The free Mahone Bay Settlers Museum, 578 Main St. (tel. 902/624-6263), provides historic context for your explorations from June through early September; it's open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sundays 1 to 5pm, and closed Mondays. A good selection of historic decorative arts is on display. Before leaving, be sure to request a copy of "Three Walking Tours of Mahone Bay," a handy brochure that outlines easy historic walks around the compact downtown.
Thanks to the looping waterside routes nearby, this is a popular destination for bikers. And the deep, protected harbor offers superb sea kayaking. If you'd like to give kayaking a go, contact East Coast Outfitters (tel. 877/852-2567 or 902/852-2567), based in the Peggy's Cove area near Halifax. They offer half-day introductory classes and a 5-day coastal tour of the area. Among the more popular adventures is the daylong introductory tour, in which paddlers explore the complex shoreline and learn about kayaking in the process. The price is about C$115 (US$104/£58) per person, C$35 (US$32/£18) extra for a lobster lunch. Rentals are also available, starting at about C$45 (US$41/£23) per half-day for a single kayak.
