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Chester in Nova Scotia is the form of seaside village that feels worlds away with its elegant houses trimmed with hydrangeas, sailboats gliding throughout Mahone Bay, and cafés spilling onto flower-lined sidewalks.
Based by New Englanders in 1759, this affluent little city, lower than an hour’s drive west of Halifax, has lengthy been a haven for yachting fans and inventive souls.
Chester is just small and should really feel like there’s not loads to do there – should you can’t deal with sluggish moments sipping espresso with a lemon tart – however it’s value a go to for a day journey, particularly should you’re driving alongside the Lighthouse Route on the South Shore of Nova Scotia or visiting the close by Sensea Nordic Spa, considered one of Nova Scotia’s hottest.
We spent a beautiful day exploring Chester earlier than our journey to the spa on our 7-day Nova Scotia street journey (in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia). It made a restful day much more restful.
Right here’s learn how to spend a blissfully sluggish, sensory-filled day in Chester — considered one of Nova Scotia’s prettiest coastal escapes.
Morning: Espresso, Cake, and Coastal Wandering
Cease 1: Breakfast or morning tea at Kiwi Cafe
Our first cease was The Kiwi Café, and what a technique to begin the day. Run by a Kiwi expat, this cheerful spot has grow to be a neighborhood establishment. Inside, vivid yellow partitions and quirky paintings give it the laid-back heat of a seaside shack, whereas the aroma of freshly roasted espresso fills the air.
Breakfast choices vary from hearty egg dishes and breakfast wraps to fresh-baked pastries and quiches. We had eaten on the close by Oceanstone Resort earlier than leaving for Chester, so this was our morning tea break. The flat white was so good we couldn’t resist going again for a second cup. (Kiwis rival Australia for greatest espresso crafters on the planet!).
They’ve a incredible number of gluten-free truffles — I devoured a tangy lemon tart that was pretty much as good as any I’ve had again residence in Australia.
Cease 2: Gradual wandering round Chester
From there, to stroll off the lemon tart, we set out for a sluggish wander by means of city. Chester is compact, so it’s straightforward to discover on foot. The streets are quiet, lined with historic houses and bursts of colourful blooms, neighbors gathered to talk by the water by Chester Yacht Membership or whereas strolling canines. You bought a great sense that Chester was a cheerful, related group.
Down by the waterfront, we paused to observe a gaggle of children rigging their sailboats for a time out on the bay — a snapshot of small-town pleasure that felt timeless. Simply beside them, the Lido Pool, an oceanside saltwater pool inbuilt 1928, presents locals a refreshing dip with front-row views of the harbor.
Noon: Artwork, Boutiques, and Native Taste
Cease 3: Chester Artwork Centre
Earlier than lunch, we popped into the Chester Artwork Centre, a non-profit artwork gallery that hosts exhibitions within the gallery area showcasing the work of native, nationwide, and worldwide artists. It’s a small however vibrant area that captures the inventive coronary heart of this group.
We noticed an exquisite exhibition, Grounded within the Misplaced and Discovered by Audrey Nicholl. Her drawings are rooted in childhood rituals of wandering, amassing, and observing the pure world, and replicate on the delicate, fleeting nature of life.
Cease 4: Buy groceries in Chester
Procuring in Chester is delightfully private — simply two small streets, however filled with appeal. Flinn Market Linen, housed in a repurposed storage, carries breezy linen attire that completely match the seaside aesthetic. The Village Emporium is a treasure trove of artisan items, from handmade jewellery to nautical décor, whereas Seaweed Cleaning soap Firm sells domestically crafted soaps that scent just like the ocean breeze.
Down on Duke Road, Martin’s Level Mercantile is one to not miss. This basic retailer–meets-boutique stocked with curated residence items and classic finds, every reflecting Chester’s quirky, coastal persona.
Lunch: Pub Classics or Waterfront Views
Cease 5: The Fo’c’sle Village Pub
When starvation referred to as, we headed to The Fo’c’sle Tavern — affectionately nicknamed “Chester’s Dwelling Room,” it’s Nova Scotia’s oldest pub, courting again to 1764.
Inside, it’s all wooden beams, low ceilings, and seafaring appeal. Let your creativeness roam again in time: the eating room was a blacksmith’s workshop, the bar, the mercantile entrance counter, and the Liar’s Desk (in 1960) would have been the place the horses had been! There are tales to be instructed inside these partitions!
A kind of trendy tales will probably be how nice the elevated pub and coastal native meals is. Craig went traditional with fish and chips (his favourite of the journey), whereas I savored my final deal with — gluten-free calamari, calmly crisped and completely seasoned. Actually, it was one of the best I’ve had exterior of Australia. Fried battered calamari is considered one of my favourite meals to eat, and I hardly ever get to eat it. So, Chester will stay as an excellent pal in my recollections.
When you choose a waterfront setting, The Rope Loft is one other wonderful selection I had earmarked (however it was closed). Set proper on the harbor, it presents patio eating with sweeping sea views and is the form of place to linger over lobster rolls and a chilly cider as boats drift by.
Afternoon: Pints and Peace at Sensea Nordic Spa
Cease 6: Tanner & Co Brewing Firm
After lunch, we couldn’t resist stopping by Tanner & Co Brewing Firm, a microbrewery tucked away on Duke St.
I like the story behind the proprietor and grasp brewer’s mission to create beer that was higher than the boring multinational company brews. He took knowledge gained from his culinary arts and sommelier coaching to create distinctive experiments like Chardonnay Hefeweizen, but additionally created conventional German beers and people hoppy beers many individuals love.
Their small outside patio is ideal for a sunny afternoon pint. Craig loved a hearty stout, and I attempted the mead, gentle and floral, whereas chatting with locals about crusing season and the upcoming Chester Race Week, Canada’s largest keelboat regatta. Apparently, it’s the place to be in Nova Scotia, and Chester is bumper to bumper with folks and excessive vitality!
Cease 7: Sensea Nordic Spa
After which got here the spotlight of our day — Sensea Nordic Spa. Nestled in a forest clearing on the sting of a nonetheless lake, Sensea is commonly described because the crown jewel of Nova Scotia’s Nordic spa scene, and it’s straightforward to see why. Time slows the second you stroll in.
Friends are inspired to maneuver at their very own rhythm by means of the Nordic hydrotherapy cycle — scorching saunas and steam rooms, chilly plunges, and quiet relaxation areas.
We joined a guided hammam ritual infused with eucalyptus steam, mud masks, and mild breathwork. Between cycles, we dozed in teardrop hammocks beneath the bushes, soaked in scorching tubs overlooking the water, heated up in a personal barrel sauna overlooking the lake, and ended the expertise with a nourishing meal inside the comfy yurt café. It was deeply rejuvenating and the proper technique to reset after days on the street.
Night: Keep, Sup, and Gradual Down
When you resolve to linger in Chester — and it’s best to — test what’s enjoying on the Chester Playhouse, a beloved native theater internet hosting every little thing from stay music to skilled stage performances. In summer season, you may also catch Sunday live shows within the bandstand by the waterfront.
The place to remain in Chester
If you wish to flip your day journey into an in a single day keep, Chester presents a mixture of charming B&Bs and seaside inns.
The Mecklenburgh Inn is a favourite for its historic ambiance and hearty breakfasts, whereas Oceanstone Seaside Resort and Oak Island Resort & Convention Centre (about 20 minutes away) make for tranquil ocean-view retreats. We stayed at Oak Island after out day in Chester, watching sundown hues spill throughout the marina with scrumptious meals and stay music on the resort’s bar after.
And the 2 evenings earlier than arriving in Chester, we stayed on the Oceanstone Seaside Resort, residence to a different incredible Nordic Spa and solely 5 minutes from Nova Scotia’s high attraction, Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse.
In the summertime, it will be good to go tenting at one of many campgrounds on Graves Island Provincial Park.
Closing ideas
Chester could also be small, however it embodies the essence of Nova Scotia’s coastal appeal — the place salt air mingles with creativity, and leisure comes as naturally because the tide. Whether or not you come for the crusing, the artwork, or the serenity of Sensea Spa, you’ll discover {that a} day right here is all it takes to fall beneath its quiet spell.
Learn extra from our Nova Scotia Street Journey
