The Digby region of Nova Scotia is brimming with stunning scenery, rich history, and endless adventure.
Here are ten great reasons to add Digby to your Nova Scotia travel plans.
The best whale watching in Nova Scotia happens in the Digby region. Just off Brier Island in the Bay of Fundy, is the feeding ground for many marine animals. This means our waters are filled with sea life ready to put on a show! There are humpbacks, finback and Minke whales. Dolphins, sea turtles and basking sharks. You may even see an orca or blue whale! There are also a number of sea birds that can be spotted on cruises. Not to mention our incredible coastline. Our guides have decades of experience and love to talk about the wonders in our waters.
Digby is where the world fell in love with Maud Lewis. Maud spent the majority of her life in Digby, and because of that, everything you see in her paintings was inspired by what she saw around her in the Digby region. Maud Lewis is not only one of Canada’s most renowned artists, but her story was so compelling that they made a Hollywood move about her just a few years ago. There are several Maud monuments and tributes around Digby, and if you’re lucky enough, you may even find an original Maud on your travels here.
Digby is the Scallop Capital of the World.
Scallops were first commercially harvested in Digby in the 1920s. We have the world’s largest scallop fleet, one that is prominently displayed when you visit our waterfront. Our waters are also prime for scallops. The high tides, cold ocean temperatures, and nutrient dense waters of the Bay of Fundy create the perfect environment for large, juicy, and tasty scallops.
Not to mention, it’s kind of our thing now. So we tend to do them very well.
Brier Island is one of Nova Scotia’s most important nature sanctuaries. The island is an important stopover point for migrating sea birds on the Atlantic Flyway. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded here and of the 470 plant and animal species found in Nova Scotia, 350 of them can be found on Brier Island. Including the rare Eastern Mountain Avens, only found here and one other place in the world. Brier Island is also home to three picturesque lighthouses, plenty of coastal hiking trails, and a working fishing town that showcases the essence of Nova Scotia.
Visiting Bear River is like stepping back in time. There are no traffic lights, big box stores, or formal government here. Known as the Tidal Village On Stilts because at low tide the water drops 26 feet, revealing the giant stilts that hold the town up. Bear River is also known as the Switzerland of Canada because of its steep tree covered hills and winding waterway. Bear River is also home to a coffee roaster, two wineries, several art galleries, and some fantastic spots to grab a bite to eat on the water. Bear River is also one of the best spots to experience the fall colours.
200 million years in the making. Balancing Rock, also known as Nature’s Time Post, is a 20 foot high basalt rock formation that was created millions of years ago. Legend has it that back in the day, fishermen would try to use their mighty boats to yank it down. Luckily or us, no one ever did. Balancing Rock is at the end of a 30 minute hike through the beautiful landscape of Long Island. At the end of it, you are also treated to beautiful views of St. Mary’s Bay. Be sure to also check out Boars Head Lighthouse once you get onto Long Island.
Nova Scotia has more lighthouses than anywhere else in Canada. In Nova Scotia, the Digby region has one of the highest concentrations of lighthouses, and more heritage lighthouses than anywhere else. All of our lighthouses come with beautiful ocean views, and stories that define our region. From tales of one being purchased for 230 pounds of scallops, to the one above the “Graveyard of the Fundy”, where over 57 shipwrecks have happened. If you were to travel around our region and visit every lighthouse, you’d fill at least 2 or 3 days with adventure.
A multicultural community built in the forest 130 years ago. Back in the 1890’s, a group of people with different cultures, races, religions, and languages came together to create not only one of Canada’s first multicultural communities, but also an equitable community full of innovation and pride. Aristocrats from France intermingled with our Mi’kmaq First Nation, Acadians, and descendants of Black and White Loyalists in this family run wood milling settlement in the woods behind Weymouth. It was known as New France - The Electric City, and it is just one of the many incredible stories you can discover in Weymouth.
The birthplace of wine in Nova Scotia. In 1611 Louis Hebert, the apothecary at The Habitation in Port Royal, planted a hillside vineyard along Bear River, making it one of the oldest new-world wine growing regions. This came just 5 years and about 10 miles away from where The Order of Good Cheer was born, which laid the foundation for over 400 years of subsequent food-and-drink-based celebrations in Nova Scotia. Present day, we have two award winning wineries where you can learn more about this history, enjoy wine in the countryside, and even experience the process of the only gravity fed winery in the area.
One of the most historic waterways in Canada. An ancient Mi’kmaw route to the Bay of Fundy, and Samuel de Champlain’s passageway to Port Royal, one of the first European settlements in North America. It’s also one of the first things you see in the Digby region, if travelling west on the highway, or while coming in on the Fundy Rose from New Brunswick. Discover its power and beauty along the rocky shores of Point Prim, including the fascinating story of the Princess Louise (1883) and Agnes Donahue (1913) shipwrecks.