Yarmouth & Acadian Shores

Discover Yarmouth & Acadian Shores

Yarmouth & Acadian Shores is quiet and peaceful, yet full of adventure. Where the land meets the sea and you will experience English and Acadian cultures and is where the darkest skies let the stars shine their brightest. It’s where the food is fresh and local, and the music is too. Visit a working fishing wharf and learn from a fisherperson through the Living Wharves experience.

This region is part of North America’s first starlight destination – Acadian Skies and Mi’kmaq Lands – as designated by the International Starlight Foundation. Here you can discover dark skies like nowhere else, with brilliant stars from distant galaxies shining against the night sky.

Explore Cities & Towns on the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores

Explore communities by clicking the points on the map.

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Clare / Baie Sainte-Marie

Celebrate vibrant Acadian culture at popular festivals such as Musique de la Baie, Le Festival acadien de Clare, Les beaux vendredis, and Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie.
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Argyle and Area

Discover your Acadian roots in this area, where many residents speak both French and English, and stargaze in the Acadian Skies & Mi’kmaq Lands Starlight Reserve.
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Yarmouth

Experience rich Acadian history and culture, take a beach day, savour seafood, visit the world’s second smallest drawbridge, and climb the light at Cape Forchu Lighthouse.
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Top Experiences on the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores

Cape Forchu Lighthouse

Highlights

The first “Applecore” style lighthouse, located 11 km (7 mi) from Yarmouth
Visit the lighthouse and take part in the Climb the Light experience
Tour Leif Ericsson Park onsite which consists of walking paths, picnic sites, and benches, and provides front-row seats for amazing sunsets

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Le Village historique acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse

Highlights

Discover Acadian heritage on this 17-acre site overlooking Pubnico Harbour with costumed interpreters
Hear the Acadian dialect and learn about fishing and farming traditions of this 1900s village
Savour home-cooked Acadian cuisine in the onsite cafe

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Trout Point Lodge

Highlights

Stay onsite at this luxury wilderness lodge and certified Starlight Hotel
Get your fill of what’s in season – scallops or salmon, oysters or mussels
Culinary classes with their Executive Chef or Sous Chef are available

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Tusket Island Tours

Highlights

Discover a way of life by the sea that has fueled Nova Scotia for generations
Join local fishermen onboard their working lobster boat and learn how to “pull” a lobster trap
Savour fresh seafood in a private island shanty while enjoying live Acadian music played by your fishermen tour guides

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Port Maitland Beach

Provincial Park Beaches

Highlights

Mavillette Beach is a 1.5 km long sandy beach with dunes and a boardwalk where, at low tide, exposed sand flats and the hot sand warms the ocean waters
Port Maitland Beach is a 1 km long sand and cobble beach with a grassy picnic area, bordered by a scenic fishing wharf and offers beautiful ocean sunsets
Both beaches have supervised swimming in July and August

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Frequently Asked Questions

This region is rich with Acadian culture, from museums and festivals to music and food. Visit the Acadian culture page for full details.

This certification, awarded by the Starlight foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are places which have very low light pollution where visitors can enjoy unique and unparalleled opportunities to view the night sky.

In this region you will find North America’s first starlight destination – Acadian Skies and Mi’kmaq Lands – as designated by the International Starlight Foundation. Here you can discover dark skies like nowhere else, with brilliant stars from distant galaxies shining against the night sky.

Rappie pie, or râpure in French, is a well-loved traditional Acadian dish. It’s a mix of potatoes and chicken, and it’s unique to the region.

It’s not a pie in the conventional sense, as there is no pastry crust, but it is a popular local dish. In many households, it is a traditional meal for special occasions such as birthdays or Christmas.

Yes, the CAT Ferry is the fastest way to travel between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. This high-speed ferry takes just 3.5 hours to complete the journey, one-way.

You can find more information such as crossing times and rates here.

The red/white/blue flag you are seeing is the Acadian flag. This is a flag of France which is the country where all Acadians are descendants from.

The flag represents to Acadians that they are French, and that their motherland is France.

Featured Packages in Yarmouth & Acadian Shores

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Celebrate at Trout Point

$6,703/Starting Price • Per Couple

Celebrate life’s milestones on an unforgettable 4-night getaway at Trout Point Lodge with guided activities, gourmet dining, and photo session.

Trout Point Lodge
Kemptville
May 22, 2026 – November 1, 2026

Wine Lovers Package at Trout Point

$2,848/Starting Price • Per Couple

Indulge in your passion for wine, surrounded by nature, on a 2-night getaway at Trout Point Lodge with sommelier-led tastings and gourmet dining.

Trout Point Lodge
Kemptville
May 22, 2026 – November 1, 2026

Tusket Islands Fish & Fry

$200/Per Person

Experience the local fishery during a half-day guided fishing tour near the historic Tusket Islands, before enjoying your catch at the wharfside café!

Tusket Island Fishing Charters
Lower West Pubnico
June 2, 2026 – August 5, 2026

Trout Point Getaway

$1,103/Starting Price • Per Couple

Experience pristine wilderness, Nova Scotia's darkest skies, guided onsite activities, and gourmet dining with a 2-night getaway at Trout Point Lodge.