Lunenburg

Lunenburg Harbour

Lunenburg is one of the main stops on Nova Scotia’s tourist trail.

The fishing town, just an hour’s drive from Halifax, is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list for its perfectly preserved British colonial architecture.

Many of the colourful wooden houses that line the harbour date from the 18th century.

What to do
Lunenburg is home to the Bluenose II, a replica of the original legendary Bluenose schooner, several historic churches, and a beautiful old town full of shops and restaurants.

There’s also Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic – far more interesting than the name implies and a great place to take the family for an afternoon, especially if it’s raining.

For more ideas, stop in at the Visitor Information Centre at the top of Blockhouse Hill Road. From May to October it’s open every day. The rest of the year, it’s open mornings only from 9am to 1pm.

Just along the coast from Lunenburg is Mahone Bay, another stunning waterfront stop with strong ties to the sea. If you’re basing yourself in Lunenburg for a couple of nights, you could easily drive down to see this equally charming spot.

Where to stay
The Homeport Motel takes the cake for budget accommodation in Lunenburg. High season rates come in at under $100 for an air conditioned room with a fridge, microwave, internet access and complimentary tea and coffee. The only downside is that the hotel is slightly outside the main part of town, making strolling between your room and the main sights a little more time consuming than more central options. Address: 167 Victoria Road, Lunenburg Telephone: 1-800-616-4411 Website: Homeport Motel

Where to eat
Set in a bright yellow house in downtown Lunenburg, Fleur De Sel is one of Nova Scotia’s most renowned restaurants. It’s even gaining a reputation nationwide so if you want to sample the fine cuisine on offer here, you’d better book ahead. The menu, with its European flair, changes regularly with the seasons and the Sunday Brunch is to die for. Address: 53 Montague Street, Lunenburg Telephone: 1-902-640-2121 or 1-877-723-7258 Email: [email protected] Open: May 20th – October 31st, closed Mondays Website: Fleur de Sel

Breakfast at Fleur de Sel

With a fine wine list, polished Italian cuisine and its beautiful setting, Trattoria Della Nonna is where to head if you’re craving a bit of gnocchi or a pizza from the brick oven. You wouldn’t expect to find a trattoria of this quality in a small fishing town but it’s here so don’t miss it! Address: 9 King Street, Lunenburg Telephone: 1-902-640-3112 Open: Daily for dinner from 5pm. Thursday, Friday and Saturday for lunch and Sundays for Brunch. Website: Trattoria Della Nonna

Some of the best casual dining on Nova Scotia’s southern shore can be found at The Knot, a pub that serves up great mussels and local beers cold and fresh from the tap. It’s a favourite hangout for folks from the area and the food here is good value for money. Address: 4 Dufferin Street, Lunenburg Telephone: 1-902-634-3334