Back-in-the-day vacations are hard to find. Disconnecting from the stress of the networked life is a goal for many of us, but hard to achieve. We have replicated our own family history of weekend retreats in a small and curated home offering a recharging retreat. The large deck looks out over Porters Lake, so you can relax and enjoy the view, or get out on the lake for a paddle with the two kayaks available for you to use.
We hope you enjoy the cottage as you unwind and enjoy the lake. The cottage - by design - has no television, but if you need to stay connected, the Wi-Fi connection is excellent.
When you are ready to explore further, the cottage is just 20 minutes from downtown Digby, the scallop capital of the world and 40 minutes from Annapolis Royal, the cradle of the nation.
Below is a list of some of what can be found within a short drive from the cottage:
Swim- The lake is great for swimming but the entrance at this end of the lake can be muddy and there are large rocks, so you don’t want to dive in. Best to float out to swim or take the kayaks out. You can head to Digby Outdoor Recreation Center for swimming from a sandy beach which is located on Haines Lake (the double in Double Lake Rd). 1632 Ridge Road. https://digbyarearecreation.ca/haines-lake
Eat- While in the Digby area, scallops should be on the menu but there are plenty of choices. A few of our favorites include: The Crow’s Nest, Sydney Street Pub, The Wheelhouse Seafood and Pasta. In Annapolis Royal, The Whiskey Teller.
Picnic- Savary Provincial Park. Pack a lunch and enjoy an afternoon beach combing at low tide.
Drink- Lazy Bear Brewing in Smith’s Cove offers beer, ciders and seltzers along with pizza, live music and gorgeous views. Check their website for schedules (18 min). Bear River Vineyards in Bear River (22 min). Annapolis Brewing in Annapolis Royal (40 min). Lightfoot and Wolfville Winery in Wolfville (1 ½ hours)
Adventure-
Whale watching:
Petit Passage- 45 minutes from the cottage. This is the closest whale watching outfit. It runs twice a day 9:30 and 1:30. Be prepared for a 3 to 4 hour trip. Bring warm clothes. https://ppww.ca/ Others include- Adventure Bay, Brier Island, Mariner Cruises
Hiking- There are many trails to choose from: Delaps Cove Wilderness Trails, Gulliver’s Cove Trails, Acacia Valley Trails are just a few.
Golf/Spa- Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa
https://www.digbypines.ca/
Learn- The region is full of history. Admiral Digby Museum and Maude Lewis Memorial Park are close by and in Annapolis Royal you can visit Fort Anne, the Historic Gardens, and the Sinclair Museum. Granville Ferry is home to the Port Royal Historic Site.
Day trips- Bear River (21 min), Annapolis Royal (40 min), Yarmouth (1 hr), Lunenburg (2 hrs) and Mahone Bay (2 hrs).
Festivals/Events-
Lobster Bash (July 3-5, 2026) is a celebration of the Lobster industry includes music, demonstrations, and competitions.
Digby Scallop Days (Aug 6-9, 2026) The longest running festival in the Digby area is a celebration of scallops, the scallop fishing industry and those who brave the seas to harvest them.
Wharf Rat Rally (Sept 3-6, 2026) is the largest multi-day motorcycle rally in Canada.
