The Nova Scotia Authentic Seacoast

How can a place that has been continuously settled since 1629 be off-the-beaten track? Good question. All we know is that we you come to visit, you get away from the tourist track to connect with real people in a seacoast village where folks still stop to say hi on the street. It's not that there aren't creature comforts. There's a luxury inn that received Nova Scotia's Cuisine of the Year award, an oceanfront golf resort that makes it hard to keep your eyes on the ball, a harbour front special events facility and a gift store that features the best in local crafts & art.

The Authentic Seacoast 101 is your crash course on what to do on the Authentic Seacoast with a list of more than 101 things to do when you visit beautiful Chedabucto Bay.

Your Nova Scotia travel adventure starts here Authentic Seacoast

There may be more things to do on the Authentic Seacoast than any other place in Nova Scotia, so here's a crash course on more than 101 things do on Nova Scotia's largest bay.

Welcome to Authentic Seacoast 101.

With more than 600 kilometres of shoreline stretching from the southern shore of Cape Breton Island to the very easternmost point of mainland Nova Scotia, there's a lot to cover here.

Let's start with a history lesson. It is believed that Prince Henry Sinclair first landed on the shores of Chedabucto Bay in 1398, almost 100 years before Columbus landed in the new world. And people just kept coming. Portuguese, French, British. In fact the village of Guysborough has been continuously settled since 1629 making it one of the oldest communities in North America.

There is exceptional wildlife on Chedabucto Bay with fin, minke pothead & beluga whales. Find seals sunning on harbour rocks and wharves. Bald eagles are everywhere. And Osprey's too. There's a family of foxes that live under the 5th hole green at Osprey Shores Golf Resort. See gannets diving for herring in the Canso Strait. On the Coastal Barrens Wilderness area you'll find gulls, cormorants, herons, terns and the Common Eider nesting.

And we can't forget the beaches. Lots of them. Some of the best in Nova Scotia. Tor Bay beach is wild. Port Shoreham Beach has the best beachcombing. And Black Duck Cove has some of the East Coast's warmest waters for wading.

How about trails? The first leg of the Trans Canada Trail in Nova Scotia starts at Chedabucto Bay. Chapel Gully Trail takes you along the easternmost point of mainland Nova Scotia.

And there's the fishing. And wild blueberry picking. Fishing wharves. Historic sites. The Chedabucto Bay Lobster Festival.

We could go on and on, but check out the Authentic Seacoast 101 yourself and discover the East Coast as it's meant to be.

Then you'll know what we mean when we say life is better on the Bay.

DesBarres Manor Inn brings casual luxury to the Authentic Seacoast. Built in 1837 for Supreme Court Justice W.F. DesBarres, this stately bed & breakfast inn is the oldest lodging establishment in Nova Scotia. In addition to 10 luxurious guest rooms, the Manor has a Parlour Room cocktail bar with a large collection of games for a friendly contest over a glass of wine or port. Nova Scotia's 2008 Cuisine of the Year, the fireside dining room is defined by the Manor's original hearth fireplace and French doors open to a deck that sweeps along the side to a large gazebo that is a popular spot for weddings. And six acres of landscaped grounds gives you room to let the tension of the city slide away.

The recipient of Nova Scotia's 2008 Cuisine of the Year Award and three Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence, DesBarres Manor is a destination for people seeking the best in contemporary East Coast cuisine. Special culinary highlights include the Chedabucto Bay Lobster Festival held in May & June, the Ice Wine Festival dinners in February and the Fall Wine Festival Dinners.

Visit DesBarres Manor Inn online here DesBarres Manor Inn

Osprey Shores Golf Resort is the Authentic Seacoast's ocean side retreat. Nestled between the sheltered waters of Mussel Cove and the harbour facing Cutler Cove, Osprey Shores Resort comes to life on a 60 acre peninsula.

The resort's 10 room guest lodge provides premier accommodations with nice touches like chiropractic mattresses, coffee makers, robes, Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries and porches looking over Mussel Cove.

The historic clubhouse is a step back in time with exposed post & beam timbers from another century. The lounge has post game drinks and sandwiches and offers a complimentary continental breakfast for lodge guests. There is a full pro shop for golfers travelling light.

And then there's the recreation. Golf of course. A challenging nine hole course that gets great reviews from golfers for it's fabulous views. A 130 foot dock and private launch in Mussel Cove. An outdoor swimming pool. And lots of games including volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, bicycles and bonfire pit.

Visit Osprey Shores online here Osprey Shores Golf Resort

The The Rare Bird is the Authentic Seacoast's fun uncle. Housed in the historic Jost building on the Guysborough harbour, the Rare Bird & Eatery is one of Nova Scotia's most unique oceanfront restaurants. Home to the Authentic Seacoast Brewing Company, the Rare Bird was chosen by Where Magazine as one of Canada's 10 great craft beer destinations. It has one of the best patios in Nova Scotia and inside there's room for 180 of your closest friends. Many of the best names have played the Rare Bird Stage making it a hot spot for Nova Scotia music. At The Rare Bird, it's East Coast as she's meant to be.

The historic Hart Building on the Guysborough harbour is the home of Skipping Stone Crafts & Gallery.

Skipping Stone is the place where you can find a special memento of the Authentic Seacoast to take home with you when you leave this getaway by the sea. The store features the work of local Nova Scotia artists and artisans to create a unique collection of gifts that are distinctly East Coast.