Visiting Clare/St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia

Lighthouses parked on rugged cliffs, colorful fishing boats navigating harbors, bossy seagulls scouting for their next meals, crabs scurrying to hide under barnacle covered rocks, weathered barns next to gingerbread trimmed homes, stunning walking trails, perfect picnic spots and countless restaurants and diners filled with home cooked meals, loads of Acadian smiles and welcomes…THIS is Clare/St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia.

We recently spent a long weekend exploring the stunning area surrounding St. Mary’s Bay with our daughters and would love to share our travels with you.  With breathtaking views at every turn, you really can’t go wrong no matter where you find yourself along this coast.  In case you prefer a little planning, I will highlight our favorite family-friendly excursions and discoveries.

Our adventure began in Saint John, New Brunswick where we hopped on the Fundy Rose ferry and arrived in Nova Scotia just two and a half hours later.  A serene drive down the coast found us in the Municipality of Clare.  We were instantly struck by the raw beauty of the coastline, from endless sandy beaches to steep rugged cliffs, this area has the perfect spot for every beach lover. We settled into the Mavillette Beach RV Park and found ourselves just steps away from one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever been on; Mavillette Beach Provincial Park. 

The smooth pale sand stretched out as far as we could see in either direction.  The clear water offered swells that were enjoyed by surfers and wave jumpers all day long. The girls loved walking the beach, playing in the water, creating sand art and beach combing. Best of all, at one end of the beach there were hundreds of sea creature-filled tide pools.  We have never seen so many large red crabs, colorful periwinkles, hermit crabs and sand shrimp. 

 Overlooking the beach there is Snacks on the Shore, a refurbished boat sitting on land, offering take-out style meals, ice-cream and beverages.

After watching a beautiful sunset and a restful sleep listening to the waves crash, we woke ready to explore. We headed to Belliveau Cove for the day with a visit to Ecole Dans L’Anse Resto sur Mer.

This is a must-stop if you are looking for a delicious and unique family dining experience.  The restaurant is found in a refurbished school house that’s filled with character.  The seafood was outstanding and the prices were very reasonable.  Did I mention the view?  It’s not every day you can gaze at a beautiful lighthouse while enjoying your lunch.

We next stepped outside directly behind the restaurant to explore the Belliveau Cove Trail and Lighthouse.  The family-friendly trail follows the coastline for 5 kms, taking you along the beach, past saltwater marshes and to Clare’s first Acadian cemetery.  The trail is teaming with wildlife and plenty of opportunities to beach comb.

We had heard great things about Meteghan Family Park so we made sure to make the stop later that day.  It did not disappoint!  We have never been to such a unique and engaging play park. Most structures are made of wood and offer countless ways to play.  The girls absolutely loved the zip line and giant play nets.

Needing an afternoon pick-me-up, we dropped into the Roadside Diner for a coffee or two.  We decided to try a slice of their homemade pies without realizing we could have all shared ONE slice!  They may possibly have been the best pies we have ever tasted and the portion sizes were unbelievable.  Lemon Meringue, Chocolate Macaroon, Coconut Cream and Blueberry Cheesecake…a definite hit with the kids!

Full of energy, we headed to Smugglers Cove Provincial Park. We were greeted with jaw-dropping views of the cove from above and then discovered stairs that took us down to the heart of the cliffs and caves.  Stories have spread that these caves were used during the prohibition to smuggle rum. 

We didn’t get a chance to look for treasure as the tide was in and the caves were out of reach.  The beautiful beach and unique wave-shaped rocks were just as exciting to explore though!  After a day of adventure we tucked in for the night with our bellies and hearts completely full.

Saturday mornings are for markets and Belliveau Cove Farmer’s Market did not disappoint.  We loved having a chance to see what local artists, authors, farmers and bakers had created and best of all, getting to meet a few locals and share some laughs.

We loaded up on fresh plums, blueberries, baked goods and hard cider.  We find visiting local markets in our travels a wonderful way to truly have a “taste” of the area.

 Be sure to drop in to David’s Antiques and say “hello”, we found a beautiful Lucy Maude Montgomery hardcover book AND made a new friend.

We next changed into our rubber boots and met up with Marcel, our guide, for a little lesson in clam digging.  We chased the tides and headed out to the farthest sand bar with our custom clam digging tools and buckets. 

We were taught how to gently pierce the sand and feel for the scrape of metal on shell with our forks.  We loved learning more about the area and local clam digging habits and customs. 

The endless skies and beaches were unbelievable, St. Mary’s Bay is one of the most unique bodies of water we have ever explored. 

Happy and tired from our day’s adventures we dropped by Chez L’ami take-out for little sweet treat before heading back to our RV for the night.  We were happy to feast on delicious soft serve ice cream, chocolate vanilla swirl for the kids and blueberry for us.  Perfect! 

On our last morning, we had a few hours before we needed to be at the docks to catch out ferry home so we decided to stop by Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse for a picnic.  We drove up and were immediately impressed by the beautiful lighthouse and then we took a few steps and took in the expansive views.

The cliffs are something that really can’t be described!  We saw three local artists all at work trying to capture the beauty of this area on their canvases.  We settled on one of the available picnic tables and enjoyed watching the wildflowers dance in the wind and the sounds of the waves crashing as we ate.  We then wandered down the hill to a little wharf tucked into the coast.

The colorful fishing boats bobbed in the water next to the dock and weathered boathouses lined the shore.  What a beautiful way to end our time in the area. 

Thank-you for sharing in our travels and I hope you add Clare/Saint Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia to your travel bucket list, as we know you will NOT be disappointed.

 

Our trip was sponsored by Tourism Nova Scotia and the Municipality of Clare, reviews and opinions are our own.