Oak Island Resort

5 women
2 nights
1 chalet
= Good times at Oak Island Resort

On the coldest weekend of the year, we ventured along Nova Scotia's South Shore for an all "girlz" weekend. A couple times a year, my girlfriends and I book a trip away. It could be Montreal, New York, or the Aspotogan Peninsula. We're not fussy, anywhere we go we make our own fun. By the end of the weekend our sides hurt from laughing so much.

The last girls weekend was no different. We checked into a chalet at Oak Island Resort on a Friday afternoon. Cocooned from the -23C temperatures outside. The next morning, we sat next to the warmth of the fireplace, sipped coffee and watched sea smoke billowing beside Oak Island, located off in the distance in Mahone Bay. You know it's darn cold when there's sea smoke. This picture was taken from a chair in our living room.

While some of us had spa treatments, others worked out at the fully-equipped gym to be rewarded later in a refreshing swim in the pool and a soak in the hot tub. The pool and hot tub area is encased in large windows and offers a panoramic view of Mahone Bay and the marina. The sauna room was also taken advantage of, a welcome treat considering the frigid temperature outdoors.


Following our swim and soak, a couple of us stayed behind to read a book or make an earnest attempt at the Saturday crossword. One couldn't help but look up from the lounge chair and out at the gorgeous view. Later, we moved to the large fireplace off the main lobby where we read the newspaper and munched on a plate of sweet potatoe fries. Before sunset, one sole adventurer couldn't resist a walk along the shore and brought back beautiful pictures to our cozy chalet.

Legend has it that there is treasure on Oak Island. The Oak Island Money Pit, "the worlds greatest treasure hunt", is privately owned. For 200 years, men have attempted to dig through the booby traps and unscramble a secret code that leads to the treasure. Some say it's a hoax but others are adamant that there is gold to be found. There is a lot of debate as to how the treasure got there to begin with, yet alone who buried it. Maybe pirates? The islands investors work closely with the Oak Island Tourism Society (OITS), and promote the Oak Island Money Pit as a fascinating heritage site with the aim of 'securing the rights to operate guided tours on Oak Island'.

While the lure of hunting for treasure was far from our minds, we had our very own treasure in the form of friendship. A treasure that is priceless. For that, I am thankful.

For more info:
Oak Island Resort
Oak Island Treasure
Oak Island Tourism Society

By Maria

The Right Coast Nova Scotia Blog
http://therightcoastnovascotia.blogspot.com

10 Outdoor Winter Activities in NS

It's early January and already I'm shack wacky. Even though I am getting lots of fresh air as I train for The Hypothermic Half Marathon, I still want to "do" something. For the last couple days I've been suffering a mild case of writers block. A few months ago I was bursting with ideas on things to blog about. Now it's January and I'm not even inspired to clean the kitchen floor (okay, I'm never inspired to do that). I blame it on the January blahs. So, to help me shake out of it, I got a hair cut. Somewhere between the pungent smell of hair dye and purring like cat with someone playing with my hair, a thought popped into my head - write about how to get the "ick" out of January.

10 Activities to Get The "ick" Out of January- in no particular order:

1. Outdoor Photography
Yes, at this time of year we curse the ice and snow but before you reach for that shovel and ice pick, discover the beauty in the white stuff. Take a picture of it. Get close-up, and zoom in on an icicle.

The Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia motivates its members and guests with seminars, workshops and field trips for all levels of shutterbugs. Their next field trip is January 25th (Eagle Watching in Sheffield Mills).

2. Eagle Watching
January and February are the best months for viewing eagles and the Sheffield Mills Eagle Watch is where you'll be guaranteed some action. This annual event runs Jan. 24 - 25, 2009 and Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2009 and is in its 18th year. Near Kentville, this community comes alive with eagle watchers. There are lots of viewing areas so bring your camera a knock off items #1 and #2 from this list.

3. Snowshoeing
If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Follow these handy tips and get ready to burn a lot of calories with this safe, low impact sport. Thanks to technological improvements from the cumbersome wooden variety, you can choose to do a leisurely stroll or a full out sprint.

Snowshoeing in Guysborough is easy. Just sign out a pair of snowshoes (they're free) from the Guysborough Fitness Centre and then explore around the grounds of the Osprey Shores Golf Resort. I'm also told that snowshoeing is fabulous on Five Islands Provincial Park's hiking trails. While the park is officially closed for the season, no one minds if you strap on your shoes. Be safe!
For more info:
Nova Scotia trails (maintained during winter)

4. Winter Surfing
Watch them, cheer them on while standing firmly with hot chocolate in hand from the beach. This is really something to see and at Lawrencetown beach is where you'll find these brave people. Hot tub dude?
Click on the image to watch a winter surfing video (January 4th, 2009)
For more info:
Scotia Surfer
Surf Nova Scotia

5. Geo caching
Geocaching is an outdoor high-tech treasure hunting game by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches (with "treasures" inside), and then share your experiences online. If you take a treasure, you must leave one for the next person. Did you know that Nova Scotia’s first cache was also the first in Canada? Placed: Jun 18th, 2000. Today, there are 709,820 active geocaches around the world. Wow.
For more info:
Maritime Geocaching Association
Stonehame Lodge and Chalets-Weekend Geocaching Packages

6. Winter Camping
Grab your wool, polypropylene, hydrophobic, Polarguard, Hollofil, Quallofil, Primaloft, Microloft, Thinsulate, pile and fleece and do good research before you set out.
Kejimkujik National Park offers wonderful sites in Jeremy's Bay and has four warm-up shelters. In the backcountry, 8 campsites and 2 backcountry cabins are available. Call the Visitor Centre (open on weekends) for more information and backcountry reservations (1-902-682-2772). Get inspired by watching an episode of Survivor Man.

7. Sliding
I'm usually corrected when I say "coasting" but I grew up saying it on the Eastern Shore. Must be a Maritime saying. Whatever you call it, it really gets the heart rate up. It's self-explanatory, find a hill, get on something that slides and go. While it's not wise to wear suede, it sure is fun.

There are too many hills to name but for a thrill, slide down the steep hills at Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal. What a rush.

Chedabucto Bay also calls tobogganing "coasting" (so there!) and a hill curving down to a dock in Mussel Cove is a local popular spot. No need to bring your own, as a guest at the DesBarres Manor Inn you'll be provided with your own slider or coaster (whatever you call it). Nuff said.

8. Dog Sledding
Long before there were airplanes and snowmobiles, dog sled dogs were once one of the main methods of transportation in the Arctic regions. There is a lot of coordination in dog sledding. All dogs must run approximately the same velocity and be about the same size as the dog to their lateral position. Mushers have to be in good physical shape and carry tasty rewards for the dogs.

Simple sled dog commands:
"Mush!" -- Let's Go
"Gee!" -- Turn Right
"Haw!" -- Turn Left
"Whao!" -- Slow or Stop
"On by!" -- Straight Ahead
Click on the video to see one persons first dog sledding adventure in Cape Breton.
For more info:
Guided dog sledding tours in Cape Breton

9. Skiing
What's your style? Downhill or Cross Country or Snowboard? These activities will get your cheeks red and give you a good nights sleep.

For more info:
Ski Martock
Ski Wentworth
Cross Country Ski Areas in Nova Scotia

10. Ice Fishing
Handy check-list:
Power Auger- check
Fishing rod- check
Fishing hut- check
Fish finder- check (hey, isn't that cheating?)
No matter, there's smelt and trout to be found in the cold water.
For more info
Canada Adventures Guide (they do hut rentals)

More winter activity ideas:
Bay of Fundy Tourism
Winter in Nova Scotia
Authentic Seacoast
novascotia.com Winter Packages

It's your turn, what are YOUR 10 outdoor winter activities!

Nova Scotia Christmas Trees, A Tradition

A few minutes ago I asked my daughter, "what feeling do you get when you see a Christmas tree?" She simply replied, "happy!"

Christmas just wouldn't be the same without a real Christmas tree. Big or small, fat or skinny, with needles or rapidly falling ones - this over-sized air freshener brings the outdoors in and over three short weeks can add so much cheer.

Did you know that Nova Scotia is one of Canada's top three producers of Christmas trees (along with Quebec and Ontario)? Up until this year, 80 per cent of Nova Scotia's Christmas trees were exported to the United States. When I visited a tree lot the other day, a grower from the South Shore told me he cuts his trees in late October to get ready for the season.

Each year, it's tradition that a Balsam Fir from Nova Scotia is sent to Boston to become the Boston Christmas Tree. This tree is a thank you gift from the province to the people of Boston in remembrance of the city's response after the Halifax Explosion in 1917.

How we decorate a Christmas tree, we all know, is a personal choice. Many trees this year will be "green" with LED lights. It'll be a preference between multi-coloured or plain white lights or blue or red. Some trees will be professionally decorated while many will be decorated with heirloom ornaments and dough treasures our kids made in pre-school. Whether your tree is 8 feet or a table top, decorated from head to toe or only the bottom third (thanks to an overzealous toddler), every tree is beautiful. Even Charlie Brown's.

Mine definitely won't have tinsel. "What's tinsel?" my daughter asks.

Happy Christmas.

A 'Sweet' Nova Scotia Road Trip

I decided to play tourist for the day and check out some of the culinary offerings outside of the city. Our destination: Old town Lunenburg and Mahone Bay. The theme of this road-trip was definitely ‘sweet’.

Our first stop was for ice cream at Sweet Treasures in Lunenburg. Once inside, I was hit with the enticing smell of homemade fudge, compounded by that of freshly made waffle cones. The store offers eleven of their own house made flavors. It also sells the much-loved Scotsburn ice cream, but really, who would go for generic when you can get the real deal? We decided to keep it simple, trying pure chocolate, and upping the anti with mint chip. Both were full flavored, velvety and smooth, with the mint putting forth a blast of refreshment.

On our way back into Halifax, we made a visit to the Biscuit Eater in Mahone Bay to pick up a much-anticipated biscuit. I had it on good authority that these were some of the best in the province, and was not disappointed. I chose the blueberry, a mix of crumbly butter biscuit, packed with large sweet berries. I have to say that I’ve tasted no equal.

The eatery’s appeal is enhanced with comfortable seating and a relaxed ‘living-room’ feel. The café’s standout feature is the fact that it doubles as a used bookstore. With their mix of satisfying treats and literary treasures, the Biscuit Eater certainly does fuel the mind and the senses.

Also of note on this trip is Wild Elements. I stumbled onto the store, and much to my surprise and delight, found myself in one of the most diverse kitchenware Mecas this side of William Sonoma. If you’re planning a trip to Lunenburg and have a love of all things culinary, this shop definitely warrants a visit.

Sweet Treasures
Montague Street, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Wild Elements
55 Montague Street, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
www.wildelements.ca

The Biscuit Eater
16 Orchard Street, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
www.biscuiteater.ca

Rissers Beach, South Shore, Nova Scotia

My friend Mike sent me an email with these adorable shots of his family and friends at Rissers Beach on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.

I love Rissers Beach. I worked there as a lifeguard during high school. I was stationed at a fresh water beach in the Annapolis Valley, and I chose Rissers for a couple of beach exchanges to get some experience at and ocean beach.

Although it depends on the season, the beach usually has very few rocks and beautifully fine sand for miles and miles. The waves are typically small and the water deepens gradually, making Rissers a great beach to visit with small children. You can even follow in Mike's footsteps and plan a family weekend at the nearby Rissers Beach Provincial Park. I hear Mike's family and friends had a fabulous time.

Rissers Beach is close to LaHave and Bridgewater. Every time I visit, I make sure to plan a stop along the way at the LaHave Bakery. There are always lots of tasty treats on display to help me prepare for a lovely picnic on the beach.

Lunenburg, South Shore, Nova Scotia

I heard today that Lunenburg ranked 16th in Trip Advisor's 2008 top 25 travel destinations in Canada. I'm very impressed that this quaint little fishing village on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, and home to the Bluenose II, is such a popular destination Canada-wide.

The news reminded me to plan my annual trip down to Lunenburg this summer to see what's new at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, wave to this year's Bluenose II crew, and enjoy some fish cakes with rhubarb chutney at my favourite Lunenburg restaurant - Magnolia's Grill.

Happily, my friend Cordell recently attended the Toronto Nautical Festival, and he shared this great shot of himself with our beloved Bluenose II tall ship in the background.

Peggy's Cove, South Shore, Nova Scotia(Angela & Ken - Part 2 of 6)

I've known my friend Angela since kindergarten. When she found out I had started this blog, she sent me a series of great stories and photos from her travels with her partner Ken. In this, her second story, she tells of a coastal escape in the South Shore Region:

"As we have a motorcycle, motoring out to Peggy's Cove was a huge fav of ours. Great spot for the motorcycle with all the turns in the road. We love climbing the rocks, and checking out the yummy gingerbread dessert at the restaurant."