Nova Scotia: Lunenburg and Mahone Bay

For our last full day in Nova Scotia, we took in historic Lunenburg near our inn. We kicked off the day with a horse and buggy tour, heading up and down the colorful hills. We loved the beautiful Lunenburg Academy, the bright colors and intricate designs on the houses, and the relaxing pace of the ride. We both remarked that people in Nova Scotia truly take pride in their homes, and you always saw renovations and repairs happening.

We also couldn't get over how wonderful and NICE everyone we met seemed to be. Nearly every other tourist we met were Canadian, and pairing this trip up with the one we did in Montreal in 2008 reinforced the notion to us that Canadians are just super-pleasant people to be around. We felt safe everywhere we went, and one guy even told us that in his town, everyone parks their cars with their keys in the ignition!

After the carriage ride, we had lunch at the Salt Shaker Deli, a recommendation from our innkeepers. We were not disappointed; the flatbread pizzas were so fresh and delicious!

We followed lunch up with a trip out to take some photos at Blue Rocks, a little fishing village outside of Lunenburg that is truly rustic and un-touristy. It was like walking into a postcard. And since it wasn't too far away, we were also able to visit the shops we saw the previous day in Mahone Bay!

After our drive, we headed back to the Lunenburg harbor for a sailing adventure! We hopped aboard the Eastern Star to head out onto the water. It was my first time on a sailboat, and the constant tipping was something to get used to, but I was in love with the view of the harbor and town from the water. It was pretty cold (especially since we were used to the warm weather in the South!) but definitely an experience to remember. We warmed up at the Grand Banker Bar & Grill for dinner before heading to the inn to pack.

We were sad to leave our lovely room at the end of it all. We couldn't use our phones, and our Wifi was spotty, so this was a trip where we really unplugged from our "real" lives and just traveled on a whim. I can't get over how well I slept, how happy I was, and just how casual we were able to be. The breakfasts at the inn were delicious, and we enjoyed sharing tips and stories every morning with people. It got to the point that folks would recognize us out in Lunenburg and wave!

Nova Scotia was the perfect getaway for two busy professional gals to get away from it all and step into a postcard world of lighthouses and lobsters. We couldn't have asked for anything more!

Nova Scotia: The Lighthouse Route

We spent a whole day road tripping the South Shore, taking in the breathtaking Lighthouse Route. Our first stop was all the way to Yarmouth in the west, where we took in the gorgeous Cape Forchu Lighthouse and coastline. We ate at the Mug Up Tearoom there, sitting outside with an amazing view. The bread pudding with homemade caramel was unbelievable... Our joke was 'Put some bread pudding in Yar-MOUTH!'

From there, we headed to Pubnico and stumbled across an adorable Acadian village 'experience' where we learned about the early settlers to the region. There was a tiny little lighthouse there too! They pointed us towards Dennis Point Wharf, where we were able to see a real-life fishing port, one of the busiest they have. We asked what people in the area do outside of tourism, and everyone responded that fishing was truly the occupation int he area!

After Pubnico, we ventured out to the remote Sandy Point Lighthouse, which sits in the water. We didn't stick around long, because there happened to be a wedding going on! But we loved seeing all of the homes along the scenic coastline.

We then ventured on to Liverpool. The Fort Point Lighthouse looked like a little house! It was very small and a quick stop along our journey, but it was worth it to see the incredible homes. We both picked out "our" houses there!

Our last stop along the Lighthouse Route was Mahone Bay... we didn't see an actual lighthouse, but we saw the adorable Three Churches area and noticed some shops we wanted to revisit.

Back in Lunenburg after a long day on the road, LD was feeling pretty brave... so when we had dinner at the Old Fish Factory, she ordered a fresh steamed LOBSTER! Neither of us knew what to do with it, but after a little instruction she demolished it like a champ. I even tasted some, and not being a fan of seafood it was actually really fresh and delicious. I do think that having such a fresh, local lobster spoiled us for life.

We were on the road for quite a bit, but with the frequent stops it didn't feel like it at all. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and the fresh air was invigorating.

Nova Scotia: Peggy's Cove & Lunenburg

Recently, I went on a trip to Nova Scotia's South Shore with my friend, LD. We have a tradition of doing an annual trip, and now that we no longer live close to each other it feels like a great excuse for a reunion!

We flew into Halifax around lunchtime, picked up our rental car, and hit the road! LD booked a lovely B&B in Lunenburg (The Ashlea House) but we decided to stop at picturesque Peggy's Cove on the way. We had a great lunch at The Sou'wester by the lighthouse, including some yummy lobster dip! Lobster was always on the menu this trip.  You could even get it at gas stations.

After Peggy's Cove, we checked into our gorgeous home away from home. Ashlea House has a rich history (boardinghouse, brothel, you name it!) and the owners are the nicest people. We loved the three-story home, and the daily breakfasts with our fellow travelers were really fun... So much more personality than boring chain hotels! The house had porches, plush living rooms, and even a cupola and 'widow's walk' on top.  We also had a friendly mascot to show us around... Schooner the Toller dog!

And to top it all off, we had a walking path direct to the waterfront and all of Lunenburg's local restaurants and shops. Our first night, we toasted over a bottle of prosecco at Trattoria della Nonna, one of the nicest spots in town. (The orange building is part of the colorful "UNESCO Fresco".)  The food was outstanding, and the ambience was great to kick off our first day in Nova Scotia.

Trattoria della Nonna is the orange building in the middle.