For our first Christmas together, my present to Gillian was a weekend away at Stonehame Chalets with brunch and a sleigh ride at Sugarmoon Farm. This set the tone for our relationship right away, establishing the shared value we place on experiences and time together over material things. There is no greater gift either of us could give to the other than more time together, especially when it involves escaping away somewhere.
This is essentially what led us to start The Local Traveler, and we spent many more weekends sequestered away at our hillside retreat in Pictou County. Unfortunately, Stonehame closed a couple years ago, and we’ve been on the hunt for a similar getaway ever since.
Our criteria for our perfect year-round retreat is at once specific and flexible. Removed from the hustle of the city and closer to nature is an absolute must (what aspect of nature is flexible). It must have something detached with capacity for us to cook our own meals: a cabin or a cottage. No wood stove or fireplace would be a deal breaker. We’ve found our new escape.
Oceanstone Resort is on the coast near Peggy’s Cove. It includes several styles of accommodations, from lodge rooms to cottages. The cottages, wood stoves included, could not be any closer to the water.
Each is unique, from the two-storey, three bedroom Captain’s Helm to the one room one bath Owl’s Nest. We were very pleased to be staying in the latter, with it’s queen size bed, deconditioned decor and its cozy warmth.
The drive alone is worth the trip. We watched the sun set over the ice covered St Margaret’s Bay during the 40 minute trip. Once we arrived, there was just enough sunset left to really take in the property. Gillian actually ran from the checkout desk mid conversation to catch some fleeting shots of the sun setting over the water.
We were staying in the Owls Nest, but we had a chance to sneak a peek at some of the regular rooms as well. We both loved that the rooms were grouped in small clusters, each with lots of common space. It would be great for a corporate retreat, family gathering, wedding party, or just to meet fellow travellers while still having your own space.
The attention to detail is bar none. The cabins and rooms all have carefully selected décor like driftwood bed frames, seashell accents, rustic wood furniture and a soft colour pallet. It feels welcoming, clean, and romantic with just enough antique accents. The owner has also carefully selected and dressed the beds. Between the just-right mattress, big plush pillows, and the sound and smell of the sea, we found it difficult to get out of bed.
But once we did, it was a mere 10 steps from our balcony to the sea. I enjoyed the view and sound over a coffee through the window. Despite the snow and winter chill, Gillian couldn’t resist a morning walk by the sea.
Our main regret was that we hadn’t discovered Oceanstone sooner. It is a popular Nova Scotia wedding spot, and we were both picturing how lovely a seaside ceremony would have been. The resort sleeps 75 and they can hold weddings with up to 110 people.
There is an independently owned, on-site restaurant called Rhubarb. Rhubarb is wonderful for a whole other list of reasons, which we’ll get into in our next post.
Oceanstone is difficult to describe with words. Check out our Two Minute Travel Tale on Oceanstone Resort and Rhubarb Restaurant below:
We love our little corner of the world dearly, and we want to show you as many amazing things to see and do here as we can. Thanks to Oceanstone Resort for inviting us to stay with them. It’s a huge help in enabling us to continue providing posts on amazing places close to home. The opinions in this post are, as always, our own.
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