Day Trips for Central Nova Scotia

Quicklink Trip Examples:

Truro and Area Heritage and Cultural Tour
Fossils, Gems and High Tides
North Shore Rural Discovery Tour
Fundy Tide Discovery Tour
Themed Itineraries (Multi-day Trips)

Truro and Area Heritage and Cultural Tour

Your heart will stir to the beat of the Mi’kmaw drums at the Glooscap Heritage Centre as you learn about the history and culture of Nova Scotia’s First Nations people. Meet many of Truro’s historic figures carved from the old elm trees as you stroll the downtown streets. Step back in time to the days of the one room schoolhouse and hear the stories of teaching way back when. Picnic in Victoria Park and then hike to the waterfalls or visit the largest rock garden in the Maritimes on the campus of the Agricultural College.

Starting Point:

• Exit 13A off Highway 102 (Note: visit and travel times are approximate)
• Visitor Information Centre (pick up Truro map and Tree Sculpture Guide Book)
• Glooscap Heritage Centre (45 min.)
• Drive 10 min. to Downtown Truro, via Abenaki Road
• Self-guided Tree Sculpture Tour (60 min.)
• Drive 5 min. to Colchester Historical Society Museum, Young Street (45 min.)
• Drive 5 min. to Little White Schoolhouse, Arthur Street (30 min.)
• Drive 5 min. to Victoria Park, Park Road off Brunswick Street (60 min.)
• Drive 10 min. to Agricultural College Gardens, College Road (45 min.)
• Drive 15 min. on Hwy 104 to Exit 13 to Mi’kmawey Debert Interpretive Trail (4.4 Km 60 min.)
• Drive 2 min to Debert Military Museum and Diefenbunker (45 min.)

Optional Features and Points of Interest:

• Tidal Bore Viewing, Tidal Bore Road off Hwy 236
• Historic Murals, downtown Truro
• Three Historic Districts, distinct architecture, downtown Truro
• Corn Maze (in season)
• Pieces of The Berlin Wall, downtown Truro
• Stanfield’s Underwear Factory
• Kiwanis Park
• Cobequid Trail (14.5 km multi-use)
• Farmers’ Market, Saturday 8-12 May –Oct
• Victoria Park outdoor pool with 47’ double waterslide
• Truro Raceway (Live racing only on Sundays)

Fossils, Gems and High Tides

This guide will take you along the shores of the Cobequid Bay, Minas Basin and Chignecto Bay where you can witness the mighty Fundy tides. Stop to explore world-renowned fossil cliffs or hike to breath-taking waterfalls. Learn about the area’s rich shipbuilding heritage or kick off your shoes and dig for clams. You can golf by the sea, kayak to remote sea caves, parasail or simply sit and watch the sun go down over the beautiful Five Islands.

Starting Point:

• Exit 11 off Highway 104 (Note: visit and travel times are approximate)
• Masstown Market Rt. 2 (20 min.)
• Drive 30 min. along Rt. 2 to Cobequid Interpretive Centre, Economy (30 min.)
• Drive 10 min. on Rt. 2 to Five Islands Provincial Park (60 min.)
• Drive 30 min. on Rt. 2 to Fundy Geological Museum, Parrsboro (60 min.)
• Drive 25 min. on Rt. 209 to Age of Sail Heritage Centre, Port Greville (30 min.)
• Drive 30 min. on Rt. 209 to dirt road on left to Cape d’Or Lighthouse, (30 min.)
• Drive 15 min. on 209 to Cape Chignecto Provincial Park (60 min.)
• Drive 45 min. on Rt. 209 to Joggins Fossil Cliffs (60 min.)
• Continue for 30 minutes to Highway 104 via Rts.242, 302 and 2
• Drive 1 hour on Toll Hwy 104 East to Exit 15 Highway 102 South to Truro

Optional Features and Points of Interest:

• Joy Laking Watercolour Gallery, Portaupique
• Bass River Chair Company General Store and Museum
• That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm, Upper Economy
• Thomas Cove Coastal Reserve
• Economy Area Walking Trails and Waterfalls
• Ottawa House By The Sea Museum, Parrsboro
• Ship’s Company Theatre, Parrsboro
• Hike 6 Km to the Waterfalls at Ward’s Brook
• Kayaking at Advocate Harbour
• West Advocate Beach

North Shore Rural Discovery Tour

This guide will take you to the Sunrise Trail and the warmest waters north of the Carolinas. You will be presented with a scenic coastline, beautiful beaches, and opportunities to visit museums, art galleries and unique gift shops. Savour the culinary delights at such places as Jost Vineyards, Sugar Moon Farm Maple Sugar Camp or the Sunrise Mercantile. You can play golf, go camping, have a picnic on one of many sand beaches or try windsurfing. The day is all yours, so enjoy.

Starting Point:

• Exit 14A off Highway 102 (Note: visit and travel times are approximate)
• Turn right at the end of the ramp
• Drive 2 min. to River Breeze Farm Market (15 min.)
• Drive 1 min. to flashing yellow light and turn left onto Rt. 311
• Drive 20 min. to Sugar Moon Farm Maple Sugar Camp Tour and Brunch (60 min)
• Drive 15 min. on Rt. 311 to Balmoral Grist Mill (45 min)
• or drive 20 min.on Rt. 326 to Denmark to the Sutherland Steam Mill (45 min.)
• Continue on Rt. 311 or Rt. 326 to Rt. 6 and Village of Tatamagouche (Sunrise Trail)
• Options in Tatamagouche: Fraser Cultural Centre, Sunrise Trail Museum and Creamery
• Drive 5 min. west on Rt. 6 to Sunrise Mercantile (30 min.)
• Continue 15 min. on Rt. 6 and follow signs to Jost Vineyards, Malagash (40 min.)
• Backtrack to Rt. 6 and turn right, drive 15 min to Wallace Museum (40 min.)
• Take Rt. 307 for 30 min to the scenic Wentworth Valley
• Return to Truro via Rt. 4 and Rt. 2 through Masstown (20 min.)

Optional Features and Points of Interest:

• River Breeze Corn Maze (in season)
• Rushton’s Beach Provincial Park
• Barrachois Lobster Pound
• Sunrise Beach Golf Course
• Brule Fossil Centre
• Raven Art Gallery
• Malagash Salt Mine Museum
• Old Inter-Colonial Railway Station
• Wallace Bay Wildlife Trail, 4 Km
• Trans Canada Trail (River John to Oxford)

Fundy Tide Discovery Tour

You will visit the Town of Stewiacke – the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole. See a full size replica of the mighty Mastodon that roamed our land over 70,000 years ago. Witness the phenomenal tides on the largest river in Nova Scotia and visit the site of the world’s highest recorded tides. Learn about the area’s rich shipbuilding history and perhaps savour the unique flavour of herbal ice cream.

Starting Point:

• Exit 11 off Highway 102 (Note: visit and travel times are approximate)
• Mastodon Ridge, Stewiacke (45 min.)
• Drive 10 min. on Rt. 2 South to Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, (60 min.)
• Drive 5 min. to Wasson Smith & Sons Tinsmith Shop, Shubenacadie (30 min.)
• Drive 15 min on Rt. 215 to South Maitland Tidal Observation Deck, (15 min.)
• Continue on Rt. 215 for 10 min to Lawrence House Museum, Maitland (45 min.)
• Drive 30 min. on 215 to Burncoat Head Park and Lighthouse (30 min.)
• Drive 30 min. on Rt. 215 to Walton Lighthouse, (20 min.)
• Drive 45 min. on Rt. 215 to Belmont Rd. continue 15 min. to Avon Spirit Shipyard, Avondale (30 min.)
• Drive 15 min. to Rt. 14 at Brooklyn and on to Milford through the Rawdon Hills (1 hr.) or on to Highway 101 at Windsor (15 min.).

Optional Features and Points of Interest

• Tidal Bore Rafting (Tidal Bore Park, Shubenacadie River Runners)
• River View Herbs – Herbal Ice Cream
• Frieze and Roy General Store (est. 1839)
• Maitland, first Heritage Conservation District in Nova Scotia
• Local Artisans (woodturning, stained glass and scrimshaw)
• Caboose Museum
• Cheverie Look-off
• Lower Selma Museum
• Anthony Provincial Park