Angela from Green Way Claymore Inn and Antigonish Conference Centre suggests the following things to do in Antigonish. St. Francis Xavier University The 18 Hole, Antigonish Golf and Country Club International Riverside Speedway Snow Queen Leisure World Columbus Field Play Ground Provincial Beaches at Pomquet, Bayfield and Arisaig Piping plover at Pomquet Beach Hiking parks at Fairmount, Cape George and Beaver Mountain Geological Arisaig Provincial Park Antigonish Heritage Museum Frasers Mill Fish Hatchery Wright’s River and the West River Fishing

Read more

Peggy’s Cove is likely the cutest seaside town you have ever seen.  Depending on the route you take (I prefer the taking Highway 103 from Halifax and connecting to Highway 333 so that you pass through French Village and Indian Harbour before reaching Peggy’s Cove.) you will need 40 – 50 minutes to drive to Peggy’s Cove.  During the busy seasons, it’s recommended to arrive early so as to avoid crowds. You have to plan to drive back or continue on somewhere else, because Peggy’s Cove is primarily for looking, not staying.  The town captures the essence of an Atlantic […]

Read more

The town of Wolfville offers tourists and residents its picturesque views and small town charm. It is nestled in the fertile Annapolis Valley, about 100 kms northwest of Halifax. Here the high tides of the Bay of Fundy rush in and out of what is described as one of the smallest bays in the world. Wolfville was originally settled by the Acadians and was named Mud Creek. Today it has a population of approximately 3800 full time residents though this number doubles during the school year when students arrive to attend Acadia University. This influx of energetic youth gives way […]

Read more

On April 15, 1912, the most famous ocean liner in the word sank at the will of an iceberg and the arrogance of shipbuilders.  Many Canadian ports were involved in the rescue and recovery operation.  Halifax had the sad task of being a victim identification centre and explains why three Halifax cemeteries hold graves from this tragedy. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (located at 1675 Lower Water Street Halifax) has a permanent exhibit, which was updated with new artefacts including a mortuary bag and a carved table leg.  Many Titanic artefacts have been spread all over Atlantic Canada – […]

Read more

My wife inherited the Stewart House, which has been in her family since it was built, so we like to get the local Grand Pre history correct. The story of the Acadians has, over the years, been as much about myth as history.  It was popularized by an American writer who never actually came to Nova Scotia.  The basic story line is:  the French settled Nova Scotia through land grants to Seigner d’Aulnay de Charnisay and Charles de la Tour.  A fortress village was constructed at Port Royal, near the town of Annapolis Royal.  Despite the harsh winters, the peasants […]

Read more

Many people know the name Acadian or Acadia, but probably would be hard-pressed to be sure who they were talking about.  When you visit Nova Scotia, it’s good to have the basics so you can better enjoy the various Acadian cultural artefacts and events. In the 1600s 500 French settlers colonized Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, calling the area Acadie, and prospered and, in the 1750s, their numbers were about 14,000. Unfortunately, the British had claimed Nova Scotia as its colony.  In 1755, Acadians were rounded up for an unwilling deportation.  Over 6000 Acadians were put on boats bound for elsewhere, […]

Read more

What’s going on in this town? They grow giant women …Anna Swan, giantess, who joined the P.T. Barnum Circus was born here – a wee 18 pounds – she has her own (large) museum. Real men wear Liederhossen …Oktoberfest, the largest beer and sausage party east of Kitchener Ontario. Sleeping on a train gets you nowhere …Sleep in a parked caboose or the Station Master’s residence at the Train Station Inn, (hay and hobo extra). Watching the women leave town is entertainment …A hit CBC reality show was filmed here, proving that when the women leave town there’s lots of […]

Read more

I’ve always loved Anne Murray’s voice and sang along to her songs! She’s been a famous part of Canadian music for decades. (Remember Snowbird?) If you’re an Anne Murray fan and touring north-western Nova Scotia, her hometown of Springhill is worth a stop. In between Amherst (about 32 km away) and Truro (about 89 km away), Springhill is situated in the Cobequid Mountain Range. Originally Springhill was a flourishing mining town until too many accidents finally led to mine closures. It’s remembered especially for its “big bump” accident in 1958 that claimed 75 lives. If you want to learn more […]

Read more

Sense of direction can be a little confusing in Cape Breton for those “from away”. Cape Bretoners talk about Down North – diametrically contrary to most people who go “down south” and “up north”. After all, the world spins sort of upright with the top being north and the bottom, south, doesn’t it? Things become stranger when you hear them talking about going “down to Sydney” and “up to Halifax”. To get to either city you have to drive east or west on Highways 104 and 105 West! How does that fit? OK. Let’s overlook the finer points of the […]

Read more