Mahone Bay Travel Guide

The village of Mahone Bay, settled in 1754 by European Protestants, is picture-perfect Nova Scotia at its best. It's tidy and trim, with an eclectic Main Street that snakes along the lovely eponymous bay and is lined with inviting shops, markets, and eateries. Locals are friendly and knowledgeable. The winds attract plenty of sailboats to this bay of 365 islands. And the town's three churches, grouped closely together, are among the most famous in the province -- expect churcharazzi politely clicking away.

Dressed up in bright pastel colors, Mahone Bay is probably the closest to what Nova Scotians would consider a tourist trap, but compared to such places in other parts of the world, that’s not very close. It’s more that Mahone Bay is a great little town for shopping with independent, funky little shops stuffed with handmade jewelry, pottery, and knitted items. Architecture buffs will find a range of styles to keep them ogling, too. This is a town that’s remarkably well-cared-for by its 900-or-so full-time residents.

One of the best visitor information centers (tel. 888/624-6151 or 902/624-6151) in Nova Scotia is located at 165 Edgewater St., near the three church steeples. It’s open May-Sept, from 9:30am until 4:30pm.

Mahone Bay has become a specialist in putting on a good festival. In October, the town fills with scarecrows of every description, many costumed like celebrities. In November, they bring on Father Christmas. It’s all an excuse to dress up the town with various fun themes and activities.