Northumberland Shore Staycation
Nova Scotia has so much to offer and the Northumberland Shore is no exception! Delicious food, beautiful scenery, as well as incredible distilleries and breweries, await your arrival. People call this shore beach country and for good reason! The North Shore has more warm-water ocean beaches than anywhere else in Atlantic Canada. This region of the province leaves no shortage of things to do while visiting.
This guide features a combination of our top picks for places we think you’ll love just as much as we do. As you visit the amazing sites the Northumberland Shore has to offer, make sure to collect your stamps on the Nova Scotia Culinary Trails.
Day 1: Amherst & Malagash
Food & Drink
Amherst Shore Country Inn
Start your trip off with a stay at the Amherst Shore Country Inn. Since 1980, the Laceby family has served regionally inspired cuisine, featuring four-course dinners with prix fixe offerings and everything made and baked in-house. Time to spare? Admire the beautiful waterfront and walk for miles at low tide on the exposed tidal flats.
Bay Enterprises
If your walk on the tidal flats left you with a craving for seafood, then this next stop is the perfect solution. Visit Bay Enterprises, Canada’s oldest oyster farm, founded in 1974 and owned by the Purdy family, who began growing oysters in Malagash in 1867. They believe in having their shellfish be sustainably grown and naturally delicious.
Jost Vineyards
After your trip to Bay Enterprises, you may be feeling a little parched. Not to worry, the next stop will leave you feeling refreshed! Tucked in the gentle hills and coastal inlets of the Northumberland Shore is Jost Vineyards, a pioneer of the local wine industry. They provide daily wine tastings, vineyard tours, and live music on their patio! To pair with your wine, enjoy a bite at their Seagrape Café, which offers fresh, locally inspired fare.
Fox Harb’r Resort
Now it’s time to rest and relax at the 5-star Fox Harb’r Resort, located in Wallace. Experience their championship golf course and enjoy the stunning views, or be pampered at their ocean-inspired spa treatments and specialty therapies. After your round of golf and your spa treatment, it’s time for food and drinks. You won’t be disappointed by the culinary team at Fox Harb’r, which have designed a seasonally inspired menu, created from quality local ingredients.
Nova Scotia Culinary Tails: While at Jost Vineyards, make sure to collect your digital stamp on the Good Cheer Trail!
Day 2: Earltown & Tatamagouche
Food & Drink
Sugar Moon Farm
After your restful night, it’s time to start a new adventure! Sugar Moon Farm is a hot-spot for tourists and locals alike. This authentic handcrafted maple adventure deep in the sugar woods on the North Shore is a must-see. Enjoy local, seasonal ingredients, including Berkshire pork from down the road, Malagash oysters, Nova Scotia roasted coffee, smoked bacon, organic heritage flours and craft beer, cider, wine and spirits. Sugar Moon Farm is also a great spot for kids!
Tatamagouche Brewing Company
After your long trip to Sugar Moon Farm you may feel a little tuckered out. Not to worry, you don’t have to travel far to get a wide variety of experiences in Tatamagouche. Start your day off with touring Tatamagouche Brewing Company and partake in their delicious beer. Open seven days a week, year round, they serve pints for your enjoyment and sampling pleasure. They also sell all of their beer to go, including brews that are exclusive to their store.
Tatamagouche Railway Dining Car
As lunch rolls around, head out to the Tatamagouche Railway Dining Car for some well deserved take out food! The dining car at the Train Station Inn in Tatamagouche offers a unique dining experience. Carefully restored, the dining car offers the charm and nostalgia of years gone by. Take a walk through the gardens, visit the museum or shop at the unique gift shop — whatever you chose to do, it will be enjoyable!
Tatamagouche Ice Creamery
If that last meal left your sweet tooth with an itch, we have the solution! Visit the Tatamagouche Ice Creamery for their ultra-premium, handcrafted ice cream. Ingredients are grown or produced in Nova Scotia wherever possible. With delicious flavours and great service, you’ll be going back for seconds. After you’ve had your fair share of food, it’s time to rest and relax at the Train Station Inn.
Bonnymans’ Wild Blueberries & Natural Products Ltd.
If your stock of blueberries is running low, then we’ve got the perfect destination for you. Since 1971, Bonnyman’s Wild Blueberries has grown wild blueberries in Northern Nova Scotia, with over 200 acres of fields in production today. Far from a monoculture, the wild blueberry fields are alive with native pollinators thanks to the diversity of flowers (and yes, some weeds) that grow amongst the wild blueberry plants. Available to purchase online and at select farmers markets.
Nova Scotia Culinary Trails: While at Tatamagouche Brewing make sure to collect your digital stamp on the Good Cheer Trail!
Day 3: Pictou & Area
Food & Drink
The Pork Shop
The Pork Shop has spent the last two decades offering delicious pork products, earning them a world class reputation for quality. They produce more than 70 products, including smoked chops, gluten-free sausages, roasts, spiced capicola steak and more. Not to fret if local beef or pork isn’t up your alley, the Pork Shop also sells jams, honey, maple products, cheese, pasta, olive oils, and more. Pay them a visit and grab a tasty treat for your long day ahead.
Mrs. MacGregor’s Shortbreads
After stopping by the Pork Shop, don’t forget to indulge in dessert. Mrs. MacGregor’s Shortbreads is a must-stop on this North Shore adventure. Mrs. MacGregor’s has been delighting shortbread enthusiasts with their delicious shortbreads since 2004. Preparing in small batches, baking with only the finest ingredients, and using a generations-old family recipe, every cookie will melt in your mouth.
Chapel Cove Chocolate
Who can say no to a little treat? Chapel Cove Chocolate are chocolatiers in Pictou County, taking ideas from our memories of chocolate, and creating tastes and treats for all ages. Among their creations, they feature Maritime themed products and they create custom products for weddings and gifts.
Pictou Lodge Beach Resort
Finish off your day by enjoying a unique oceanside dining experience at Pictou Lodge Beach Resort in a historic setting. This resort has authentic log cabin architecture with an inviting ambiance and superb service. With live, local entertainment weekly, beautiful scenery and a large selection of scotch and Nova Scotia craft beer and wines, you’ll have yourself the perfect evening.
Day 4: Arisaig
Food & Drink
Knoydart Cheese House
On your way to Arisaig, stop in at Knoydart Cheese House and purchase their delicious organic cheddar cheese, made right on the farm. The Knoydart Cheddar comes in plain and aged, as well as garlic, chili, caraway, smoked, chives, and more. It’s great for snacking or creating a charcuterie board!
Steinhart Distillery
In order to keep your spirits high, Steinhart Distillery is an essential stop in Arisaig. They offer a institute by the sea experience, which includes a private tour, the opportunity to distill your own spirits, overnight stays in their onsite chalets, and more! Their patio is perfect to relish local craft beer, wine, cider, spirits or cocktails with schnitzels and pasta dishes made from scratch. Delight your taste buds by enjoying a German-inspired meal for dinner. Make sure you get enough sleep because you’re hitting the road tomorrow to Antigonish!
Nova Scotia Culinary Trails: While at Steinhart Distillery, make sure to collect your digital stamp on the Good Cheer Trail!
Day 5: Antigonish
Food & Drink
Snow Queen
Located in the beautiful university town of Antigonish, Snow Queen has been serving locals and visitors alike since 1962. They work hand in hand with local farmers, butchers, and food artisans to ensure their ingredients are top quality. Their friendly staff is waiting to serve your needs and show you why the Snow Queen is “where the locals eat.”
Gabrieau’s Bistro
Nestled in Nova Scotia’s Highland heart, Gabrieau’s Bistro invites you to savour the cuisine of Chef Mark Gabrieau. Enjoy a glass of wine at Gabrieau’s Bistro while eating one of their salads, appetizers or sushi. Choose an entrée featuring local meat or seafood and finish your meal with a dessert creation. Their menus feature local produce, including from their own farm!
The Townhouse
The Townhouse is a locally owned restaurant in the heart of Antigonish. The seasonal menu is curated around Nova Scotia’s finest ingredients, with intention to highlight the produce and farmed goods of the area. Enjoy freshly shucked east coast oysters with a crafted cocktail, a glass of vino from their natural wine list or a pint of their ever-changing selection of N.S. craft beer.
Nova Scotia Culinary Trails: While at the Snow Queen and Gabrieau’s Bistro, make sure to collect your digital stamp on the Lobster and Chowder Trails.
Don’t Leave Empty Handed!
Take a little Northumberland Shore with you when you go. Create classic donairs using Tony’s Meats donair meat for a perfect summer night. Or spice up your meals with Big Cove Foods spices. If you’re running low on blueberries at home, make sure to look for blueberries from Oxford Frozen Foods on your next trip to the grocery store.
Make sure to check out our Get Your Hands on Local page for even more information on where to purchase your favourite local food and beverage products from the Northumberland Shore.
Don’t forget to log on to your digital passport to collect stamps on the Nova Scotia Good Cheer, Lobster, and Chowder Trail. Follow the trails. Capture the moments. Collect the stamps. Get the prizes.
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