Attractions

The free Mahone Bay Settlers Museum, 578 Main St. (tel. 902/624-6263), provides a historic context for your explorations. From June through early September, it's open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sundays 1 to 5pm. After Labour Day, they sometimes open on request; call if you want to have a look. A good selection of historic decorative arts is on display here. 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 day-long introductory tour, in which paddlers explore the complex shoreline and learn about kayaking in the process. The price is about C$115 per person, C$35 extra for an optional lobster lunch. Rentals are also available, starting at about C$50 per half-day for a single kayak. (You can also rent for just an hour or two, but what fun is that?)