Visiting Bear River & Digby, Nova Scotia

Everything you need to know about planning a visit to Bear River and Digby Nova Scotia, including where to stay, where to eat and what to do!

This summer we’ve been visiting some places in Nova Scotia that we’ve never been to, since it is the year of the #staycation! In August we booked a night in Digby, and explored the nearby village of Bear River. I have to say, I fell in love with the area, and I can’t wait to show you why!

If you’re traveling from Halifax, driving to Digby will take about 2 ½ hours. Bear River is only about 20 minutes from Digby, so you can stop by on your way in, or out!

Bear River

First let’s start with the community of Bear River. First fun fact: the river is the divider between Annapolis and Digby counties, meaning the village is split into two counties! Another fun fact: the town has no government, and is run by volunteers.

My personal favorite: the village is committed to being eco-friendly. They want to remain low tech, with no malls, fast food or big box stores in sight. They are also exploring alternative energy sources!

You might be starting to guess why this village is so charming. Bear River is quaint, slow paced and in my opinion, the perfect place to spend a sunny Summer or Fall afternoon!

What To Do In Bear River

Shopping

Bear River is basically one main street, so it’s easy to park and wander through all the shops and galleries. Blue Mind Gallery and Flight of Fancy are amazing shops with locally made art and home decor. I came home with a book by a local author, only because my husband was there to stop me from buying all of the locally made mugs.

Food & Drink

Sissiboo Coffee Roasters

The main reason for our stop in Bear River was to check out Sissiboo Coffee Roasters. They have been my favorite so far on my mission to try all Nova Scotian roasted coffees. The Fundy Storm blend is the perfect dark roast. Of course I love that they are fair trade and organic, plus the bag is compostable!

The cafe is bright and cheery with local artists on display. We had a nice cup of coffee, and then headed back out to wander the shops!

Myrtle’s and Rosie’s Cafe

Myrtle’s and Rosie’s Cafe was the only place to eat when we visited, but it was delicious so we won’t complain! We got a table outside and enjoyed the sun while we ate. The fries are delicious with a nice spicy coating, make sure to get some!!

Casa Nova Fine Beverages

Besides coffee, my favorite beverage is cider. When I read about Casa Nova, I knew we had to stop in. The man working was great, and chatted with us about the wine, cider and the maple syrup that they make. We ultimately went home with the cherry cider, and Buddy’s Original Craft Cider. Both were delicious! My husband also tried their Baron Red wine at a restaurant in Digby and enjoyed it quite a bit.

Bear River Vineyards

Sadly we did not have time to stop in at Bear River Vineyards, but I didn’t want to leave them off the list! The Winery barn dates back to 1883, and has been beautifully restored. They also offer a guest suite that you can book. Your stay includes a tour of the vineyards, and of course a complimentary bottle of wine! I know this is on my list of things to do soon!

Digby

The town of Digby is a mix of old historic buildings and new, modern conveniences. The town is famous for the Digby Scallops that they fish, which is the main industry in the area.

Where To Stay In Digby

The town offers many hotels, bed and breakfasts, plus the famous Digby Pines Resort.

We decided to stay at Bayside Inn Bed and Breakfast, right on the waterfront. I am a sucker for a historic home turned into an inn! Our room was spacious and comfortable, and a great location, with walking distance to everything on the waterfront. The breakfast in the morning was great and freshly made!

What To Do In Digby

Digby Waterfront

The waterfront has many restaurants, almost all of them serving seafood, and a few shops although not many of them seem to feature local products.

We ate at the Fundy Restaurant and enjoyed our dinner! It was nice for this non-seafood eater to find some vegetarian options.

Digby Pier Lighthouse

The small lighthouse on the waterfront has an interesting history; originally built in the 1800s and then replaced in 1903, it was declared a surplus by the coast guard in the 1970s. Since they decided it was not needed, it was moved to Saint John, New Brunswick to be used on their waterfront.

Then Digby decided it should come home, so they went over to Saint John, and traded 230 pounds of scallops for it! The Lighthouse was restored in 2015 and now sits proudly on the Digby waterfront once again.

Maud Lewis House Replica

As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, Maud Lewis was a folk artist from the Digby area of Nova Scotia. Her home was famously painted everywhere, and the original home has been restored and moved inside the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Just a short drive from downtown Digby, you can find a replica house, which is extremely similar to the real thing! I love that you can go in and explore a little.

It can be a bit hard to find, since it is in someones yard! The address is 11585 Digby Neck and Islands Dr (NS Highway 217). There is a sign at the end of the driveway, but you can’t see the house from the road. It is free, however donations are appreciated!

Whale Watching

There’s no doubt that the Bay of Fundy is the best place to see whales in Nova Scotia. Since the Bay of Fundy is narrow, whales are easier to find (compared to the open ocean), and many companies collaborate so that you have the best chance of seeing lots of whales!

There are many companies, although none of them are right in Digby, the closest would be in Digby Neck. But we suggest driving to Brier Island and going with Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises. We had an amazing experience and they have been doing tours for 34 years, they really know their stuff!

Brier Island is about an hour and a half from the town of Digby, however we feel it is worth the trip! Check out other things to do on Long and Brier Island while you are there!

Digby Wharf Rat Rally

You can’t talk about Digby without mentioning 2 things: 1. Digby Scallops and 2. The Wharf Rat Rally. This biker oriented festival brings tens of thousands of people to Digby, usually over Labour Day weekend. Over the course of 5 days there are live music performances, raffles, vendors plus demonstrations and guided tours. They aim to be a family friendly event, and you don’t have to own a motorcycle to attend (although a passion for them is encouraged)!

Sadly the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the current pandemic, which is a particular economic blow for the area since the event usually brings in about $4.9 million for Digby businesses. They plan to be back for 2021!

Final Thoughts

I really fell head over heels for Bear River, and I can’t wait to go back. The Digby area of Nova Scotia is severely under-visited, and the perfect place to spend a relaxing few days. I know we’ll be back!

Other places to visit in the area: