Cosy Nova Scotia fall getaways for couples, friends, and families
Between all of the festivals, the outdoor activities, and the beautiful burst of colours throughout the province, fall is the perfect time to explore Nova Scotia. To best enjoy the season, here are a selection of top-rated and reviewed Nova Scotia accommodations for couples, friends, and families alike.
South Shore accommodations
If walking on white, sandy beaches and visiting popular attractions such as Peggy's Cove lighthouse and Old Town Lunenburg UNESCO World Heritage Site are on your fall to-do list, Nova Scotia's South Shore offers all this and more. Oceanstone Resort, located close to picturesque Peggy's Cove, is a perfect getaway for families, couples, and groups. Be sure to dine at their on-site restaurant, Rhubarb.
White Point Beach Resort has been welcoming visitors to their beach paradise for 90 years. Dine in Elliot's Dining Room, learn to surf, roast marshmallows nightly by the campfire or the fireplace in the main lodge, and be sure to feed the many rabbits that live onsite. Nearby, discover the Quarterdeck Beachside Villas & Grill on Summerville Beach Provincial Park with its beautiful villas, suites, lofts, and cottage that reward guests with stunning views overlooking this long, sandy beach.
Looking for a quiet retreat close to the water? Gray Gables Bed & Breakfast, located near Chester, offers guests a beautiful view of the ocean and delicious, homemade breakfasts. Guests at Water Sprite Bed & Breakfast in the heart of Lunenburg love the location of and the view from this B&B, and cannot get enough of the gourmet, four-course breakfast that the owners serve each morning.
Accommodations on the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores
Lively music and seafaring tales are as much a part of this region's culture as its fishing livelihood. Learn about the rich culture through song, dance, and food when you visit the Argyler Lodge near Yarmouth during one of their Acadian Kitchen Party events. The lodge is a perfect spot for a fall getaway with friends and loved ones and offers beach bonfires, kayaking, amazing sunsets over Lobster Bay, and more.
The town of Yarmouth, with its stately sea captain homes and busy harbourfront, is home to great restaurants, an art gallery, and the Cape Forchu Lighthouse. Step back in time to the 1890s when you stay at MacKinnon-Cann House Historic Inn, a Victorian home that has been exquisitely restored by the owners. Enjoy amazing full breakfasts and all the modern amenities when staying in this beautiful inn.
Looking to disconnect for a few days? A stay at Trout Point Lodge, selected as the world's first certified Starlight Hotel by the UNESCO partner Starlight Foundation, is sure to please couples, groups and families alike. Explore the forest trails, dine in the onsite restaurant, and learn about the stars above us.
Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley accommodations
Harvest time is the perfect time to escape to the Annapolis Valley and if cozy bed & breakfasts or historic inns are of interest, you'll find plenty. From Cliffside B&B near Digby, The Stella Rose B&B in Wolfville, and the Belgravia Bed & Breakfast in Truro, you'll be greeted by welcoming hosts and treated to wonderful accommodations and breakfasts each morning. Stately historic inns such as the Hillsdale House Inn and Queen Anne Inn in Annapolis Royal and Gillespie House Inn in Parrsboro offer guests a timeless accommodation with modern amenities in the heart of their communities.
If you're looking to surround yourself in nature, a stay at Mersey River Chalets and Nature Retreat near Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site is a perfect spot. Fully accessible with well-maintained boardwalks trailing alongside the Mersey River, this four-season nature retreat offers kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and more on the property.
Northumberland Shore accommodations
Known for its beautiful beaches, wild blueberries, and the rich Scottish Gaelic heritage, visitors to the Northumberland Shore region have plenty of highly rated accommodations to choose from. From the historic Apothic Inn in Amherst and the cozy one-, two-, and three-bedroom luxury cottages at Cambra Sands that overlook Malagash Bay to family fun at Pictou Lodge Beachfront Resort near Pictou, visitors will have no problem finding great places to stay this fall.
Looking for a spa or golf getaway? Nova Scotia is home to one of Canada's five five-star resorts, Fox Harb'r Resort. Choose from suites, oceanfront guesthomes, and executive townhouses, play on the 18-hole championship golf course, indulge in a spa day, and then dine in the locally-inspired onsite restaurant.
Cape Breton Island accommodations
Fall is a spectacular time to visit Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. The rolling mountains in the Cape Breton Highlands and the valley views from the look-offs within the Cape Breton Highlands National Park make this a popular autumn vacation destination. Stay at the Markland Coastal Beach Cottages in Dingwall for one of the most amazing views of the mountain in northern Cape Breton, complete with a long sandy beach.
Camping close to nature has never been so comfortable. For a luxurious 'camping' experience, stay at River Nest Wilderness Cabins where the cabins are modeled after bird houses to fit in with the wooded, natural landscape.
Take in the breathtaking views over of the Bras d'Or Lake from each of the 12 waterside cottages at Keltic Quay or from the Iona Heights Inn in Iona. The inn, located next to the Highland Village Museum, North America's only living history museum for Gaelic language and culture, is also home to a chocolate shop that makes its own delicious treats.
Eastern Shore accommodations
If you're looking for long drives with minimal traffic and beautiful fall colours guiding the way, the Eastern Shore is a photographer's paradise. The picturesque town of Guysborough is home to a brewery, distillery, and the DesBarres Manor Inn. Stay at this historic inn and dine in the onsite restaurant that also hosts culinary events where visitors can cook with the chef.
Not far from Guysborough, in the community of Charlos Cove, discover the serene oceanside Seawind Landing Country Inn. Guests love the delicious meals, the views, the peacefulness, and the Inn's dogs who are eager to greet everyone visiting the inn.
Halifax accommodations
Nova Scotia's capital city of Halifax is full of cozy and highly rated places to stay - everything from international hotel chains to small, unique bed & breakfasts and inns. In the heart of downtown Halifax, discover the Halifax Waverley Inn, a cozy historic inn perfect for a weekend getaway. Close to downtown, tucked in the city's south end and overlooking the Northwest Arm popular for sailing, you'll find The Pebble Bed & Breakfast. Guests experience airy, elegant rooms with top amenities and access to the onsite canoe and kayak for quiet paddling adventures.
From the other side of the Northwest Arm, experience spectacular views and immaculate design as you stay within a restored church now known as Star of the Sea Bed and Breakfast. Friends, artists, and couples alike can take in the panoramic views over the water and Halifax and explore York Redoubt National Historic Site located alongside the property.
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