7 essential stops along Nova Scotia’s Sunrise Trail

Historic towns, spectacular ocean views, rural landscapes, and vibrant communities make Nova Scotia’s northeastern shore one of the province’s best hidden gems. With fewer tourists than other areas, it’s an ideal place to fall in love with authentic Nova Scotia.

“People do not realize how beautiful it is, that we are so close to water in every community, and the many events that take place,” says Cindy MacKinnon, managing director at Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores. “There truly is something for every taste.”    

There’s no better way to take it all in than by a leisurely, scenic drive along the nearly 200-mile Sunrise Trail. You can drive the entire stretch from Amherst to Cape Breton Island in one day, but two to three days are recommended to make the most of the many experiences and sights along the way.

Read on to discover seven of the best detours along the Sunrise Trail.

1. Village of Tatamagouche

Denise DaviesTatamagouche Train Station Inn

The Tatamagouche Train Station is a must-stop for transportation and history buffs. Explore the century-old train station museum, and stop in the rail dining car for a delicious lunch in a nostalgic ambiance. When you’ve run out of steam, you can head to the cabooses and boxcars, which have been converted to a step-into-the-past inn with deluxe accommodations.

Stroll around Tatamagouche to visit other restaurants with local fare, the Tatamagouche Craft Brewery, and Creamery Square Heritage Centre for a history of the Sunrise Trail. Explore the nearby Balmoral Grist Mill, a working gristmill from 1874, in a picturesque wooded setting. There, you can see grains being ground, sifted, and turned into flour, just like they would have in local farming’s heyday.

2. Seafoam Lavender Gardens

Denise DaviesSeafoam Lavender Gardens

Rows of lavender plants flow up the hillside in this peaceful rural setting along the Northumberland Strait. The lavender color theme is carried throughout the area, from the exterior of Seafoam Lavender Company & Gardens’ gift shop to the lavender wooden chairs set up across the grounds.

“Visitors most commonly remark about the wonderful aroma they experience when stepping out of their vehicles,” says Dave Belt, co-owner of Seafoam Lavender Company & Gardens. “[It’s] a delightful blend of ocean spray, pine forest, freshly-cut grass, and — of course — the light hint of lavender.” The best time to visit is usually around mid- to late July, Belt notes; that’s when the lavender is typically either budding or blooming (however, seasonal weather patterns do greatly impact this window). In season, you can also pick your own lavender bouquet.

The lavender shop has over 60 products made on site, including lavender herbs, jelly, and hand cream. Take these goodies home to continue enjoying your lavender experience throughout the year.

3. Pictou Scottish Heritage

Denise DaviesThe Hector in Pictou

In 1773, 189 Scottish settlers arrived in the town of Pictou aboard a three-mast schooner, The Hector. Today, the multi-storied Hector Quay Museum offers guests a look back in time at the early days of Nova Scotia (which means New Scotland) through immersive videos, dioramas, and exhibits. Next door, check out the Northumberland Fisheries Museum and its live lobster hatchery.

Travelers can also stroll scenic Pictou with a virtual walking guide. They’ll discover a variety of restaurants dotting the waterfront and the 25-mile Jitney Trail, which starts from the harbour and joins the Trans Canada Trail.

4. Steinhart Distillery

Perched on a hill with a spectacular view of Arisaig Harbour, stop for a refreshing tour of international award-winning Steinhart Distillery. Local ingredients — rhubarb, strawberries, maple syrup, cranberries, and haskap berries — are added as key elements of Steinhart gins and vodkas to create unique Nova Scotia spirits.  You can sample, shop, take a tour, and eat outdoors at the on-site Schnitzel house.

5. Arisaig Harbour

Denise DaviesArisaig Harbour

Smell the salty ocean air while visiting the Arisaig Lighthouse for an ice cream cone in July or August. The rocks surrounding the lighthouse are striped with beautiful greens, browns, and greys and look out to the offshore tiny rocky islands inhabited only by sea birds.

Order a lobster roll at The Dockside Café in the nearby Lobster Interpretive Centre and sit on the upper deck with a view of the crescent-shaped sandy beach below. Road trippers can learn about the life of lobsters and the fishing industry through the center’s displays and videos.

Wet your toes and along the sandy beach and search for shells or driftwood.

The treasure hunting inclined can search for fossils at the nearby Arisaig Provincial Park.

6. Cape George Lighthouse

Denise DaviesCape George Lighthouse

The iconic Cape George Lighthouse sits high on the headlands overlooking St. George’s Bay. Watch the eagles, sea gulls, and terns in flight soaring above the waves and the hazy lands of Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton on the horizon. Hikers will find the nearby trailhead for the Cape George Trail with a series of connecting loops of varying lengths and difficulty leading through wooded areas and streams.

Continue on the Sunrise Trail on highway 337 to Antigonish, locally called the Mini Trail. This breathtaking trip winds along the coast with ocean views of Ballantyne’s Cove and its Tuna fisheries, Jim Town Beach, Mahoney’s Beach, and rolling hillside farms.

7. Town of Antigonish

Denise DaviesAntigonish Landing

Antigonish, “The Small Town with a Big Heart,” is a great place to spend a night or two. Stroll Main Street and enjoy the lively arts and culture scene.

“Music, theatre, visual art, craft, is found in quality and abundance in the community,” says Rosemary Curry, owner of the Red Sky Gallery, which hosts book readings, artist talks, and popup galleries featuring local artists. Visit The People’s Place to view the latest art exhibit and find out what’s happening while you are in town.

When you get hungry or thirsty in Antigonish, there’s no shortage of options. Sip on a blueberry spritzer at the Tall and Small, a cafe with a down home feel, enjoy live Irish tunes at the Townhouse Pub while sampling a local brew, or take in gourmet dining of local seafood Gabriau’s Bistro. Cap off the evening with live theatre at the Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre. 

Looking for some fresh air? Walk along the Antigonish Landing Trail and you are likely to sight eagles, ducks, seabirds, and striking views of this protected wetland area. The trail starts near the Antigonish Heritage Museum, where you can enjoy the local summer ceilidh season with fiddlers and pipers on Thursday evenings — just one of many don’t-miss experiences that blends Nova Scotia’s traditions with its lively community.

Denise DaviesPipers march in Antigonish