To be quite honest to visit Lunenburg, I would have to suggest more than just a day. But growing up around here I spent a lot of time touring this beautiful and charming little Nova Scotia town of Lunenburg. I spent many of field trips as a kid visiting the Lunenburg Fisheries and the Bluenose II when it was docked. This time visiting I really wanted to open up my inner tourist and show my little guy around and teach him the history of this fishing town.
We really enjoyed it and stayed overnight at the Ivy House and during the day made it back to my parents home to hang out, so really we were in between here and Mahone Bay. We really did soak up the most of our stay here and it made some lasting memories for myself.
There is really quite a lot to do in this town, sometimes it’s the searching part that can be troublesome. That’s why I wanted to create this, so save it for later!
The Ivy House Air Bnb
This heritage home was our stay for two evenings. We can’t recommend it enough if you play on staying in Lunenburg overnight. It was such a great stay. The beds, the chocolate chip cookies, the ambiance. Everything about it made it feel like home to us. It’s been transformed into a beautiful modern home with all the best fixings of heritage home. The perfect mix! Located in the heart of Lunenburg its a two minute walk from downtown and lots of local exploring.
{Media Visit}
The Grand Banker Restaurant
Owen and I snuck in the Grand Banker for dinner. I remember as a teen after school or weekends and going in for something to eat with my friends. I always enjoyed the food and homestyle East Coast cooking. It didn’t disappoint this time either. I recommend the Fish Cakes, so good!
SEEK Gifts & Home Decor
I snuck in here and shopped for our home a little and found the cutest things to stuff into my already oversized suitcase. Located in downtown Lunenburg it carries Canadian made products and some fun things I haven’t even seen before. It’s really a beautiful shop!
Sweet Treasures Confectionary
After dinner Owen and I could smell Sweet Treasures from the street and snuck in for ice cream. If you know the smell of waffle cones being made then you just know. Its a must. We were so excited to see all the fun candy to. Things we never knew existed. Kit Kat fruit loops and nerd ropes. We went back for a second time before we left and it was closed. We were so sad. So definitely make sure to get in there!
Lunenburg Haunted Walking Tour
Okay, this was so much fun! I almost thought it would be too scary for Owen but he insisted we try it out. We booked the tickets online and met the group at 8pm near Mariner King Inn. From there we met our tour guide with our group and started walking. A few got to hold lanterns and led the way. We walked around heritage homes and Inns that have had long stories of hauntings. We learnt the history of homes built in Lunenburg and some trials that took place. It was very interesting and not at all scary.
The tour ended back at the Mariner Inn where we parted in the dark around 10pm. The two of us really enjoyed ourselves and defiantly recommend it. Even if just for the dark walk into a cemetery!
The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
Open from mid-May to mid-October the fisheries is a really fun interactive learning museum thats fun for all ages. Introducing East Coast ocean life to the history of Lunenburgs fishing industry. Schooner building and more about the historic Bluenose both I & II. Sometimes if your lucky the Bluenose II will be docked. This Summer they had free entry for the month of August which was really cool. Located down right by the docks its hard to miss it’s stunning red building!
Lightship Brewery
One of our days while visiting back East, we did sneak in Lightship Brewery to meet some family for coffee and I gotta say it’s location is the best. You have to stop in and visit. We enjoyed The Barn Coffee while visiting. But the brewery is also inside and open for drinks. We enjoyed drinks at the Salt Box in Mahone Bay which is owned by the same owners! I recommend the Bluenose 100 ale. Very great location and tons of seating as well.
Bluenose II Tour
I haven’t been on the dock in many years, so it was fun for me to see that while we were in Lunenburg that the Bluenose II would be docked. You can find the schedule online to see if it might be out sailing or in harbour. It’s a pretty fascinating Canada Schooner and if you don’t know a ton about it I suggest looking online and reading more. It’s on the dime for a reason! Her story is pretty fantastic!
The Wedding Cake House
Isn’t this Victorian home gorgeous. It’s a very popular Lunenburg Heritage home nicknamed ‘The Wedding Cake House’. Built in 1885 for the former Mayor of Lunenburg Allan R Morash. He was the mayor from 1907-1908. Very easy to find as you will notice it’s located just in front of the Lunenburg Academy school.
I’m linking the house above! You should watch the cute little video CBC did on this heritage home in Lunenburg which shares a tour and furnishings inside. It’s beautiful!
Lunenburg Academy
Nova Scotia has many heritage landmarks this being one of the oldest schools in the province which is located in Lunenburg Nova Scotia. When I was younger I spent a little time attending this school for elementary and going to the bathroom was a hard thing for me to do considering all the scary stories the kids would swap about the downstairs cellar bathrooms being haunted. I’ve heard so many spooky things but I have never seen anything myself. So who knows. It’s a really cool landmark in Lunenburg that is worth a visit. Especially since it’s surrounding one of Nova Scotia’s oldest cemeteries, the second is located in Halifax.
Built in 1895 which served as a school from that date until 2012 being mostly served as a primary school. It holds so much history and the fact that it’s located on a cemetery and holds so many ornate features. It really is a cool place to view when in Lunenburg!
St. Johns Anglican Church
Nova Scotia has its share of many churches, but the St.Johns Anglican always caught my eye. It’s another Lunenburg landmark that is just eye catching. She’s always in repair with her age! The first church established in Lunenburg being built in 1753. It’s the second Church of England built in Nova Scotia. The first missionary sent was Rev John Baptiste Moreau who is buried in the crypt below. Tours are open to visit through the church and of course when you tour the Lunenburg Haunted Tour you will also be guided to this location where they share some interesting history!
The Laughing Whale
Wherever we go travelling, I’m always on the hunt for a coffee shop to visit. Sometimes I visit twice a day depending on how much we are going. I found the Laughing Whale. It was a minute from our stay and seemed to be in the heart of everything we did. It serves the best coffee for an affordable price and they do really great things for our planet! Loved them.
Keisha Lynne, xx