Historic Charm at the Tata House
It’s no surprise that we adore the North Shore of Nova Scotia. We have a real soft spot for Tatamagouche, Malagash, River John & the surrounding area not only because there are so many unique things to do but mainly because the PEOPLE are outstanding. Case and point? Just take a look at any video we’ve ever done that features the north shore! The community pride they have is really unparalleled by anything else we’ve seen, and for good reason! If you’re in the market for a cozy getaway on the North Shore, the Tata House might just be the perfect solution.
Checking In & Location
We organized an early check in because we knew we had a lot of ground to cover during our time in Tatamagouche and arrived around 1pm to this gorgeous and stoic century home just steps from Main Street. The self-check in process was easy with an electronic keypad and, like any great vacation rental, communication with the owner was simple and efficient.
The Tata House
The Tata HouseOne of the things I love most about any vacation rental, is exploring the property when we arrive so naturally, that’s the first thing we did. The Tata House is a fully restored historic property with 3 stories, 2 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms! Add to that the giant corner lot it sits on and the ideal location and this would be a great spot for families or groups to enjoy. The charm of a century home like this oozes from every corner, cubby, built in and unique feature. We particularly loved the sunroom, just off the living room (where I spent a good deal of time), the wood-burning fire place (and surplus of wood available) and the third story loft style master with sunken soaker tub!
Our Itinerary
Our ItineraryThe North Shore is a popular destination in the summer months and is known for the many options in terms of activities but, you’ll be happy (and perhaps delighted) to know that there is also plenty to do in the off-season and that’s what we wanted to highlight in this itinerary.
Tatamagouche Brewery
Tatamagouche Brewery It’s become tradition for us now, to make the Tata Brewery our first stop on any North Shore adventure. We love everything about them, especially their organic, hand-crafted beer. We’ve got our favourites (Butcher block Red & Whatever Stout they have on the go) but we’re always excited to try their ever changing seasonal brews and catch up with the super friendly staff.
Malagash Cidery
Malagash CideryThis was our first visit to Vista Bella Fams in Malagash and we’re so glad this ended up on the agenda. With the rise of craft ciders here in Nova Scotia, we’ve tried quite a few and while we enjoy them in moderation, we always find them (even those who claim to be dry) a little sweet for our tastes. So, when Brenna (owner) sent us home with her “driest cider”, The Brute, we were skeptical. We took it to some friends (also non-cider drinkers) to get a true opinion of what they thought and the votes were unanimous. Everyone was surprised to be loving it! It was dry, crisp and fantastic! If you’re a sweet cider lover, they also have loads of other, more traditional, cider flavours.
Ocean Lanes Bowling & Bar
Ocean Lanes Bowling & BarDid you know Tatamagouche has a bowling alley? Neither did we! And, we happen to love bowling (even though I’m horrible at it). It’s good-clean fun and a great way to spend a couple of hours (especially when most of your stops involve eating and drinking)!
Jost Vineyard
It’s a classic stop on the North Shore and, like the brewery, not our first visit. In fact, we had our engagement photos done at Jost! We were lucky enough to pop by as they were bottling one of our favourites – Four Skins so it was a treat to watch that process. The vineyard is seasonal but is open now for tastings. You’ve got to try Great Big Friggin’ Red, which is my current favourite but I’m also quite partial to both Selkies. They also (at the time of this blog post), offer a gift box of 6 bottles for $100 which we thought was a fabulous way to sample their wines (and great for gift giving…. my birthday’s in October, FYI).
Trans-Canada Trail
No visit is complete without enjoying the waterfront and taking a stroll on the trail. We usually start at Pattersons Warf (because it’s easy), walk the trail and enjoy the scenery. It’s particularly nice when, as mentioned, we spent the better part of this trip eating and drinking!
Blue Sea Beach
Blue Sea BeachI’ve been dying to check out this beach so forced Brent to make the trip, however, the park is closed for the season, the ground is extremely soft and the cold & wind were bitter so I’d highly recommend holding off until later in the Spring or Summer to visit. All that said, it was lovely and I’m looking forward to a return visit in the warmer months!
Final Thoughts
Final ThoughtsWe had a very comfortable stay at the Tata House and would definitely return again. We came in and out quite a bit and really liked the keyless entry and central location. This AirBnB is also pet friendly which I know a lot of you will be excited about it!
Disclaimer: We were guests of the Tata House during our stay but our opinions are, as always, our own. A heart-felt thank you to Ryan & Aaron for inviting us as their guests and also for arranging our itinerary! To book your stay at the lovely Tata House, click here.
I love how you highlighted the North Shore! There is so much to offer and it seems to continue to grow every year!! From the Tata House to Jost and the cidery, you touched on some of our favourite spots and treats as local of the North Shore! There is a certain charm that rural Nova Scotia has to offer and in this case, a charm that can be bottled and shared across the province! Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
Love the North Shore!!