Baie Sainte-Marie and Clare quickly became one of my favourite parts of Nova Scotia. We felt so welcomed by the community while we discovered the Acadian joie de vivre, the beauty of the Baie Sainte-Marie and plenty of fresh lobster. This trip was the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into Baie-Sainte Marie and Clare, Nova Scotia and fall in love with this incredible part of the province.
Something that stood out to me while we explored this region was the amazing east coast hospitality that we were greeted with at every place we visited. Wherever we toured, we were aware of the abundant pride that the residents hold for this part of Nova Scotia, its history and the present, which we experienced through their stories and first-hand experiences visiting many events and local businesses and attractions. You could also tell how supportive the community is of one another by how often locals would recommend other businesses.
Here’s what you can’t miss on your own adventure to Baie Sainte-Marie and Clare, Nova Scotia:
Church Point in Clare, Nova Scotia
Driftwood By The Bay Domes
Enjoy elevated glamping at Driftwood By The Bay Domes. The views from the domes are breathtaking. The domes come with everything you need, including a king bed, queen bed loft, fully-equipped kitchen, private deck, propane fire pit, hot tub and more.
The owners, Eric and Karen, were terrific hosts and quickly became friends. They invited us out on their boat on the second day. It was the perfect opportunity to see a different view of Baie Sainte-Marie, including the famous balancing rock!
Karen shared that the domes got their name from the unique driftwood that would come ashore. They set up a driftwood bonfire for us to enjoy. It was the perfect spot to watch golden hour turn into blue hour while cozied by the fire. I always wanted to have a bonfire by the ocean, and I’m so glad I could enjoy it here.
One of my favourite moments was the moonlight shining with the sound of the ocean waves as high tide came in. You’re so close to the ocean and have your private piece of it. You get incredible views here 24/7.
The domes offer their own unique experience, whether it’s enjoying a driftwood fire, relaxing in the hot tub or having morning coffee with a view. I could sit there all day, watch the tide come in and out and have everything I need.
Add the lobster dinner, charcuterie and breakfast box to your visit. Enjoy excellent seaside meals inside the dome or on the deck.
Enjoy fresh lobster served with garlic butter, lemon, fresh rolls, potato salad, and coleslaw.
The breakfast box includes four fresh farm eggs, sausage, bacon or ham, toast, fresh fruit and cheese.
Rendez-vous de la Baie Visitor Centre
Next, head to Rendez-vous de la Baie Visitor Centre to discover the fascinating history and culture of the Acadians of Clare/Baie Sainte-Marie.
We learned so much on this tour. I recommend going at the beginning of your visit because there are sure to be facts that will continue to stand out to you on your visit.
The Acadians came from France in the 1600s. They lived in Grand Prairie with the Mi’kmaq people for 150-155 years. They were deported to the United States and South America, and then when they returned, they settled in Nova Scotia and the east coast.
Acadia comes from the Mi’kmaq word meaning “land of abundance.” In the winter, the Mi’kmaq people of Clare would move into the woods (Le Petit Bois), and in the summer, they would move closer to the ocean.
We learned that different Acadian areas could have different dialects. The French spoken in Baie Sainte-Marie is influenced by the French language of the 16th and early 17th centuries in Poitou, Aunis, Saintonge and Guyenne regions of western France. Mi’kmaq also affects it.
Acadian Interpretive Tour
The Acadian Interpretive Tour is a self-guided tour of heritage sites that personify the Acadian spirit in Southwestern Nova Scotia. You’ll find 15 of these sites in Clare, Nova Scotia, including Belliveau Cove, Church Point, Bangor Sawmill and more. You can pick up a map in the Rendez-vous de la Baie Visitor Centre.
Art De La Baie
Embark on a self-guided tour of art for fun things to do in Clare, Nova Scotia. Admire original works from talented artists in studios, art galleries, gift shops and more. You can get an Art De La Baie self-guided brochure map in Rendez-vous de la Baie Visitor Centre. Many shops are by appointment only, so I recommend planning ahead and contacting them in advance.
The Wheelhouse Seafood & Pasta
The Wheelhouse Seafood & Pasta was our first stop in Clare, Nova Scotia. We received a fantastic east coast welcome from their friendly team and enjoyed some incredible dishes.
The lobster mac ‘n cheese instantly caught our eye. It was cooked to perfection with creamy cheddar cheese sauce and fresh local lobster and paired with caesar salad and garlic toast. It had generous portions and was the perfect way to kick off our trip. You definitely need to visit when you’re in the area and indulge in one of their seafood and pasta dishes.
We also tried their rappie pie, our first traditional Acadian dish of the trip!
Maison Meuse & Fils Winery
Maison Meuse & Fils is the only winery on the Acadian Shore of Nova Scotia. They grow L’Acadie Blanc, Chardonnay and Marechal Foch varietals on their 2-acre estate vineyard. We enjoyed their L’Acadie Blanc Sauvage bottle at Driftwood By The Bay Domes. It’s a light wine with hints of kiwi, honeysuckle and green apple.
École Dans l’Anse Resto Sur Mer
Step into an old school house from the 1900’s that’s been transformed into a beautiful restaurant. Owner Pierre was so welcoming, and we loved hearing his vision for the building and how he transformed this historic building into a restaurant that now welcomes people for delicious seafood.
We loved dining with a view and the nautical-themed decorations around the restaurant. École Dans l’Anse Resto Sur Mer would be an excellent spot for sunset while you enjoy seafood dishes overlooking Baie Sainte-Mary and Belliveau Lighthouse. We went with the lobster roll and fish tacos paired with kettle chips. Both were fresh and tasty.
Belliveau Cove
Belliveau Cove is home to many fun attractions, including the Belliveau Cove Lighthouse and the boardwalk trail. You can hike a 5km loop interpretive trail on an easy gravel trail that will bring you from Belliveau Cove Wharf to Major’s Point.
In the summer, Belliveau Cove is home to many fun events like Friday Lobster suppers, Farmer’s Markets and more.
Frenchy’s Shopping
Find hidden treasures at Frenchy’s with multiple locations throughout Clare, including the first Frenchy’s in Meteghan Centre. From one-of-a-kind fashion finds to seasonal decor, there are lots of excellent deals to be found. On our trip, we visited a few of the different Frenchy’s because each has a great collection of items to browse, from records, blankets, jackets, and more.
Stella Night Hike
Have you ever gone on a night hike? Doing the Stella Night Hike definitely needs to be on your list of things to do in Clare, Nova Scotia! This unique experience is about tuning into your senses to help you navigate as you walk a trail by the ocean and the forest. Our guide, Paul, explained how certain parts of the eye are engaged at night, and we can make out shadows when we aren’t influenced by artificial light. He also shared how our other senses are heightened when our eyesight is limited, and he challenged us to listen for the unique sounds we came across.
Paul shared how with light pollution in the city, we often don’t have experiences of total darkness where we can’t depend on our eyes at night.
There was a full moon that night as we walked through the trail, and we could make out the shadows of the trees. We stopped to view constellations and even Jupiter! Toward the end of the walk, we lit candles and then made our way to Church Point Lighthouse. As we sat in the lighthouse with our candles, Paul painted the picture that the first Acadians of the area would have had a similar setting with candles as their light source against the night.
This was such a unique experience! It felt like a mindful experience as all of our senses were drawn into the present to focus our awareness on our surroundings and help to navigate our path!
Le Petit Bois Trail
Le Petit Bois is a network of coastal and wooded trails at the Université Sainte-Anne Campus. We first experienced Le Petit Bois during the Stella Night Hike. It was a unique experience to compare walking through it again during the day.
Enjoy 5km of several loops, gravel paths, forest, and coastal paths. The route will bring you through a coniferous forest, coastal marsh, stone shoreline, gazebo, Church Point Lighthouse and more. Throughout the woods, you’ll find numerous decorated birdhouses. In the fall, the forest has some beautiful vibrant yellows and oranges and some Halloween decor.
Keep an eye out for blue jays and chickadees. A friendly local gave us some peanuts, and the chickadees landed right in our hands to eat them.
Keep an eye out for the 13 interpretive posts, or pick up a map at Rendez-vous de la Baie Visitor Centre to do a self-guided tour and learn the incredible facts and history of Le Petit Bois.
Sainte Marie Church
Sainte Marie Church is the largest wooden church in North America. It was built in 1905 and took over two years to build, starting in 1903. Master carpenter Leo Melanson made it with the help of 1,500 volunteers. The design is inspired by the castles of France’s Loire Valley.
It was initially supposed to be a stone church, but wood was more readily available then. The chandeliers are from around 1829 from another nearby church that burnt down.
The steeple you see today is 185ft tall. The original steeple was 200 ft, but it was struck by lightning and caught fire. Luckily it immediately rained and put the fire out before more damage could be done.
Saint Bernard Church
Saint Bernard Church is a majestic stone church built in 1910 and is reminiscent of European cathedral architecture. Farmers and fishermen volunteered their time to build it. It took 30 years to make because they had to get stone from Shelburne. The church is now closed, but the building remains a symbol of the community of Clare coming together.
Meteghan in Clare, Nova Scotia
Cabane D’Horizon
The Robicheau family is known for their incredible restaurants and now their unique oceanside container cabins. The “sea-can” container cabins provide modern living in a tranquil seacoast setting.
It doesn’t feel like a container at all once you’re inside. There are many thoughtful touches inside Cabane D’Horizon, including a coffee station, games, Corberrie Cider, and local chocolates to welcome each guest. I loved how the cabins are decorated. It was the perfect setting for a peaceful and relaxing stay after days of adventure.
Enjoy ocean views from the hot tub and the propane fire at night. You can take the beach trail down to the water as well and admire the cliffs.
The cabin has a fully equipped kitchen, queen size bed and sofa bed, glass shower, patio furniture, propane fire pit, tv with Netflix, games and more.
One of the best parts is that you’re a quick walk to two of Clare’s best restaurants, La Cuisine Robicheau and Le Ptit Robicheau. With the restaurants on-site and the sea cabins, you have everything you need for a wonderful stay.
La Cuisine Robicheau
Enjoy homestyle seafood dishes at La Cuisine Robicheau. It’s one of the best restaurants in the area, and a popular spot, so make sure to make a reservation. Many customers describe dining here as “going home to Grandma,” and I agree.
The scallops were cooked to perfection. You have to get their Robicheau Au Gratin Special. Creamed lobster is popular in the area. It consists of scallops with creamed lobster topped with their house cheese blend.
The Robicheau family was wonderful to chat with. They’re known for their coconut cream pie, but I had to try some as soon as I heard about their cheesecakes. It was decadent and rich and so delicious!
They’re part of the Nova Scotia Lobster Trail with signature offerings: Robicheau’s Au Gratin Special, Hot Creamed Lobster, Haddock with Hot Creamed Lobster, Seafood Lasagna (featuring lobster) and Lobster Club Sandwich. They’re also part of the Nova Scotia Chowder Trail. Their seafood chowder is a light creamy chowder with large morsels of haddock, scallops and lobster.
Le Ptit Robicheau
Le Ptit Robicheau is a local food truck by the same owners of La Cuisine Robicheau. It was opened because they wanted to bring a place that offered gourmet burgers and poutines in Clare, Nova Scotia. You need to get one of their poutines; honestly, some of the best poutines I’ve ever had.
We loved them so much that we went back twice. I highly recommend their sweet Thai chicken poutine; it was heavenly. We also tried their lobster poutine, donair poutine and incredible fish tacos. They nailed the flavours on each dish!
Smugglers Cove
An easy trail and wooden stairs will lead you to the beauty of Smugglers Cove Provincial Park. Visit at high tide for the turquoise water closest to the edge. You can walk down the 80-step stairway during low tide and explore farther. Use caution because the rocks are wet and slippery. If you time it right, you can explore the cave, but many locals warned us the tide changes quickly, and you don’t want to get stuck, so we opted for high tide.
Smugglers Cove gets its name from the days of prohibition in the 1920s when they would smuggle rum through the cove.
We shared that we visited Smugglers Cove with Denise of Corberrie Cider, who told us that her Grandfather was a rum runner. Big boats would come into the bay, and little boats would transfer the alcohol further along. We suspected they used the cave to hide bottles as well.
Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park
Enjoy a beautiful panoramic view at this cliffside lighthouse. Learn about the village’s founding, the history of the lighthouse, local marine ecology, and fog on the interpretive panels. Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park has picnic tables perfect for enjoying a picnic lunch from Comeau Farm Market. This lighthouse is only a 3-minute drive from Mavillette Provincial Park.
Mavillette Provincial Park
Mavillette Provincial Park has to be one of Canada’s most beautiful beaches.
There are many great spots to watch the sunset in Clare, Nova Scotia, but this has to be the best place. Walk on a boardwalk through grassy dunes, and a 1.5km long sandy beach will greet you. On one side, you’ll see colourful houses; on the other, you’ll see cliffs lining the shore. The photos below were both taken at the same time but you’re getting completely different views. That’s one of the things I loved most about the beach.
We caught a magical sunset here. I loved watching the surfers on the water. Walking along the beach, you’ll notice how fast the tide can change. We visited at both high and low tide. During low tide, you’ll be able to walk much further on the flat sand.
Seashore Restaurant & Blue Rock Lounge
Enjoy fresh seafood favourites at Seashore Restaurant & Blue Rock Lounge. We had to go with fish and chips. The fish was so fresh! It arrived 30 minutes before we got there. We also got their homemade mozzarella sticks, battered three times and paired with a Nova Scotia classic donair sauce.
On a cool day, warm up with their comforting seafood chowder. You can sit on their patio with an ocean view in the summer.
Corberrie Cider
We had a gorgeous drive through the forest to Corberrie Cider on Wentworth Lake. When the Flynn’s purchased the 5-acre orchard, they knew nothing about growing apples. It was incredible to hear how they brought the orchard back to its former glory. Denise had the idea to use the apples to make cider and then took a course to learn the process. We loved hearing her stories and her passion for making cider and trying new flavours. We first tried their fresh poume (written as pronounced in Acadian) cider. A crisp and dry cider with a mix of apples. They also have strawberry rhubarb cider, and Cran-Blueberry Rosé made with real Nova Scotia fruit juices.
After tasting the ciders, we ventured into the orchard. The orchard is stunning, with the reddest apples I’ve ever seen. The orchard was lined with beautiful trees changing colours for fall.
Meteghan Râpure
Head to this drive-through to get this popular Acadian dish. Drive to the takeout window at the back for râpure, also known as rappie pie. Meteghan Râpure has fresh râpure baked daily and is popular with locals.
We brought our pie back to Cabane D’Horizon to enjoy it by the ocean. It had a perfectly crispy crust. Rappie pie has an incredible texture. It reminds me of rich, sticky potatoes.
SIP Café Meteghan
Head to this cozy and rustic local cafe is the perfect spot for a fresh cup of coffee and a treat. SIP Café has an impressive menu of seasonal drinks that will catch your eye. We loved stopping here for breakfast and some mid-adventure fuel. They offer a variety of sandwiches and pastries, perfect for enjoying in-house or on the go.
Comeau’s Farm Market
Do as the locals do and grab a bite at Comeau’s Farm Market. They’ve been offering fresh fruit and vegetables since 1985. Not only can you find some great fresh produce, but they also offer fresh goods, from lobster rolls to baked goods. This is the perfect stop to pick up some delicious food for a picnic and bring it to a scenic location nearby! I loved their salmon sushi and lobster roll.
BMC Seafood Market & Takeout
In the summer months, head to BMC Seafood Market & Takeout for some fresh seafood. They were closed for the season when we visited, but I can imagine it would be a popular spot, especially with the view. We still dropped by and then walked down to the beach behind during low tide. You’ll be able to walk so far on the ocean floor and get unique views of BMC Seafood Market & Takeout and the Meteghan Wharf. This is Clare’s largest fishing wharf. You can also read the interpretive panel, visit the marine shop and chat with local fishermen while you’re there.
Lunacy Eclectic Arts and Gemstones
Inside Lunacy Eclectic Arts and Gemstones you’ll find an eclectic variety of jewellery, artisan soap, gemstones and more. Outside, explore the meditation labyrinth. This life-sized zen garden had meditations gardens, a riverside area, monarch butterfly waystation and more.
Bangor Sawmill Museum
This 19th-century sawmill turned museum is one of the last functioning mills of its kind in North America. Logging used to be an essential industry, and now you can discover logging relics through the Bangor Sawmill Museum. It was closed for repairs when we visited, so I recommend checking online before visiting. We were still able to see the outside of the building.
Events in Baie Sainte-Marie and Clare, Nova Scotia
Acadian Festival
Acadian Festival has been a yearly celebration of Acadian culture since 1955. The Festival Acadien de Clare is the world’s oldest Acadian festival. Thousands gather from all over the world each year for this festival in Baie Sainte-Marie. Enjoy traditional food, activities, music and more.
Congrès Mondial Acadien 2024
Congrès Mondial Acadien is an international gathering of Acadian culture. It’s been in a new Acadian region every five years since 1994. In 2024 from August 10th to 18th, this celebration will take place in Southwest Nova Scotia in the municipalities of Clare and Argyle. Together they form the largest concentration of Acadians in rural Nova Scotia. The festival has parades, fireworks, public events, regional food, music and more. It will bring many exciting events and people to the area, so I recommend booking your trip now.
Find more regional events here, including waterfront lobster dinners, live music, and more.
Find more things to do in Nova Scotia here.
Thank you to Baie Sainte-Marie and Clare, Nova Scotia, for their warm welcome and east coast hospitality which made our trip so fun and memorable! Thank you to Nova Scotia Tourism for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I hope you have as much fun exploring Clare and Baie Sainte-Marie as I did. I’d love to see your adventures. Feel free to tag me on Instagram and Tik Tok.
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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Great article, exdactly wnat I wanted to find.
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Thanks, Sophia! I’m so happy to hear that. I loved visiting and can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself 🙂