Bridgewater: Main Street of the South Shore
Bridgewater is the largest town on the South Shore and is affectionately known as the Main Street of the region. As a centre for services and shopp...
Just 40 minutes from the bustling Halifax Waterfront, Musquodoboit Harbour is a nature lover’s escape! Spend the afternoon soaking up the sun and surf at Martinique Beach or take a boat tour to the renowned Wild Islands. Immerse yourself in coastal culture through captivating stories, vibrant art, and delicious local flavours. Bring your bike and hiking boots to explore Musquodoboit Trailway and surrounding wilderness. With so many adventures just outside the city, it’s the perfect time to book your getaway.
Gateway to the Wild Islands
Just down the coast from Musquodoboit Harbour, between Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park and Taylor Head Provincial Park, is a cluster of wild islands. Explore sheltered turquoise coves, white sand beaches, windswept headlands, and unique boreal rainforests, bogs, and barrens.
Discover history and unique environments on a guided boat tour with Murphy’s Scenic Boat Tours or a kayak tour with Norse Cove Sea Kayak Tours and Rentals.
Beach Exploring & Surfing
This area is home to some of Nova Scotia’s best beaches! Martinique Beach Provincial Park is the province’s longest beach and a perfect spot for catching a wave or bird watching. Halifax Surf School offers surf lessons and rentals for all skill levels.
Just outside Musquodoboit Harbour is the family-friendly Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park. Plus a new onsite MobiMat enables wheelchair access to the beach.
Farm-to-Table Dining
For an exclusive farm-to-table dining experience visit Lupin Dining & Pantry.. Stroll the onsite gardens and eat al fresco on the patio or enjoy their cozy dining room. You can also bring the flavours of Lupin to the beach or trail with their picnic boxes full of Nova Scotia cheeses, house-made preserves, jams, jellies, pickles, fresh bread, and crackers.
Hiking & Cycling Musquodoboit Trailway
Bring your bike and head to the Musquodoboit Trailway for a day of adventure. This section of the Trans Canada Trail weaves between the Musquodoboit River and towering cliffs along a former railbed. From the trail, you can park your bike and hike on wilderness loops, ranging in length from 800 metres to 9.25 kilometres. These rugged trails are easy to follow and offer spectacular views of Musquodoboit Harbour and the surrounding White Lake Wilderness Area.
Local Eats & Easy Picnics
To fuel your adventure, head to Uprooted Market & Café, your one-stop shop for fresh-baked treats, locally grown and produced goods, and picnic-style lunches and snack boxes. Uprooted also has an EV Charging Station so you can charge your car while you refuel your body at lunch.
Martinique Desserterie offers house-made breads, pastries, cupcakes, and donuts, plus locally roasted coffee.
For hearty, homestyle cooking, The Mermaid Eatery in the Salmon River Country Inn serves up East Coast favourites. Savour delicious chowder, pan-fried haddock, and some German specialties.
Clam Harbour Clam Digging Adventure
For an authentic experience, head to the expansive clam flats with a fourth-generation clam digger on the Clam Harbour Clam Digging Adventure. Learn clamming tips and tricks, try your hand at digging soft-shelled clams, and enjoy a feed of clams and a traditional cookhouse meal at Memory Lane Heritage Village. This award-winning living history museum depicts rural life in the 1940s. It’s also Nova Scotia’s first 100% solar-powered museum and includes an EV Charging Station.
Arts & Culture
The picturesque coastline and surrounding wilderness here have inspired the work of many local artists. Black Sheep Gallery, located in a former fish plant in neighbouring Jeddore Oyster Pond, displays the work of over 40 Nova Scotian folk artists. Also, SaltSpray Design and Art Cafe, located in a former church, showcases high-quality art from 20 local artists and includes a small café, outdoor patio, and year-round art classes.
Meet local artisans and producers at the year-round Musquodoboit Harbour Farmers’ Market. The Musquodoboit Harbour Railway Museum is a great place to hear local stories, learn about the area’s history, and mingle with the locals. Enjoy onsite fish and chips, ice cream, and craft brews from Sober Island Brewing Beer Garden. Be sure to try Sober Island Brewing’s signature stout, Beth’s Black, made with fresh, whole Nova Scotia oysters.
Oceanfront Accommodations
After a day on the coast, you won’t want the water views to end. Fall asleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore and wake up to the sun rising over the water at an oceanfront cottage, like The Blue Roof and High Tide Surf Cottage, both near Martinique Beach.
For an inn-style stay, Jeddore Lodge & Cabins and Salmon River Country Inn offer onsite dining on the coast.
Unique Wilderness Accommodations
With off-grid, lakefront accommodations, onsite ATV tours, and neighbouring Crowbar Lake Hiking Trails, Porters Peak Adventure Getaway is a great spot to disconnect and have fun in nature.
If you’re looking for comfort and pampering, Nalu Retreat’s year-round geodesic domes have all the luxuries of a boutique hotel. Designed with wellness in mind, each dome has a private outdoor hot tub, outdoor shower, fireplace, and stargazing Zen loft. Add treatments and prepared meals from Lupin Dining delivered right to your dome for a true spa experience.
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