I am writing this post from a blue, oversized Muskoka chair overlooking the ocean at White Point Beach Resort. It is the first day of summer, and the whole lodge is buzzing with the energy and excitement of the solstice.
White Point has long been a popular place for locals and vacationers. While the soothing ocean waters and peaceful walking trails make you feel like you are a world away, it is just a 1.5 hour drive from Halifax, making it the perfect staycation or vacation add-on.
It has been too long since my last visit. The last time I was here I was still in high school, up for a March Break escape with my family and my best friend. I remember how much fun we had stomping around the property in the snow, feeding the many bunnies and staying up late by the fireplace in the main lodge, feeling much older than our 16 years.
Since then, I’ve changed, and so has White Point. In 2011, tragedy struck when a fire reduced the main lodge to ashes. At the time, the loss felt like it struck the whole province of Nova Scotia. So many of us have memories here – family vacations, business meetings, romantic getaways, weddings – White Point has seen it all.
But in classic White Point style (their motto, afterall, is a simple but appropriate ‘Have a great day’), the lodge rose from the ashes, brighter and better than ever. They took the rebuild as an opportunity to make improvements on their ecological footprint and increase accessibility.
I arrived late last night and got my first look at the new White Point Beach Resort. The main lodge smells of fresh cut wood. It has high ceilings and light wooden beams contrasted with local ironwork fixtures and the occasional pop of weathered blue, red and yellow. It is light and airy and rustic all at once. The staff caught me gawking during check-in and asked if I had visited before the fire. I told them I had and that the new lodge is breathtaking. “Just wait until these beams see a few more years,” they said with a smile.
This morning, we welcomed the summer at a sunrise ceremony to recognize 10,000 years of Mi’kmaq presence. Our too-short sleep in our comfy White Point bed was rewarded by watching the sun rise in a circle of fellow guests while Elder Todd Labrador led us in a traditional Mi’kmaq ceremony.
It felt appropriate that my return to White Point occurred on a day of so much celebration and community spirit (although, I would hazard to guess that celebration and relaxation are frequently bursting at the freshly hewn beams of White Point Resort.) And now a whole new generation of locals and vacationers are all set to recall good times and create new memories at the lodge.
Take a virtual tour with us in the video below:
Location:
White Point Beach Resort
75 White Point Beach Resort Rd
White Point, Queens County, NS
Website: http://www.whitepoint.com/
Season: Year-Round
Note: As you can probably tell from our bio, title, and blog content, we are fierce supporters of the maritime provinces. 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. White Point covered the cost of our stay, a huge help in enabling us to continue providing posts on amazing places close to home. As always, the opinions in this post are our own.
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