Explore Lunenburg... and Beyond
By Land or by Sea, there is lots to do in our own backyard.
Below is a list of tours, festivals, historic sites and adventure opportunities,
most within walking distance of our hotel.
Seen everything here in town? Keep scrolling for day trip ideas. Adventures all across mainland Nova Scotia from the Yarmouth fisheries and Peggy's Cove to the Annapolis Valley wineries and all the little stops in between, you can see it all from the hub of mainland Nova Scotia and stay at our Rum Runner Inn.
Make Lunenburg Walking Tours first on your list when planning your itinerary. We promise it will be a great foundation for the rest of your stay and, if you are like many others, you’ll be saying, “Wish we’d planned more time here!
Use promo code: RUMRUNNER
Our fully equipped fishing and sightseeing vessel, helmed by a local captain with deep knowledge of Lunenburg’s history and lore, is ready to take you on an unforgettable journey through this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic is located along Lunenburg’s colourful historic waterfront. Come inside the iconic red buildings that once housed the fish processing plant, buildings that now hold stories and artifacts of a fishing heritage.
Ironworks is a micro-distillery located in the old port of Lunenburg on Nova Scotia’s historic South Shore. Our still is right in the shop, and she is running most days that we are open. Offering tours and tastings from $35-$350.
The Golf Course is a 9-hole par 35 which offers a fun and comfortable experience for everyone. The public Restaurant & Course also offers spectacular views of the UNESCO Town of Lunenburg. Online guest booking available.
Whether you’re navigating hidden coves by sea or uncovering the legends of our shore by land, our small-group excursions offer a perspective most tourists never see. Book your Lunenburg adventure today!
Use promo code: RUMRUNNER10
Whether you’re navigating hidden coves by sea or uncovering the legends of our shore by land, our small-group excursions offer a perspective most tourists never see. Check our calendar and book your Lunenburg adventure today!
The Knaut-Rhuland House Museum provides visitors with an insight of early residential life in Lunenburg from 1753 to 1910. Museum interpreters and volunteers demonstrate traditional crafts as well as host free beginner workshops through the summer.
LAMP is located on the top floor of the historic Lunenburg Academy, offering year-round concerts and community events in a variety of genres. With gorgeous views out of every window & superb acoustics, featuring classical, jazz, world music, and folk music.
A week-long festival celebrating traditional and early music. Featuring concerts, workshops and hands-on programs in music, dance and related arts for all ages and skill levels, gathering in historic venues & spilling out into late-night pub sessions.
Pack your binoculars & camera for an unparalleled ocean adventure off Nova Scotia's southern coast. Join Capt. Walter T. Flower Jr. for an exciting, three-hour, whale, seal & seabird watching tour of the North Atlantic.
Open June - September
Hop on board for a relaxing 35–40 minute carriage ride through the charming streets of Old Town Lunenburg. Dedicated to preserving the heritage and charm of Lunenburg while creating unforgettable experiences for all who visit.
Built in 1753, destroyed by fire in 2001 and painstakingly reconstructed by 2005, each year St. John’s welcomes visitors from all over the world. From May through October, the church is open every day for guided tours or quiet reflection.
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival is a small town festival with a big reputation! One week every August, music lovers flock to this distinct UNESCO World Heritage town for the best of Folk music and a healthy dose of acoustic fun.
Established in 1917 by Henry Rhuland, it is the oldest continuous production commercial boat building shop in North America. Watch skilled shipwrights using the same techniques as during the golden era of the Grand Banks fishery a century ago.
Experience the sights, smells and sounds of sailing on a Grand Banks fishing schooner! Bluenose II welcomes passengers on board for 2-hour harbour cruises twice a day in Lunenburg and Halifax. Be sure to visit our Schedule page before your trip!
Meanders through the islands surrounding Blue Rocks & Stonehurst, and showcases why this is the best paddling area in Nova Scotia. These islands make a first-rate destination which provide protected paddling with glimpses of the open ocean.
As an iconic landmark in the Town of Lunenburg, known as “the Castle on the Hill”, and sitting atop Gallows Hill, It remains the only surviving intact 19th century Academy building in Nova Scotia and one of very few in Canada. June - September 10am-4pm.
Held one single Sunday each summer from noon until 4pm, this annual festival features over 40 folk artists and over 1500 artworks for sale. Auction, live music and door prizes to boot. A folk art buying frenzy for collectors not to be missed!
Experience our gold rush history and unique geology as you enjoy our self-guided tour along the sea cliff trail o the famous Ovens Sea caves. High points include Cannon Cave where you will hear the boom created as the waves enter the cavern. An easy 1 hour tour.
Sand Dollar Beach is a gorgeous sandy beach at low tide. At high tide the sandy beach is underwater! The water tends to be warm and shallow. Don't forget to stop in at the Rose Bay General Store & Bistro.
Hirtle's Beach is a stunning 3-km sand and cobble "living beach" located at 318 Hirtle Beach Road in Kingsburg, just a 25-minute drive south of Lunenburg. It serves as the gateway to the beautiful Gaff Point Trail.
Connecting the historic LaHave Islands to the mainland, this beach stretches like a sandy road beaconing sunseekers & beach explorers. On your way there, save room for lunch at the Ploughman's Luncheonette.
At the mouth of the Petite Riviere, this beautiful park has a 1.5-km (1-mi) sheltered sandy beach (supervised July/August), a boardwalk along an inland marsh and two campgrounds. Stop for supper at the Osprey's Nest.
The next-closest village to Lunenburg, just a 15-minute drive away and a completely different vibe. Take a picture of the famous 3 Churches, explore the main street's cute shops, lush gardens and and in the fall, the annual Scarecrow Festival.
Choose your Kejimkujik adventure — inland or along the coast! Connect with Mi’kmaq culture, stay overnight and stargaze in Nova Scotia’s only dark-sky preserve, paddle waters travelled by the Mi’kmaq for thousands of years and hike or bike the forest trails.
Blue Rocks is an old fishing village just 8 minutes east of Lunenburg. It features blue rock formations, wooden shacks and is a terrific place for iconic photos. Keep an eye out for artists' studios and boutique shops tucked away in local houses, open seasonally.
Take the Cable Ferry to
Village of Lahave
The cable ferry service across this river has been active since the 1800s, connecting East LaHave on the Lunenburg side of the Petite Riviere region. The ferry is free to all members of the public, and is accessible to cars, trucks, RVs, bikes, walkers, and more.
Boardwalk & Lookout
Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse is one of Nova Scotia’s most well-known lighthouses and probably the most photographed lighthouse in Canada. A little over an hour from Lunenburg by highway, or two hours via the picturesque "Lighthouse Route".
This National Historic Site was the first capital of New France in 1632, the beginning steps of Acadian history in Canada. The quaint building on site was once a lighthouse keeper’s home and is part of Nova Scotia’s proud lighthouse heritage.
Big Tancook Island is a rural, 550-acre island home to 150 year-round residents. Accessible via a scenic 50-minute passenger ferry ride from Chester, it's is famous for its quiet, unpaved roads, many deer, and a strong maritime and artistic history.
The Annapolis Valley (Wolfville, Grand-Pré) is a scenic agricultural and wine-producing region in western Nova Scotia. It is famous for world-record tidal changes, 400 years of Acadian history, and thriving local vineyards.
Check out the Magic Winery Bus!
So much to do!
Let us know if you would like to stay another night.
