Your No-Fail Lunenburg County Vacation Guide

Regardless of season, Lunenburg is a great spot for a day-trip.  It’s just a 50-minute drive from Halifax or a 75 minute drive from Kentville, but it feels like a much grander adventure.  The town of Lunenburg is one of three Unesco World Heritage sites in Nova Scotia.  It received this honour because it is one of the best examples of a classic British colonial settlement.

@DrewMooreNS and I have spent a lot of time in and around Lunenburg during both warm and cold months.  It is one of our favourite spots to find multiple adventures within walking distance. Below, we’ve summarized some of our top things to do on a day-trip to Lunenburg.

1. Lunch or dinner at The Grand Banker:
There is no shortage of great restaurants in the town of Lunenburg, but time and time again, The Grand Banker has proven to be one of our favourite spots to grab a beer and a bite to eat.  It was one of our top 5 for the @TasteofNS Chowder Trail, and Drew’s top pick on his South Shore Fish and Chips Tour.

Why do we love it so much?  On top of the fact that it has great-tasting pub-style food that uses many local ingredients (mussels steamed in @GarrisonBrewing Tall Ship Amber anyone?) the atmosphere is awesome.  It is low-lit, clean and comfortable with lots of booth seating and the layout makes it feel private even when it’s busy.

ovens5

2. A Trip to The Ovens:
This place is a true NS gem.  Located 20 minutes from the town of Lunenburg, The Ovens marks the site of an old gold mine.  Today, you can stroll along the water and walk right down into the old mining caves.   Expect a great walk, amazing views and some interesting NS history.  You can read more about The Ovens here.

3. Petite Riviere Winery:
Petite Riviere Winery (@PetiteRiviere) is open year round, but has limited hours during the winter months so make sure you phone ahead.  We have yet to visit in cold weather but in the summer months it is a pretty spot, with a great wrap-around balcony overlooking the vineyard.

4. Lunenburng County Winery:
Lunenburg county winery is a fruit winery.  They are best known for their blueberry wines (in dry, medium and sweet), but the winery also carries an impressive array of other fruit based wines.  We really liked the raspberry wine. The fruit is purchased from a nearby farmer each year and fermented into a limited run of wine.

5. Indian Falls:
Just around the corner from the Lunenburg County Winery is an awesome little spot where you can do some cliff jumping.  Those with a fear of heights can skip the jump and take a swim, have a picnic, or take a scenic walk through the surrounding walking trails.

ironworks

6. Ironworks Distillery:
If you want to keep the liquor samples flowing, head to Ironworks Distillery (@Ironworks_NS).  If you aren’t familiar with Ironworks, they are an artisan liquor distillery with products ranging from blueberry liqueur to dark rum to Pear Eau De Vie. We talk about Ironworks on here a lot, you can read more about them here.

7. Shopping Downtown Lunenburg:
If you haven’t been shopping in Lunenburg, you’re really missing out.  The downtown area is filled with shops that carry unique artisan products, sustainable fashion options, high-quality souvenirs and everything in between.  Some of our favourites are Jenny Jib (@JennyJib), Luvley and Dots & Loops (@DotsLoopsShop).

8. The Fisheries Museum:
Learn about the history of the fishing industry in Atlantic Canada, see Bluenose memorabilia, and check out the aquarium!  The Fisheries Museum (@FisheriesMuseum) should be a mandatory stop for any Lunenburg day-trip. It is fun and educational, and often has interactive elements.  On our most recent trip, we helped launch a mini-version of the Bluenose!

9. The Waterfront:
There is so much to see and do in Lunenburg, but we’d be remiss not to mention the stunning views.  On our first joint trip, we spent most of it out on a pier, watching the ships go by, and on every subsequent adventure we take at least a few minutes to sit back and appreciate the view.

Lunenburn Market Nova Scotia Blueberries

10. The Lunenburg Farmers Market:
A wonderful open air market outside of the arena that has tons of fresh produce and many local favourites such as Schoolhouse Gluten-free Bakery (@SHGlutenFree), Laughing Whale Coffee and many more.  The market runs Thursday mornings during the summer.

Follow our adventures live:
@GillianWesleyNS
@DrewMooreNS

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About the author

The Local Traveler

Two travellers' tales of finding adventure on the East Coast. This blog is dedicated to the best parts of travel, and to discovering, celebrating and promoting things to do in our corner of the world, and sometimes beyond. We especially love craft beer, day trips, romantic escapes, local food & hidden gems. Join our community on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and share tips and photos of your favourite East Coast adventures.

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