Nova Scotia Vacations

Check out what real people have to say about their experience at Pictou Lodge Resort

The Way It Should Be: In Search of the Old and New Meandering in Maritime Nova Scotia By Bill Nestor.

In my younger days traveling and freedom seemed synonymous. With fewer time restrictions carefree travel produced wonderful discoveries. Now I know it's a state of mind that instead of scheduling in great detail and predetermining where to stay, play and visit, I can recapture some of that peaceful, easy feeling and uncover new gems. On a trip recently to Nova Scotia, Canada I did just that. Taking more time to explore, I gained a new view of the province, a place I had visited many times. Choosing the path less taken brought fresh and unexpected results: out of the way places to sleep, some of the 24 courses in the province's golf portfolio, traditional and nouvelle Nova Scotia cuisine, time to relax and enjoy, and a better understanding of the people and province. Touching the heart of the culture revealed an independent and entrepreneurial spirit that is a healthy and integral part of Nova Scotia's lifestyle. The "something's happening here" meter was really ticking after locating Pictou Lodge, a classic neat, clean, and quiet resort at the water's edge on the Northumberland Straits. The traditional lakeside log Rotunda and log cabin sleeping units may not be classified five star, but the entire resort is meticulously manicured, maintained and tastefully done. The lakefront style lodge harkens back to simpler days and depicts timeless elegance. The main lodge features a high gloss finish with old style white caulking and a 12-foot wide fieldstone fireplace in the dining room. It was here from the glassed porch area of my table during dinner that I watched great blue herons wading at the shore and a bald eagle diving for fish as sunset took hold. The meal, prepared by sous-chef Courtney McDonald, was exceptional. It included a seafood chowder starter with mussels, lobster, haddock, scallops, creamed potato, onion, tarragon and thyme—semi-rich, creamy and not too thick. Appetizer was catch of the day–succulent pan-fried Digby scallops. A Caesar salad, Nova Scotia rib lamb chops and local wines rounded out a splendid dining experience. Recently completed two-story cottages, available for rent, sit on a cove looking on golf holes where deer roamed at first light. Add it up–setting, star-filled sky, solitude, food, ambiance, and service–Pictou Lodge was agreat find. Bill Nestor writes about golf, travel and lifestyle from his ridge top home in Vermont.