The Eastern Shore offers an escape from the city, where you can watch surfers catch waves from the beach, hike along the ocean, or settle down in a cozy café.
Eastern Shore Region Listings
What to See
The drive down the Eastern Shore passes wetlands, forests, and sweeping ocean views. Marine Drive offers glimpses of the Wild Islands Coast, while the route through West Chezzetcook and Lawrencetown reveals rolling landscapes and waves crashing along the shore.
The region is known for its uncrowded white-sand beaches. Martinique Beach Provincial Park, the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia, is ideal for a day at the beach watching surfers or for an evening walk as the sun sets. The drive down East Petpeswick Road is beautiful in its own right, and locals will often wave as you pass.
Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park’s gently rolling waves, warm tidal stream, and hiking trails make it one of the region’s favourite beaches, known for its wide-open space and gorgeous sunsets.
Things to Do
Head to Clam Harbour with the knowledgeable team from Memory Lane Heritage Village for a hands-on clam-digging experience. After working up an appetite on the shore, return to the village to enjoy a fresh clam feast.
Learn about the Acadians, descendants of 17th- and 18th-century French settlers, at L’Acadie de Chezzetcook. Watch demonstrations of ancestral skills, browse regional artifacts, and enjoy Acadian dishes at La Cuisine de Brigitte.
Unwind while browsing Steeple Green Books in Musquodoboit Harbour, a church-turned-bookstore filled with affordable titles from every genre. Bonus: meet the store’s dog, Frank, and cat, Boo.
Where to Eat
Dine on a 40-acre homestead at Lupin Dining in Musquodoboit Harbour. Wander the surrounding land where much of the food is sourced, along with ingredients from other local producers, then settle in for a memorable farm-to-table meal. Stop by the pantry on your way out for fresh bread, homemade preserves, and take-and- bake meals.
Try a Polish treat or sausage roll from Martinique Desserterie & Delicatessen in Musquodoboit Harbour. Pick up fresh produce from Uprooted Market & Café, or stay for a sandwich and soup with a latte along with a crumble bar or scone. In West Chezzetcook, settle in at the Rose & Rooster Café for brunch or lunch, sip your coffee on the back deck, and take in the ocean views.
For smashburgers and comfort food with creative twists, head to Bentley’s Burgers & Fries in West Chezzetcook. Note that it is cash only.
Enjoy Welsh Afternoon Tea from 2 to 4 pm at the Henley House in Sheet Harbour. Next door, find Sober Island Brewing Co. for inventive brews like their Oyster Stout, made with Nova Scotian oysters. Try it in their seasonal beer garden, or at their Musquodoboit Harbour location (also seasonal).
Unwind by the sea at the The Mermaid Eatery, known for seaside classics and a menu with German influence, including thoughtful options for those with gluten allergies.
Go for a Walk
Take a 15-kilometre hike on the Musquodoboit Trailway, passing the Musquodoboit River and connecting to tougher but rewarding routes that lead to stunning lookouts deep in nature.
Further along the shore lies Psyche Cove Beach, with clear but chilly turquoise water and white sand. One of the province’s most striking coastal areas, it is part of Taylor Head Provincial Park, which offers three hikes across 16 kilometres of trails leading to scenic lookoffs and secluded beaches. Check out the Friends of Taylor Head Society for free guided hikes throughout the summer and fall.
Take a 6.8-kilometre walk through an abandoned railbed from East Chezzetcook to Musquodoboit Harbour on the Gaetz Brook Greenway. Look for wooden art sculptures along the route through the woods and wetlands. In Sheet Harbour, stroll the West River Falls Boardwalk to see the waterfall.
Find more than 750 daylilies and incredible views of Jeddore Harbour at Harbour Breezes Daylilies. It’s a gardener’s dream and a great place to pick up homemade jams and bulbs.
