After more than a year of worry, let us do the thinking for you.
Check out these four itineraries throughout Central Nova Scotia. Enjoy adventure, culture, nature, and just plain fun with your family and friends on the North Shore, Fundy Shore, Downtown Truro and Stewiacke.
The best part is, you get to mix and match and take as little or as much time as you like to make each experience your own.
Truro Buzz itineraries are proudly sponsored by Explore Central NS
Explore the North Shore
Grab your friends and head to the North Shore for a day of adventure and indulgence.
Start the day walking the picturesque Butter Trail in Tatamagouche. Work up an appetite for your lunch of seafood chowder on the patio of The Chowder House and enjoy artisan ice cream from Tatamagouche Ice Creamery just a couple of doors down for dessert.
Spend the afternoon checking out the exhibit at the Grace Jollymore Gallery or the Anna Swan museum at Creamery Square, before taking a short drive to Jost Vineyards in Malagash for a tour and an afternoon of wine tasting.
Loop back to enjoy dinner and live music on the patio of the new Nook and Cranny Tatamagouche restaurant. Be sure to pick up some local flavours from Tata Brew, Dexter’s Butcher Block and Jamieson’s General Store before you head home.
If you’re planning to spend a couple of days, there are many great overnight spots to choose from, including the Train Station Inn & Dining Car in Tatamagouche, Cambra Sands oceanfront cottages in nearby Malagash and Fox Harb’r Resort, which is just around the corner, with state of the art seaside golf, spa and horseback riding.
The Best of Both Worlds in Downtown Truro
If you’re looking to enjoy local food and shopping, while working in a scenic adventure on two wheels, plan to make a day of it in Downtown Truro.
Grab a morning coffee, tea, and treat at one of the many downtown cafés (or the Truro Farmers’ Market, if you happen to be in town on a Saturday morning).
Rent a bike at Hub Cycle or Bike Monkey and start the day with a biking adventure on the newly developed Railyard Trails just minutes away from the downtown core, at Victoria Park.
Whether you’re hungry for a burger, a salad, or a cup of chowder, head back downtown for lunch on one of the Inglis Street patios, including Hub Grub, Jimolly’s Bakery and Café, Bistro 22, or Great British Grub, just a couple blocks up Arthur Street. Spend the afternoon checking out all of the locally owned boutique shops that are sprinkled throughout downtown – My Home Mercantile, Truro Brewing Company, Thrown Together Pottery, Elegant Steps, Anther & Apiary and so many more.
Before taking in an evening show at the Marigold Cultural Centre, be sure to enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant, including the Blunt Bartender, Sauced Wood Fired Pizza, India Hut, or Parichat’s Asia Thai to name a few.
If you’re looking to spend the night, there are many inns, hotels, and bed and breakfasts to choose from. As an added incentive, if you book at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Truro, be sure to ask about our special rate.
Family Fun with a Mastodon
Kids and their parents are falling in love with the newly renovated Mastodon Ridge park just off the highway in Stewiacke. Spend the morning playing mini-golf at the brand new, state-of-the-art mini-golf course. Enjoy the petroglyphs that have been hand-carved by a local Mi’kmaq artist and burn off some energy at the Settlers Fun Fort and Flintstones play area.
There is a great selection of lunch options nearby, where you can enjoy your meal inside or outside. Grab some ice cream for dessert and then plan to spend the afternoon at one of the nearby parks.
Here are some options:
- Dennis Park playground is just three minutes down the road and offers a community garden, walking track, basketball court, natural playground, and outdoor fitness equipment.
- If you’d rather take a stroll along the Stewiacke River, a ten minute drive from Mastodon Ridge will take you to the Stewiacke River Park.
- The Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, featuring a wide variety of animals and birds, is just a ten minute drive away.
- A fifteen minute drive down the highway will bring you to the Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Centre or more outdoor adventures at the newly renovated Fundy Discovery site playground and tidal bore.
A pro tip for parents: Before heading out of Stewiacke, be sure to take a peek at the wide selection of spirits and liqueurs at Coldstream Clear Distillery.
Seafood, Adventure, That View, Oh My!
For the couple who is looking for a healthy balance of adventure and relaxation, while taking in stunning views and tasting delicious local flavours, look no further than the Fundy Shore.
Start your day out at the Five Islands Lighthouse Park, where you can take in the panoramic view, including all Five Islands as well as Cape Blomidon and Cape Split. Access the gravel beach, take advantage of the 1 km of walking paths, or simply take in the oceanfront view and feel the wind off the Bay of Fundy.
Make your way to some delicious, Nova Scotia-famous fried clams for lunch at Diane’s Restaurant, just a couple of minutes down the road. Grab an Insta-worthy pic in their giant Adirondack chairs before taking a 20-minute drive to Bass River, where you can check out the Joy Laking Art Gallery (open by appointment or chance) and see all of the beauty of Nova Scotia through an artists’ eyes. If you are interested in doing a bit of treasure hunting, the Great Village Antique Shops are just a few minutes down the road and full of treasures waiting to be snatched up.
End your day at the Masstown Market (a 40-minute drive from where you started at the Five Islands Lighthouse Park), where you can enjoy – yes, more seafood – at the Catch of the Bay Fresh Fish Market or a light meal at the Market Restaurant. Be sure to grab an ice cream cone on your way out and stock up on fresh baked goods and local produce, meat and cheese, before heading home.