocate is a beautiful spot, with these amazing panoramic vistas out over the Bay of Fundy, where you’re looking at the highest tides in the world. Plus it’s close to Cape Chignecto Provincial Park – this whole area is a stunning part of Nova Scotia that few people get to see.”
Tanya Colburne, Out of Bounds Adventure Tours, Masstown
“I always take people to Farm Gate, this sweet little spot in Highland Village that is run by this English lady, Valerie Meredith. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but is full of unreal homemade baking and locally made goodies. Her grandson Andrew is an acclaimed local artist. He has a gallery and studio in a converted playhouse next door, and she also sells some of his work in Farm Gate. It’s an interesting place and totally off the beaten track.”
Mo Kenney, multi award-winning singer-songwriter from Dartmouth
“Head to The Canteen on Portland Street in Dartmouth, one of my favourite restaurants. The food is so good, and the menu is always changing, so I used to go there every day when I lived in the neighbourhood. The jerk pork and mango sandwich was probably the best sandwich I’ve ever had, and the couple that own the place are super sweet.”
Mike Campbell, former presenter of MuchMusic and owner of music venue The Carleton, Halifax
“ I’m addicted to the seafood and lobster pies at Masstown Market. It’s off the highway, just past Truro, and I used to drive right by it until somebody hauled me in there a few years ago. It’s a fun place to sit and watch humans and it is always busy as hell – you can get all kinds of locally made stuff.”
Jason Lynch, chef at Le Caveau, Domaine de Grand Pré
“Evangeline beach, where you’re looking out over the Bay of Fundy and Blomidon Provincial Park, is my favourite spot. Everyone visits the beaches on the South Shore, but it’s gorgeous there and you can walk for miles on the dark sands with all this amazing scenery around you. It’s so close to wine country too, so you can head there when you’re visiting one of the many wineries here in the valley.”
For more information and inspiration, see explore-canada.co.uk
