With the looks of one of the classic National Park lodges (think: the majesty of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone) and the soul of a Ritz Carlton, the Trout Point Lodge ★★★ has won accolades from every major reviewer form the New York Times to National Geographic Traveler. We’re adding our voice to the chorus of approval. Set in an isolated and pristine area on 40 hectares (100 acres) of forest next to the enormous Tobeatic Wilderness Preserve, the three-story lodge is created from massive spruce logs and hand-cut granite. Rooms and public areas are decorated with Tiffany lamps, oriental carpets and furniture cunningly created from what look like bent twigs (in some cases, and including some bed frames). The luxuries continue with a riverside, wood-fired hot tub, a real library, and a staff that bend over backwards to make sure all is right in this little world. Guests spend the day hiking on nature trails, and paddling, kayaking or fly fishing on the rivers that surround the lodge. After a day of activity (and before one), guests are coddled by truly fine dining—Trout Point’s cooking team of Vaughan Perret and Charles Leary bring a distinctly Cajun approach to local and foraged Nova Scotia delicacies. Their careers saw stops in Louisiana, Costa Rica, and Spain so they bring to the wilderness and extremely sophisticated sensibility. (Cooking classes are among the sought-after activities here). A memorable vacation experience.