The Best of the South Shore Region

Black Loyalist Heritage Museum

Birchtown

Black Loyalists first settled the village of Birchtown in 1783. A historical church, burial ground and museum commemorate their story and contributions.

Bluenose II

Lunenburg dockyard

During 2011, Nova Scotia's famous sailing ambassador is undergoing a major restoration, in the Lunenburg dockyard. A replica of the original on the Canadian dime, Bluenose II will return to sailing in the summer of 2012.

Historic Dock Street

Shelburne

Step back in time to the 18th century in this celebrated seaport's artfully restored Historic District. Explore the dory shop, shipyard, general store and much more.

Kejimkujik National Park Seaside

Glacier-carved headlands, rocky coves and broad sweeps of silver sand make this 22-km stretch of coastline a favourite of nature lovers.

Old Town Lunenburg

Lunenburg's colourful waterfront, narrow streets, captivating architecture and seafaring history have made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse

Perched atop massive granite boulders worn smooth by the pounding waves below, the Peggy's Cove lighthouse beacon has been guiding sailors and fishermen safely home since 1868.

Queens County Museum

109 Main Street, Liverpool

Learn about shipbuilding, privateering, forestry, Mi'kmaq heritage and Queens County life in the 1700s.

Ross Farm Museum

Highway 12 (off Highway 103), New Ross

Experience a day on the farm as costumed interpreters bring this 1880s settlement to life. Watch yoked oxen plow the fields; talk to the blacksmith as he forges horseshoes and help the cooper make wooden barrels.

Rossignol Cultural Centre

205 Church Street, Liverpool

This unique complex of galleries features eclectic collections ranging from African wildlife to outhouses to an 1897 apothecary.

Three Churches

Mahone Bay

The gem of this picturesque town is the line of three elegant churches that grace the banks of its sheltered harbour. Together, they form one of the most postcard-perfect scenes in Nova Scotia.

William E. deGarthe Memorial Monument

Peggy’s Cove

A 30-metre rock face behind the renowned sculptor's home depicts the lives and legends of local fishermen, chiseled from the wave-washed granite.

Fort Point Lighthouse

100 Fort Point Road, Route 331, LaHave

Erected on the site of an abandoned 17th-century French fort, the lighthouse provides stunning views of the French garden, beach and ocean beyond.

Hawk Beach

Cape Sable Island

Pristine white sand stretches, seemingly forever, toward a backdrop of sparkling blue surf. At low tide explore the 1500 year old drowned forest, an area of fossil tree stumps that are still rooted.

Kejimkujik National Park Seaside

Port Joli

Frequent seal and shorebird sightings make this wild stretch of coastline a nature photographer's paradise.

Lunenburg waterfront

Red wooden warehouses, brightly hued heritage homes and crystal blue water make the Lunenburg waterfront a jewel-toned tapestry. The best view is from the golf course across the harbour.

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse

Probably the most-photographed lighthouse in Canada, this iconic spot is a must-capture for every visitor's photo album. Just be careful on the rocks—they can be very slippery!

Three Churches

Mahone Bay

The New York Times didn't call this postcard view “pretty as a picture” for nothing. Turn down the Oakland Road for a good vantage point.

Shelburne County Lobster Festival

Various venues, June 2-5, 2011

Lobster dinners, lobster chowder, lobster burgers and lobster Newburg take centre stage, while music, dancing, sport tournaments, craft sales and fun-runs round out the weekend's activities.

Privateer Days

Liverpool, July 1-3, 2011

Animators and re-enactments will help you step back to 1780, when Liverpool's townspeople did battle with privateers from the American Revolution that infested Nova Scotia's waters.

South Shore Exhibition

Bridgewater, July 26-31, 2011

Farm-fresh family fun, the Big Ex features agricultural and livestock competitions, 4-H exhibits, arts and crafts, and an exciting midway.

Folk Harbour Festival

Lunenburg, August 9-12, 2012

Concerts and workshops at several stages showcase traditional and contemporary folk music from local, Canadian and international talent.

Lockeport Sea Derby

Crescent Beach Centre, August 7–9, 2011

Visit the beach, go fishing for shark or mackerel, or stay on dry land and attend one of the many community activities.

Chester Race Week

Chester Yacht Club, August 17-20, 2011

The largest fixed-keel regatta in Eastern Canada, this boisterous event has been drawing crowds with lots of on and offshore entertainment for over 150 years.

Whirligig and Weathervane Festival

Shelburne, September 17-18, 2011

A woodcrafter's paradise, the Shelburne waterfront bustles with workshops, music and entertainment, set amid displays of fanciful handmade thingamabobs.

Great Scarecrow Festival & Antique Fair

Mahone Bay, September 30-October 2, 2011

Visitors will meet hundreds of whimsical scarecrows rowing in wooden dories, at sidewalk cafés, peeking from shop windows or even hiding in trees. Take in a storytelling walking tour, the Scarecruise antique car show or stroll the magical pumpkin path.

The Father Christmas Festival of Mahone Bay

November 26 – December, 2011

Visit the beautifully decorated shops and walk the streets adorned with Christmas lights and over 70 larger than life Father Christmas figures. Highlights include horse drawn transit, yuletide gourmet market, decorated house tour, music, antiques and fun for all ages.

Coastal bird watching on Cape Sable Island

Pack your binoculars: southwest Nova Scotia is one of the best birding destinations in Canada. Mixed habitat (woodlands, coastal salt marshes and open ocean) supports a diversity of species. Cape Sable Island, for example, has been designated an important breeding and migration site for the endangered Piping Plover. Always enjoy birds from a safe distance, particularly when they are breeding, feeding and resting, and please respect all signage regarding wildlife and private property.

Hiking at Ovens Natural Park

Feltzen South

Explore the famous sea caves from above, by hiking the spectacular coastal cliffs, or from below with an hour-long boat tour, before panning for gold on the beach.

Leaf-watching on the Kejimkujik Scenic Drive

Take the Kejimkujik Scenic Drive (Route 8) from Liverpool to Annapolis Royal in late September through early October, and you'll be rewarded with spectacular fall foliage. The crimson maples, golden hemlocks, yellow aspens and russet oaks, and their reflections in lakes, rivers and streams will delight you. Visit novascotia.com and click on the Blogs and Forums menu for the latest Leaf Watch news.

Sea Kayaking in Lower Prospect

Guided kayaking tours offer spectacular paddling in sheltered coves or, for the more adventurous, on the open ocean. All the equipment you need is available for rent.

Surfing at White Point Beach

Bring your own board or rent one: the point breaks off this white-sand beach—particularly in the winter—are gaining a stellar reputation among surfing enthusiasts.

UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve

access through Kejimikujik National Park of Canada

A majestic place to connect with nature. Paddle or hike the second-largest biosphere in Canada.

Graves Island Provincial Park

Chester

Picturesque fields edge a small cobblestone beach.

Queensland Beach Provincial Park

Hubbards

The warm water of this white-sand beach makes it one of Nova Scotia's most popular, perfect for summertime people watching.

Rissers Beach Provincial Park

Petite Rivière

Stroll the boardwalk over a salt marsh to get to the sandy beach.

Sand Hills Beach Provincial Park

Villagedale

Sand flats heat up at low tide, creating warm water for bathing.

Summerville Beach Provincial Park

Summerville

Sand dunes provide a nesting area for Piping Plover.

The Islands Provincial Park

Shelburne

Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy overlooking Shelburne Harbour.

Thomas Raddall Provincial Park

Port Joli

Beautiful secluded beaches, historic sites and multi-use trails.

Amos Pewter

589 Main Street, Mahone Bay

See how artisans cast molten pewter into sculptures and keepsakes.

Art gallery tour of Lunenburg

Just by taking a leisurely stroll, art lovers can contemplate contemporary mixed-media pieces at the Lunenburg Art Gallery (Pelham Street), Inuit sculpture and woodblock prints at Houston North Gallery (Montague Street) and William deGarthe's original oil landscapes at North Shore Canadian Art (Lincoln Street).

Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

68 Bluenose Drive, Lunenburg

Learn about Rum Running, whales and August Gales. Meet lobsters, flounder, cod and more in our aquarium. Enjoy Bluenose memorabilia and explore wharf-side vessels.

The Astor Theatre

59 Gorham Street, Liverpool

Take in a live performance at the oldest performing arts venue in the province.

Seal Island Light Museum

Route 3, Barrington

Learn about what life was like for a lighthouse keeper and view the original fresnel lens that helped guide sailors safely ashore.

Shelburne County Museum

20 Dock Street, Shelburne

Immerse yourself in Shelburne's Black, Loyalist and shipbuilding past, in the heart of the restored Historic District.

Sherman Hines Museum of Photography

219 Main Street, Liverpool

Galleries feature Hines' collection of his own works, along with those of W.R. MacAskill, Yousuf Karsh and other internationally acclaimed photographers.

Barrington Woolen Mill Museum

2368 Highway 3, Barrington

See demonstrations of spinning, dyeing and weaving of wool, along with the very first piece of Nova Scotia tartan.

Perkins House Museum

105 Main Street, Liverpool

This is your chance to become a Nova Scotia ghost whisperer. Through the magic of technology, watch Simeon Perkins materialize before your eyes as he rises from his bed, or his wife Elizabeth working in the kitchen. Uncover their stories using slate boards and push buttons. Where else can you say that you met eight friendly ghosts? Don't miss the fun.

Old Meeting House

Highway 3, Barrington

The area's first New England settlers mixed business and religion here in this barn-like building—Canada's oldest non-denominational house of worship.

Ross Farm Living Agriculture Museum

Highway 12 (off Highway 103), New Ross

Take a ride on a horse-drawn wagon or sleigh through a woodland nature trail to the 1817 homestead of Captain William and Mary Ross.

Ross-Thomson House & Store Museum

9 Charlotte Lane, Shelburne

This unique museum features an authentically stocked 18th-century store and a typical Loyalist house.

SS Atlantic Heritage Interpretive Park

180 Sandy Cove Road, Terence Bay

More than 550 people perished when the SS Atlantic sank in 1873, leaving an indelible imprint on this community.

Wile Carding Mill Museum

242 Victoria Road, Bridgewater

In the 1800s, this water-powered mill carded sheep's wool for knitting and weaving. Learn how, through hands-on demonstrations.