What To Do In Shelburne NS

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Inside: Planning your trip to Shelburne NS, what to do, where to stay, things to eat and why you should visit Shelburne on your Nova Scotia South Shore road trip!

Moving back to my hometown of Liverpool NS, has given me quite a different jumping off point for day adventures! We’ve checked out Shelburne a few times, and I think it’s definitely a Nova Scotia hidden gem. With tasty food and beer, unique museums, great beaches and fun shopping, what’s not to love?! Here’s the best things to see and do in Shelburne Nova Scotia.

Planning Your Trip

Shelburne is about 2.5 hours from downtown Halifax, so depending on where you are coming from and how much time you have, you might want to consider staying the night, or rolling it into an epic South Shore road trip!

You also might want to take the weather into account. Being that Shelburne is on the water, it may be foggy or chillier than it is inland! No matter the weather, plan to bring a sweater.

Where To Stay In Shelburne NS

While I haven’t stayed at any of these places personally, Cooper’s Inn B&B is in a great location and looked absolutely adorable, it is definitely where I would choose to stay.

There are also airbnb options where you can get a full house with a kitchen, which is a great option if you plan to stay a little while.

If you’d like to camp, The Islands Provincial Park is close-by and has unserviced camp sites, restroom and shower facilities, a comfort station, drinking water, and a place to launch your boat or canoe/kayak in the Shelburne Harbour.

Things To Do In Shelburne NS

Shelburne is a town full of history, and the downtown area appears as if it’s still the 1800s, with plenty of old buildings, and maybe a dory or two floating in the harbour! 

In 1783, over 5000 British Loyalists came from the USA with promises of free land, tools, provisions and freedom under the British flag. There are many museums, and lots to learn about the history of this maritime town.

My favourite thing to do (in any town really) is to wander around and see what we find! Shelburne is perfect for wandering, as most things are close together.

Shelburne Museums

The Dory Shop Museum, Ross-Thompson House and Store Museum and the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre are all part of the Nova Scotia Museums, so if you plan to visit all 3, you could buy a Museum Pass instead of individual admission, and then you can also visit other great museums for a whole year! 

Dory Shop Museum

11 Dock Street, Shelburne, NS
At the Dory Shop Museum, you’ll step inside a (still working) dory shop, and learn about the history of these wooden vessels, and see how they are still made today. We had a short tour from a guide who explained the whole process of building the boats.

Shelburne County Museum

20 Dock Street, Shelburne, NS
Across the street from the Dory Shop, you can visit the Shelburne County Museum, which tells the story of the history of Shelburne County. 

Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum

9 Charlotte Lane, Shelburne, NS
At the Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum, you’ll step back to the 1780s to see what it was like to run a store in newly settled Shelburne. You can see what types of goods were being sold, and stroll the house and gardens. We particularly enjoyed the chickens in the gardens!

Black Loyalist Heritage Centre

119 Old Birchtown Rd, Shelburne, NS
A little outside of downtown Shelburne, you can visit the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. Learn the stories of the largest free African population outside of Africa, walk in their footsteps as you visit the church, schoolhouse and a replica dwelling. It is an amazing museum, full of important history and stories that you should not miss!

Shelburne Restaurants

Boxing Rock Brewing Co.

218 Water St, Shelburne, NS
Even if you’re not a “beer person” Boxing Rock is not to be missed when you visit Shelburne! They have a great food menu (with some vegetarian options!) and lots of great beers to choose from. They also have cider, and non alcoholic options.

Sitting on the patio for a drink and a bite to eat is great, but to make your experience even better I recommend booking the axe throwing package! You’ll get a short lesson, followed by an hour of Axe throwing, and finish it off with a beer or tasting flight included in the price for $30 per person! You do have to book this experience ahead of time on their website.

The Ship’s Galley Pub and Eatery

156 Water St, Shelburne, NS
If you’re looking for some great homemade food, we definitely recommend the Ship’s Galley! The portions are huge, and everything we ate was delicious.

Charlotte Lane Cafe

13 Charlotte Ln, Shelburne, NS
You can’t mention Shelburne food without mentioning Charlotte Lane Cafe. They offer a fine dining experience, and the menu looks amazing. They also offer weekly Sunday Brunch and occasional prefix menu events.

Beandock 

10 John Street, Shelburne, NS
I love coffee and baked goods, so the Beandock Cafe is right up my alley! They serve breakfast and lunch, as well as take out coffee, desserts and ice-cream. 

Plus it’s located in this fabulous old building!

Beaches Close To Shelburne

Crescent Beach

Brighton Road, Lockeport 
About 25 minutes from downtown Shelburne, Crescent Beach is in the town of Lockeport. It’s a lovely beach, definitely worth the drive!

Roseway Beach

Shore Road, Shelburne 
About 20 minutes from downtown Shelburne, Roseway Beach is usually pretty quiet, and a great place to enjoy a sunny beach day or a walk along the ocean.

Sandy Point Beach

1586 Sandy Point Road, Shelburne 
Less than 10 minutes from downtown Shelburne, the beautiful Sandy Point Lighthouse in Shelburne is certain to make for amazing photos. The sandy beach is really only usable during low tide, so plan your visit accordingly. There’s also a canteen where you can get ice-cream, hotdogs, hamburgers and other treats!

Welkum Park

8946 Upper Clyde Road, Shelburne
If you’re looking for some fresh water swimming, Welkum Park is less than 15 minutes away from downtown Shelburne. It is a day use park with a small playground, gazebos, a dock, and more.

Final Thoughts

There are so many towns in Nova Scotia that get overlooked, and I think Shelburne is one of those towns! While it is small, and perhaps doesn’t offer as much to do as towns like Lunenburg, it is considerably less crowded, with plenty of hidden gems and lots of history.

Shelburne NS Map

Here’s a handy map of all the places I’ve mentioned

If you’d like to visit other small towns in Nova Scotia, here are my suggestions:

• Liverpool NS
• Bear River & Digby NS
• Long & Brier Islands NS
• Annapolis Royal NS
• Wolfville NS
• Lunenburg & Mahone Bay NS