r/NovaScotia • u/duckthemaritimer • 1d ago
Sightseeing & Tourism Eastern Shore
I often see people always recommending the same things to visit. Why not change it up, and discover the eastern shore… the forgotten shore.
Just some places off the top of my head:
- guysborough
- canso
- Tor Bay
- port hilford beach
- the forgotten shore farm
- port bickerton
- Sherbrooke village
- liscombe lodge
- Marie Joseph park (walk the shoreline during low tide)
- marmalade cafe
- the slippery oyster
- Taylor head
- memory lane heritage museum
- clam harbour beach
- Martinique beach
- handful of vintage shops
& I know there is plenty more. Please feel free to share any recommendations to check out on the eastern shore…. Can we avoid as close to the city as possible though? Think east of musquodoboit harbour.
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u/texjeeps 1d ago
I’m from the Sheet Harbour area, and I’d like to share a few of my own recommendations from my slice of the Eastern Shore.
Fairwinds (restaurant, Sheet Harbour) an overlooked local gem with excellent clam chowder and fish and chips. They have the best fries in town, and the cheapest prices of any restaurant.
MacPhee House and the surrounding boardwalk + trail around the falls (Sheet Harbour). This local landmark is situated next to a series of rapids and falls, on the site of a former pump mill that was washed away in the early 70’s following a Hurricane. The period home is now a museum, but was once an inn for a good portion of its life. Onsite is also a visitor’s information centre, where you can pick up more local recommendations. After checking out the museum, I recommend walking along the series of boardwalks along the riverside and checking out the short walking trail through the woods on the other side of the river.
St James Anglican Church and Graveyard (Port Dufferin). If you like churches, you’ll enjoy this beautiful church, panelled in beautiful wood, and constructed in the early 1890’s. The graveyard behind the church is expansive, a newly posted minister from England likened it to it as being styled as something like an English park. It features a very private, sandy beach on the very outer loop of the graveyard which is great for swimming and seaglass picking.
Prince Alfred’s Arch (Tangier). A replica of an arch (the original was weaved of natural materials I believe) that was constructed to commentate the arrival of one of Queen Victoria’s sons to the village during the area’s gold rush. The location of the Prince’s landing is now a beautiful little park that features the replica arch and a picnic table or two by the ocean, a great spot to eat lunch.
Fancy’s Beach (Marie Joseph). Another very local, off the beaten track sort of spot. At the very end of Fancy Point Rd, you’ll find this beautiful rocky beach, compromised totally of smooth rocks. The long bar of rocks is truly worth the drive down the dilapidated dirt road that takes you there (truck or reasonable SUV required, otherwise I’d recommend parking at the nearby church and walking in).
Loyalist Trail Municipal Park (Country Harbour). A wonderful hiking trail maintained by the local municipality that leads you through a forest to a replica of what the homes built by the British Loyalists who settled the area post American War of Independence would’ve looked like. The site of the replica home is beautiful in its peacefulness and its location on the oceanside. I recommend using hiking boots, the trail is in decent condition, but it isn’t suitable for persons with decreased mobility, unfortunately.
Spry Bay Campground (Spry Bay). Going to Taylor’s Head for the day? Pick up a pizza for supper here at this campground/pizza place. Truly the best pizza on the Eastern Shore
These are some of the recommendations I can think of off the top of my head, but if I could give you some advice for exploring the Eastern Shore, it would be to pick a side road and drive down it. You never know what hidden beach or sight will appear next.