If you’re looking for things to do in Nova Scotia, add these seven culinary adventures to your East Coast road trip itinerary.
If you're on East Coast Canada, here are the best Nova Scotia wineries and Nova Scotia breweries to visit this year.A sponsored post
From gorgeous glamping sites to yurt camping on a private island to floating cottages, here is our round-up of cool places to stay and cottage rentals in Nova Scotia for your next East Coast Canada road trip.
Stay in a Lakeside Vintage Trailer: Old Ten Spot Vintage Boler (New Albany)
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If you’re jonesing for a unique Airbnb in Nova Scotia, check out the Old Ten Spot Vintage Boler—a 1974 red trailer turned tiny house parked beside Zwicker’s Lake. It’s big enough to fit four guests and has an outdoor kitchen and deck for enjoying sunsets and soirees. It’s also steps from the shared beach and includes the use of two kayaks, a canoe, and a paddleboat. Really, what more do you need?
Sleep Under the Stars: Sky Bubble Hotel (Tusket)
Credit: Deep Sky Eye Observatory
Looking for rustic and romantic getaways in Nova Scotia? Here’s an idea: sleep under the stars in a heated Sky Bubble—a 16-foot tent with a transparent dome ceiling located in North America’s first certified Starlight Tourist Destination. Away from the light pollution, lie in your queen bed and watch the moon and shooting stars dart across the Milky Way. Join an evening education session to learn how to navigate the night sky using the constellations and get access to an observatory telescope. Bring marshmallows! There is a fire pit by the river for nightly campfires.
Go Yurt Camping: Private Island Yurt for Two (Blue Rocks)
Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Patrick Rojo
Want to feel like a billionaire without paying the big bucks? Stay in this dreamy hand-crafted yurt on a private island that overlooks the fishing shacks of Blue Rocks. The adventure, offered by Pleasant Paddling, starts with kayaking to a seal colony, followed by snorkelling hidden inlets and cycling coastal roads. Reaching the two-acre island, light up the campfire and get ready to star-gaze from your bed through the yurt’s skylight. You’ll awake to the sounds of birds, waves lapping the shore, and a delicious local breakfast. This is another one of the most romantic getaways in Nova Scotia!
Go Glamping in Nova Scotia: Geodesic Domes (Cape Breton)
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A post shared by Archer’s Edge | Cape Breton (@archersedgeluxurycamping)
Dome camping in Nova Scotia is trending big time, especially near Cape Breton Highlands National Park. There are countless options on Cape Breton Island: you can sleep in a dome treehouse at Treetop Village, which sits on an elevated deck with sweeping views of the Atlantic, Bird Islands and Cape Breton Highland Hills. Or for five-star luxury, check out True North Destinations—a dome that comes with a private hot tub and ocean views. The Blue Bayou Resort Campground offers dome tents located near Cape Breton Highlands National Park, and for a dome tent near the Ceilidh Trail, there’s Archer’s Edge Luxury Camping—a secluded cliffside retreat that promises sublime sunsets. Any of these dome tents are a nice break if you’re camping in Cape Breton, or just looking for a glamping getaway.
Wake Up on a Winery: Inn at the Winery at Grand-Pré Winery (Grand-Pré)
Spoiler alert: Atlantic Canada’s oldest farm winery is opening an inn on the vineyard this spring! Located in the Annapolis Valley next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Domaine de Grand Pré is utterly enchanting: wake up to rolling green hills, lush vineyards with ripening grapes, and some of the best wine in Canada. While you’re on the grounds, make sure to score a spot at the Chef’s Table Dining, where you and nine other guests enjoy a multi-course meal and intimate culinary experience with Chef Jason Lynch.
Sleep in a Lighthouse: Vicar’s View (Cape Breton)
If you’re visiting Cape Breton, book a stay at Vicar’s View—three lighthouse duplexes that are available for rent. Downstairs, there’s a garage to house your vehicle; and upstairs, there’s a spacious suite with a kitchenette and queen-sized bed. It’s the perfect place to stay after Cabot Trail hiking or a few days of camping in Cape Breton. Plus, Vicar’s View is located in historic Baddeck, where the main attraction is the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site—a museum that pays homage to the world-famous telephone inventor and overlooks the glorious Bras d’Or Lakes (a UNESCO Biosphere).
For Quirky Parks Canada Camping: Ôasis Pods (Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site)
For a fun Parks Canada campout, book a teardrop-shaped sleeping pod at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. There are five available, each accommodating two adults and up to 2 kids. The main level table converts into a bed, and kids can sleep in a suspended hammock loft above. This is a Parks Canada camping option that’s guaranteed to thrill the youngsters (as well as keep you dry if it rains).
For a Beautiful Boathouse: Ketch Floating Cottage (LaHave)
The pics you post of this dreamy floating home will make your followers green with envy. Launched this year, the Ketch Cottage is a gorgeous 400-square-foot floating home that’s fully equipped with a loft bedroom and modern amenities (including a loo). You’ll also get access to kayaks, a fire pit, and a sun-drench deck that’s perfect for barbecuing, fishing, or cannonballs into the river.
Live Large in a Tiny House Airbnb in Nova Scotia: Cabot Trail Tiny House Rentals (Cape Breton)
If you’re not down for camping or glamping on Cape Breton Island, live large in the Cabot Trail Tiny House Rentals—two tiny homes on wheels overlooking Margaree Harbour. Each house has been outfitted with all the essential amenities: A/C, smart TV, wi-fi, a kitchen, and most importantly, a flush toilet.
If you’re hiking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the Red House has a blissful soaker tub to ease your sore muscles. But the Boat House has a mini wood stove to spark romance. Take your pick! Both houses come with a deck that yields stunning sunsets over the water, as well as a shared outdoor campfire and beachfront for swimming, canoeing, or kayaking. This rental is steps from the world-famous Cabot Trail, and close to charming coastal towns.
Snooze in a Booze Distillery: The Tower Airbnb Halifax at Compass Distillers (Halifax)
Compass Distillers (Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: James Ingram)
This Halifax Airbnb is like no other: you can sleep at the top of the tower just steps from Compass Distillers Tasting Room. It’s got a pretty dope set-up: a two-bedroom apartment with harbour views and a rooftop deck with a barbecue. Make sure to book a distillery tour and tasting, as well as explore the crazy-good restaurants, bars, breweries, and more that are at your doorstep.
For a B&B in a Boat: La Boatique Floating B&B (Yarmouth)
Credit: La Boatique
Here’s one to float your boat: sleep in a B&B on the water! In Yarmouth, you can stay at La Boatique Floating B&B—a 14-metre (45-foot) motor cruiser docked at Killam’s Wharf. It’s super cute—equipped with a kitchenette, a salon, and enough beds to fit 5 people—and afterwards, you can brag about staying in the East Coast Canada’s first-ever floating B&B. Even better, the boat is steps to downtown, where you’ll find art galleries, a craft beer brewery, guided walking tours, museums, and other attractions.
Sleep in an Old Railcar: Tatamagouche Train Station Inn (Tatamagouche)
Credit: Photographer: @daveyandsky/Nova Scotia Tourism
Ever dreamed of spending the night in an old train station inn? Yes, you can at the Tatamagouche Train Station Inn! Owner Jimmie LeFresne converted these 1920s cabooses into a stationary bed and breakfast. The seven railcars have been renovated into rooms decorated with train memorabilia. In the evening, dine on seafood and steak in the Railway Dining Car, where staff are dressed in period train attire.
Stay in a Fort: Lartigue House Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site (Louisbourg)
Credit: Photographer: @janikrobichaud
For Parks Canada camping with a side of history, book this 18th-century-style stone cottage at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. The house can fit up to 4 people and comes with a propane camp stove, lanterns, and access to a fire pit. If the house is booked, you can also opt to camp in an 18th-century-style tent.
BEFORE YOU GO:
Due to the impact of COVID-19, make sure to check with the Nova Scotia tourism website for updates on travel restrictions. As of writing, Canadian travellers coming from outside Atlantic Canada can enter Nova Scotia with isolation requirements based on vaccination status and testing. More FAQs are answered here.
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