tourist attractions in digby ns

Complete Travel Guide to Digby, Nova Scotia

Even if you’ve never been to the small seaside town of Digby , there’s a decent chance your taste buds have. It’s a gateway to Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy—home to the famous Digby scallops served in restaurants around the world. Since 1783, when it was founded by United Empire Loyalists (Americans who supported the English Crown during the Revolutionary War), Digby’s prosperous fishing industry has kept the local economy afloat. Scallops may very well be the biggest breadwinner, but Digby is also home to a healthy lobster population that makes the seafood industry even more robust.

For a town of only 2,092 residents, Digby is incredibly diverse. Many are descendants of the Loyalists but there are also plenty who can trace their family trees back to French settlers and their descendants, the Acadians, Mi’kmaq First Nations, Irish refugees and the Metis. From its ageless fishing industry to its landmark buildings, history is very much alive in Digby, and there’s no time like the present to visit. Here are a few highlights for the ideal itinerary.

1. Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa

Boasting commanding views of the Bay of Fundy, this seasonal 4-star resort is the crown jewel of Digby’s accommodations. The resort was built in 1929 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, as evident by it’s grandiose look. Here you can choose to stay in a traditional hotel room or book a cabin, which is perfect for families looking for more space.

The castle like building offers an incredible waterfront view that can best be enjoyed at the outdoor pool. Once the sun sets, your focus will be shifted to the stars above. The resort was built in 1905 and has generously been added to in the decades to follow. Although it’s named for its 18-hole championship Stanley Thompson golf course and 2,500 sq. ft. award-winning AVEDA spa, the resort offers a home base to several other activities like sea kayaking, zip lining and whale watching expeditions. On site, guests can find short distance hiking trails that offer views of the Annapolis Basin.

After working up an appetite, it’s time to feast on pan-seared (or bacon-wrapped) world famous scallops and other locally sourced dishes at the resort’s Churchill’s Restaurant and Lounge .

Another dinner option is the Sunday Night Dinner Buffet which is a locals favorite night. Although it’s a popular spot at night, it’s also the place to see and be seen for Sunday brunch. After a golf scramble of the kind of water feature holes guests  guests scramble for the window seats at the resort’s 19th Hole Clubhouse & Eatery. Here, the fare is casual and the views include the immaculately landscaped fairways.

2. Gael Walking Tours

Greg at Gael adores alliteration. While Gael’s Plankton, Periwinkles and Predators itinerary provides a fascinating look at the Fundy Aquarium Ecozone, the best tour for understanding Digby’s history and culture is Stones, Steeples, Ships & Seafood. Most of the walking tour is along the waterfront where Greg paints a colorful picture of the past. He knows when all the eye-catching old buildings were built, and in some cases, rebuilt. Between the great fire of 1899 and the Groundhog Day Gale of 1976, Digby is a two-time survivor.

Fortunately neither the fire nor storm destroyed the Trinity Anglican Church—a primitive example of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada— or the surrounding 19 th century houses built by merchantman. The tour also includes the new, yet old, lighthouse. It was on Digby Pier in the early 20 th century but it was later moved to Saint John. In 2016, the town of Digby bought it back. The price? 236 lbs of scallops. Fittingly, the tour—which also includes a history of the local fishing industry—wraps up with a seafood tasting at Shoreline Restaurant.

3. Candlelight Graveyard Tours

By the numbers, this tour is quite impressive. For starters, your guide is Alan Melanson, a l0th generation Acadian who has spent nearly 25 years taking visitors around Canada’s oldest English graveyard. Garrison Cemetery is located in Annapolis Royal, part of Fort Anne National Historic Site. It’s home to 234 tombstones and it’s estimated around 2,000 people are buried here. In his period clothing, Victorian-era funeral attire, Melanson uses animated expressions and witty humor to describe the stories behind the stones. By the light of their lanterns, visitors learn how to decode the engravings. The flowering scroll symbolizes hope and rejuvenation. The winged skull symbolizes something a bit more morbid. Tombstone art is an interesting medium, and you’ll never look at a tombstone the same again after this tour.

4. Take a Ferry to Long and Brier Island

One of the best day trips from Digby involves island hopping. Regular ferries run from Digby to Long Island and the journey takes all of five minutes. Before catching the next ferry to Brier Island, it’s worthwhile to allow an hour to hike Long Island’s Balancing Rock trail. The rock in question is actually a giant basalt sea stack rising out of St. Mary’s Bay. Mother Nature continues to overachieve on neighboring Brier Island. The island’s columnar basalt formations look straight out of Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway. Meanwhile, Seal Cove is home to some of the island’s most entertaining residents.

One of the best ways to wildlife watch on Brier Island and understand its multifaceted ecosystem is to take the Jungle Down Under Tour with guide Roger Outhouse. He’s proficient in mudflats, and Brier Island has plenty. The high tides—some of the highest in the world—leave places like Northeast Cove dry enough it’s possible to investigate the ocean floor. Using a shovel, Outhouse points out the myriad of worms: lugworms, clam worms, blood worms and even ice cream cone worms. Every year new plant and animal species are discovered here, and it’s so rich with biodiversity Outhouse compares it to the Amazon. Occasionally, whales get stranded in the cove and the high tides allow locals to make rescue attempts. Outhouse sums it up nicely, “You never know what you’re going to encounter down there.”

5.  Annapolis Valley for Wine Tasting

Nova Scotia doesn’t have the notoriety of Napa Valley, but it boasts some of the best vineyards in Canada. Dozens of varieties of grapes are grown in these fertile valleys bookended by two mountain ranges. Even if you don’t drink wine, the views alone make this region worth the trip. Luckett Vineyards offers vantage point to enjoy a meal at the onsite café and for observing Gaspereau Valley and Minas Basin—home to the highest tides in the world. In addition to its views and al fresco meals, Luckett is famous for its vintage phone box where visitors can ring any number in North America. For free! When it comes to the wines we can’t recommend the Phone Box Fizz enough, which has a spritz to it with a grapefruit finish.

Less than a five-minute drive from Luckett, one finds Nova Scotia’s first winery, Grand Pre. Acadians originally settled it in the late 17 th century, and more than 300 years later, it’s still in operation. Unlike many contemporary wineries, Grand Pre’s approach to wine is very locavore. It only grows Nova Scotia grapes and each step of the winemaking process pays homage to the local environment and climate. Instead of trying to be a France or Italy, it plays up its Nova Scotian climate and culture.

Before, after, or even, in between tastings, Grand Pre visitors can visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A marked trail leads to Grand Pre National Historic Site, a park commemorating the original Acadian settlement that thrived here from 1682 to 1755. Despite the park’s natural beauty, there are somber undertones hinting at British occupation and the deportation of Acadians that occurred here during the French and Indian War.

Al Fresco meal at Luckett Vineyard

Downtown Digby

Brier Island nature

Brier Island

Gael Walking Tour

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Digby Neck and Islands

Digby neck and islands.

Looking east up Digby Neck from the village of Sandy Cove. Bay of Fundy on the left, St. Mary's Bay on the right. 

Whales, Sails and Fishermen's Tales...

A well-kept secret.

There is no question that Digby Neck and Islands, Nova Scotia are a very beautiful and tranquil place. The gently rolling tree-covered hills, open meadows and fields, the beaches, coves and cliffs, the little harbours, the sturdy old houses, the history, the whales, the Bay of Fundy, all these and more contribute to make this tiny part of the planet, this well-kept secret, so inviting... But it is the people who live here, the welcoming, friendly and helpful people, who are the glue that bind this particular paradise together. 

If you are a visitor to this lovely part of the world... Welcome! We hope you enjoy all that is offered here and create lifelong memories...

If you are lucky enough to live here, this web site can serve as a simple resource for anything you might need, from businesses to service providers, useful contact information and everything in between - click on 'Directory'.  

Live on The Neck?

This site is a resource for locals down The Neck and on the Islands.

Visiting the area?

There is much to see and do. We are happy you are here and look forward to meeting you...

Maps & Flags

Map of digby neck & islands.

One road only (but it goes in both directions!). Hwy 217 west from Digby. Approximately 40 kms. (25 miles) to East Ferry. 

we have our own flag!

This clever design by Sandy Cove resident and musician Gary Wilson represents Brier Island, Long Island and Digby Neck. Check out the selection of Digby Neck stickers, T-shirts etc. for sale at The Schoolhouse Cafe, in Sandy Cove (at the school!).

nova scotia. the maritimes

From Halifax, it's about a 2 1/2 hour drive to the town of Digby. The Neck and Islands are a bit 'off the beaten path', but well worth the visit. A peaceful, secret paradise that attracts visitors to get close to the whales...and much more.

The flag of nova scotia

 The flag of Nova Scotia was the first flag flown in the overseas Commonwealth to be authorized by a Royal Charter. It is in essence a representation of St. Andrew's Cross in reversed colors, with the Scottish Royal Arms centered. In fact, the name Nova Scotia means New Scotland. 

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Top Tourist Attractions in Digby

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Best Things To Do in Digby, Canada

Have you ever visited a new place and felt ‘wow’ about it? For many visitors, it happens at Digby.

Digby may not be as popular as other cities in Canada, but don’t let that fool you. Digby is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination.

You might wish to revisit it someday again, to take a break and relax at Digby.

If you have plans to visit Canada and are not sure if Digby should be included in your itinerary, keep reading. In this list, we have put together some of the things to do in Digby and around. We have a hunch that if you include this city in your travel plans, you will be thrilled you did so.

• Leisure Activities in Digby
• Museums in Digby
• Art & Cultural Attractions in Digby

Tourist Attractions in Digby

Here is the list of things to do in Digby and tourist attractions in city.

Digby/Annapolis Regional Airport

Address: Digby-Annapolis Regional Airport 1400 Airport Rd, Digby, NS B0V 1A0, Canada

Lake Midway Provincial Park

Admiral digby museum, anglican church, wharf rat rally motorcycle association, petit passage cafe, petit passage whale watch, bayside inn bed & breakfast.

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Why a civilian dive team recovered a missing diver near Digby

Rcmp divers did not enter the water in search for missing diver in st. marys bay.

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The RCMP wouldn't follow a fire department's underwater scans that led to the recovery of the body of a missing diver in St. Marys Bay.

The 29-year-old diver from the Municipality of Clare went missing in waters off Digby, N.S., on Aug. 30. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax led the initial search, Digby RCMP responded and multiple volunteer fire departments were on the water within hours.

"My understanding is that … he was on a dive ship, and as he was coming to the surface something happened where he ended up back under the surface and then the search began," JRCC Maj. Trevor Ackland said at the time.

Adam Levings, chief of the Brighton and Barton Volunteer Fire Department, said the underwater scanner had a potential hit in the early morning on Aug. 31, but attempts to drag the area by the coast guard were unsuccessful. 

Later that day, the RCMP underwater recovery team arrived and was informed of the firefighters' findings. 

'Nothing of interest' 

In a statement, RCMP spokesperson Allison Gerrard said the underwater recovery team conducts its own scans for safety reasons. She said the area flagged by firefighters and the area from which an initial 911 call was made were "scanned extensively." 

"Nothing of interest to this search was observed under water; therefore, divers didn't enter the Bay," Gerrard said. 

Levings said firefighters had a second hit on Sept. 4, close to where the diver went missing. 

"We were indicated that our services were no longer needed [by the underwater recovery team]. So we cleared the location and left. And the last update I heard, which would have been the next morning, was that the dive team did not dive on our co-ordinate," he said. 

Levings said a civilian dive team was formed to look at that hit as the underwater recovery team was concluding its search on Sept. 5. 

Around 1 p.m. on Sept. 6, almost a week after the diver disappeared, his body was found by a civilian diver.

Call to work together 

Levings said local knowledge was valuable to the civilian search. He would like to see the RCMP underwater recovery team train alongside fire departments as more acquire equipment for water searches. 

"Understanding that, you know, everybody brings a little bit of, you know, a little bit of knowledge to the table," he said. 

"We're looking at an underwater drone as well to be able to send that down and check the anomalies." 

Levings hopes the efforts of his department and others from as far away as Brooklyn and West Pubnico bring closure. 

"I feel for the family and the skipper for everything they've been through." 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Luke Ettinger is a reporter with CBC Nova Scotia. Reach him at [email protected].

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