Surfing at Western Head
Southwest Nova Scotia is one of the best birding destinations in Canada, supporting a diversity of species. Cape Sable Island has been designated an important breeding and migration site for the endangered piping plover. Some of the best birdwatching can be done at Sand Beach in Western Head and Kejimkujik Seaside. Too bad surfers...it’s no longer a secret that Nova Scotia, and especially the South Shore, has some of the best surfing spots in the North Atlantic. The heart of our region, and the centre of the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site abound with untamed natural beauty, wildlife, and Mi’kmaw history. Travel through time with a Mi’kmaw interpreter to explore petroglyphs etched by the first people or paddle the Mersey River, an ancient Mi’kmaw waterway. Or at night,
take in the stars and the universe at the Dark Sky Preserve, one of the best night sky views in North America. Back along the shore, visit Kejimkujik Seaside as well as Thomas Raddall Provincial Park. Sand dunes, secluded beaches, and some of the finest surfing opportunities are in Queens County and in Lockeport. Surf at White Point, where the best waves are August through November. In this region, you’ll also be delighted to discover some of the country’s best golf courses, world-renowned fine dining, incredible boutique shopping, and engaging live theatre and music. Browse our art galleries and crafters’ studios for just the right memento of your visit. And stop by one of our myriad festivals: Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival & Antique Fair, New Ross Christmas Festival, Chester Race Week, The Big Ex in Bridgewater, Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Lunenburg Folk Art Festival, Boxwood Music Festival, Privateer Days, Liverpool, Shelburne Lobster Festival, and The Harmony Bazaar Festival of Women & Song in Lockeport.
The South Shore
beach, listen to the waves crashing into cliff-side sea caves in Ovens Natural Park, explore salt marshes and tidal inlets teeming with shorebirds, or book a boat tour to spot whales, seals, and porpoises playing in the surf offshore.
Photo: Colin Machaffie
15