Denise Davies

Are you searching out information on your family history? Enjoy finding out more about Antigonish and its history? Here are a few ideas to get you started. Antigonish Heritage Museum, St Francis Xavier Library, St. Ninian's Pioneer Cemetery. Page 25-26 of Sunrise Trail Magazine. Fall Winter 2023.

Antigonish Nova Scotia. Excursions within 2 hrs, day trips, outdoor recreation.

The book includes Antigonish Town and excursions along Hwy 337, 245, 7, 316, HWY 104 East and West and the Eastern Shore. Photos, descriptions, maps, and QR codes to more information online.

Antigonish Town, excursions within 2 hrs, day trips, outdoor recreation, hiking, history, culture, beaches, trails, nature and more

A Sunrise Trail Road Trip
There are five main routes out of Antigonish each with wonderful destinations. Take HWY 245 from the end of Main Street along Hawthorne Street and head to explore a section of the Sunrise Trail along the Northumberland Shore.
Drive through rolling rural countryside and at Malignant Cover keep to the left where you start seeing views of the blue waters of the Northumberland Shore. Our first stop is Arisaig. Turn right at the St. Margaret of Scotland Church and head do...

The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce organized their monthly networking meeting “Business Connects” with a trip on the Luxury Bus to Steinhart Distillery in Arisaig.
The Luxury Bus is a great way to chat and meet with people as the comfortable padded seating goes around the bus – not in row seats. Our driver, owner, Gerard MacIsaac was engaging and helpful. Great way to travel with a group.
Such a beautiful drive along the Northumberland Shore. A beautiful view of Arisaig from the patio at Stei...

As we learned about the types of lavender from Dave Belt, owner of Seafoam Lavender, we could see, feel and smell the differences in the lavender flowers. Even though this is October some of the plants were still in bloom.
It would be amazing to be here in the peak season in July when the air is full of the scent of lavender from the millions of lavender flowers and buds on the surrounding slopes. The lavender scent and taste is captured in the over 60 products created and produced by Suzy Be...

Off the Beaten Track on the Eastern Shore
In October I was excited to go with a group of travel writers to visit the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.
SeaWind Landing Country Inn is certainly off the beaten track but well worth making this a destination. The Inn is located in Charlos Cove on the Eastern Shore with ocean views and fresh air off the Atlantic. I had a cozy gable room on 2nd floor with an ocean view – a great spot to catch the spectacular sunrise next morning. If you enjoy fine dinin...

Susan Walsh. Art of Resilience exhibition at The People's Place Library, Antigonish NS. September 2015.
Video by Denise Davies, Eckova FIlm and Media Productions.

A beautiful setting and great partnerships between town and university are working in Antigonish

EVERY September, the small town of Antigonish (population 5,195) doubles in size with the arrival of the students excited to start their new year at St. Francis Xavier University. Renowned for its campus spirit, its strong international reputation, top ratings by students in Maclean’s university rankings, and, of course, the X-ring, StFX easily attracts students and faculty from all over the world...

We constantly hear about out-migration from the East Coast—but others choose to reverse the trend and come to live here. Why? We look at several newcomers to Nova Scotia as examples.
Joe VanHeerden, Carol Rivoire, Kulbir Singh, Thomas Steinhart, John Graham-Pole
All of these individuals are living in small communities. They see opportunities in our natural resources, the land, space, location and people. They have come by choice, and they bring new skills, talents, experiences and ideas and a fresh eye to what we have here.

I sip on a glass of wine on my room’s balcony overlooking the waters of the Georgia Strait, the mountains of Quadra Island reflecting off the surface. Tiny tugs pulling their heavily loaded barges pass by. The lapping of the waves from the wake of the ferry boats and tugs is the only sound except for the cries of the seagulls and fluted sounds from the songbirds. This peace is just minutes away from a thriving town and a multitude of outdoor experiences.
A scenic three-and-a-half hour drive ...

A series of posts for Special Olympics Summer 2018 to welcome visitors to Antigonish with things to do and see while you enjoy your visit.

Breathing in the salt air and digging my toes into the sand along with the wind and the sun make for a perfect setting to explore Inverness Beach. The sandy beach stretches for 1.7 KM with views of the coastline up towards the Cabot Trail and back down towards Mabou along the west coast of Cape Breton.

Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore may seem a bit remote, but in reality, it’s just a couple of hours from Halifax, Antigonish or Cape Breton. And it’s worth the drive—the highway along the shore offers spectacular views as it meanders along past bays, coves, inlets, tidal marshes, pristine beaches and rugged coastline. Coastal islands dot the nearby waters, and all of it offers hikers, nature lovers, paddlers, history buffs and photographers much to enjoy.

Pages 18-24

There is so much to enjoy and memories to make all over the island: hiking, winding roads with spectacular views, small villages, local artists and artisans, history, Celtic music, delicious lobster and seafood chowder, golf, kayaking, fishing, whale watching, beach combing, and heart-stopping beauty of nature.