Northumberland Shore is a coastal region located along the northern mainland of Nova Scotia (right across from PEI). Known for it’s warm beaches, fresh seafood, celtic heritage, wine, and more .. planning a trip here may be a little overwhelming with so many wonderful things to do.
Here is our 4 day - 3 night itinerary to help you start planning your very own Northumberland Shore Tour someday!
Note : all of these places with the exception of indoor dining are dog friendly for all you doggie families out there.
Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for the listed abbreviated version.
DAY 1
Visit: Jost Vineyards
A must visit right away is the stunning coastal winery of Jost Vineyards. Pop in and discover your new favourite wine at their tasting bar, indulge in a locally inspired menu from their Seagrape Cafe, or stroll the beautiful grounds. This place is adorable.
Stay: Fox Harb’r Resort
Next, check into the 5-star Fox Harb’r Resort and explore the property by horseback or bike. Keep an eye out for seals and more species of birds than you can count! While a golf course as well, you don’t have to be a golfer to fall in love with this luxurious yet cozy spot.
Dine: At Fox Harb’r
You won’t want to miss experiencing Fox Harbr’s locally-sourced cuisine, catering to both casual dining at The Willard, or fine dining at Cape Cliff. Sit out on the patio to toast the sunset.
End your evening by treating yourself to a bubble bath of course.
Day 2
Visit : Amazing Beaches
After having a relaxing morning at Fox Harb’r, it’s time to spend some time on the beach! Northumberland Shores is known as a beach lovers paradise and has the most warm-water beaches in Atlantic Canada. We visited Blue Sea Beach Provincial Park and Rushtons Beach Provincial Park - highly recommend both!
Visit: Remember Adventures for a Kayak
Next head into the town of Tatamagouche and rent a kayak from Remember Adventures. “Gran” (Mary) will pack your kayak with snacks, water, maps, and all the gear before telling you everything you need to know about paddling around Tatamagouche’s Waughs River. This is such a fun way of experiencing the area!
Stay: Train Station Inn
When in Tatamagouche you MUST to check out this unique century old train station. Each caboose and boxcar has been restored and transformed into a place to stay giving visitors a unique and comfortable accommodation experience, complete with an onsite cafe, shop, dining car, and dining platform. Not often you can say you slept in a train from the 1900’s!
Eat : Chowder House & Tatamagouche Brewing Co.
Tatamagouche has a great selection of places to eat or grab a beer. We loved dining at the Chowder House followed with a stroll through town and a Tata Brew afterwards.
Here are a few other places to eat :
- Big Al’s
- Appleton Chocolates
- Train Station Inn
- Derado’s Pizzeria and Donair
- Tipperary Bakery & Cafe
Day 3
Start the morning off with breakfast at the Train Station Inn.
Coffee on a train platform? How neat!
Visit : Back to Remember Adventures for a Buggy
Riding form the Train Station Inn, you can get to the Creamery Square within a few minutes. Plan it right and be there on a Saturday to experience the Farmers Market, Boat Shop, Grain Elevator shops, Art Centre, and Heritage Centre museum filled with local and Nova Scotian history - including an exhibit on Anna Swan.
After you’re done your buggy travels, get back in your car and take the scenic drive from Tatamagouche to Pictou Lodge. Along the way there are beaches, shops, and roadside photo ops you might come across as well! Like a fun sunflower patch or going out of your way to see the Balmoral Grist Mill.
Stay : Pictou Lodge Beach Resort
Check into the Pictou Lodge where there are chalets, cabins, and hotel rooms to suit every travellers favourite way to stay. Enjoy a walk along the beach, challenge someone to beach volleyball, take a swim in the heated salt water pool, or go for a paddle around Grahams Pond.
Eat : Pictou Lodge
Dine with a view of the water and sunset in Pictou Lodge’s oceanside dining room. The food here is so delicious and their Bluenose cocktail was the perfect way to celebrate the Bluenose II sailing nearby. After dinner, relax by a bonfire and watch the moon shimmer over the water.
Day 4
In the morning.. As comfy as your bed will be and you will probably want to sleep in, sunrises here are not to be missed! Thankfully, you only have to walk outside your doorstep to catch it. Or if you’re feeling ambitious you can drive to a lighthouse and watch it there. Spend your morning lounging around, take a walk along the Caribou-Munroes Island Beach, and enjoy a fabulous breakfast at the lodge.
While you will be sad to leave Pictou Lodge, heading home through the Town of Pictou (aka the birthplace of New Scotland) will give you one more place to enjoy shopping and time by the water. We’ve heard that the Ship Hector is a must experience as well!
We hope you enjoyed reading about these Northumberland Shore adventures and this little snippet of our itinerary helps you plan your own trip here. Special thanks to Tourism Nova Scotia for having us tour this stunning region. We had an absolute blast and are already looking forward to doing it all over again in winter to visit Sugar Moon Farm then again in summer to hit up any beaches we missed.
Feel free to message us on social media @daveyandsky with any questions you have from this trip. Check out the abbreviated version below.
Day 1:
Jost Vineyards
Fox Harb’r
Horseback / Bike ride at Fox Harb’r
Cape Cliff Dining or The Willard
Day 2 :
Blue Sea Beach or Rushtons Beach
Remember Adventures for a kayak trip
Train Station Inn
Walk around Tatamagouche
Chowder House
Tata Brew
Day 3 :
Breakfast at Train Station Inn
Remember Adventures for a pedal buggy
Creamery Square
Grain Elevator Shops
Tatamagouche Farmers Market
The Grace Jollymore Joyce Art Centre
Creamery Square Heritage Centre/Museum
Drive to Pictou Lodge
Dine at Pictou Lodge
Day 4 :
Sunrise and beach walks at Pictou Lodge
Caribou-Munroes Island Provincial Park Beach
Town of Pictou
* While this post was sponsored by Tourism Nova Scotia for the #CreatorCoast campaign, all opinions expressed are our own. *