Parrsboro Travel Guide

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One of THE best things to do in a small town like Parrsboro - at least from my point of view - is to just have yourself a little walkabout. (kudos to my Aussie friends and their country for inventing the concept of going on walkabout) Parrsboro is a friendly and welcoming place, and walking around - meeting people and looking at the neighborhoods and houses, well.... it just gives one a feel for the place. And besides, I am a step-counter, it's my fitness regimen. So, walking around Parrsboro was a most pleasant way to spend an hour or so as we waited for the tides to progress.

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The tides associated with the Bay of Fundy are among the strongest and highest in all the world. It's a combination of current flow, lunar gravity and the lay of the land that creates such a unique occurence, and it all adds up to tide variations as large as 15 meters between low and tide. That's about 45 feet, folks. Back home in Florida, we see tide differences of 4-6 feet!

Parrsboro is considered one of THE best places on the eastern short of Nova Scotia to observe the tides. As you'd guess, seeing low and high tide will take you at least six hours time in town. The day that we were there, high tide was about 6 am, with low tide just after 11 am.

Among the things you'll notice during low tide, versus high tide, are:

> You can literally WALK out to a lighthouse that, at high tide, is totally surrounded by water.

> You can find all sorts of "stranded" sealife within the exposed rocks and drying sandbars during low tide. Who knows, you might even find a little lost squid.

> You will see "what looks like" beached or wrecked boats. They'll just be lying on the ground, like it's been years since they saw the sea. But by golly, in about four hours, they'll be floating again, ready to set sail.

Truly an amazing phenomenon, these severe tides.

Watching the tides can basically happen anywhere in town that has a good view of the sea. I would suggest parking out near the little town pier, and then walking the beach. This affords a nice look at the lighthouse, and the satisfying little Harbor View Restaurant is nearby.

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Parrsboro is home to the Fundy Geological Museum, an outstanding and well-respected facility. Built in 1993, the museum is very much a hands-on museum and presentation, offering the visitor a chance to learn by doing.

The Parrsboro area, and specifically the Minas Basin nearby, is the source of many of Canada's oldest and most important geological finds. There are million-year old fossils, dinosaurs and vegetation alike... it's literally a library of the prehistoric world.

From prehistoric dragonflies to gorgeous amythest crystals, this place has it all. If it's preserved in or created within mother Earth, it's Fundy Geological Museum material.

The admission to the museum is C$6.25 for adults, C$3.50 for kids. There is a senior discount, unfortunately I was not old enough to partake. In addition to the museum's displays, presentations and interactive projects, there is a nice little gift shop for a reminder of your visit.

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As you've perhaps read in my intro, Parrsboro is very much about geological and mineralogical practice and interest(s). The third weekend of August brings a very special event to this small town as they host the annual NOVA SCOTIA GEM AND MINERAL SHOW. The show is held at the local Lions Recreational Center and is done in conjuction with the FUNDY GEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, also located in Parrsboro.

If you are an amateur geologist and learning more about rocks and minerals interests you, it sounds like $3 well spent. (The entry fee for the 2009 show was C$3) Additionally, there are many vendors who are selling polished stones, rocks, minerals, crystals, etc. Additionally, there are vendors who specialize in jewellers' supplies, cutting tools and the like.

The show itself is one of Canada's oldest such gatherings (2009 was the 44th annual show) The show is considered to be a top gathering of geological exhibitors, with regular participation of vendors from Ontario, Quebec, Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia itself.

The show is also keen on learning, with field trips and interpretive walks plus demonstrations of gem cutting and jewellery making, gold panning, wire wrapping and more. (NOTE, one of my photos is of an interpretive tour, borrowed - with permission - from the Fundy Museum site)

The 2009 show featured the Nova Scotia Metal Arts Guild presenting works of Nova Scotian silver and goldsmiths. Geologists and mineral collectors from the N.S. Department of Natural Resources, Atlantic GeoScience Society, N.S. Prospectors Association and the N.S. Gem and Mineral Society also were on hand to identify YOUR mineral treasures. Also included in the 2009 show was a traveling display from of superlative Canadian minerals from the Royal Ontario Mineralogy Society.

If rocks are your thing, be in Parrsboro on the third weekend in August next year. :)

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The Harbor View was recommended to us by our B&B hosts back in Springhill. They said that it was just a little local joint, nothing fancy - but that they had great service and excellent and simply prepared local seafood. They couldn't have been more right.

Harbor View is a great place to get yourself a plate of haddock or some local clams. They won't come with some delicate Parisian sauce or accented by butternut square pirouettes. This is a seafood and french fries kind of place... or onion rings, etc. Cole slaw, crispy pickles... you get the idea.

The servers are convivial locals who enjoy chatting with visitors, and seem truly pleased that someone from Florida has come to Parrsboro and is sitting in their booth.

If you want to wear blue jeans to dinner or lunch and want just good, fresh seafood at a very low price, the Harbor View is a great choice. We enjoyed our visit.

Also, if I remember correctly, Harbor View does have an outdoor dining option. However, it was a big cool and windy for such accomodations on the day we were there. I'm betting that the al fresco plan is more of a "middle of summertime only" practice.

Favorite Dish: Well, Sara and I decided that it was time for a lobster roll. I love lobster rolls, just a simple sandwich consisting of freshly boiled lobster meat, mayonnaise and seasonings, fresh shredded lettuce on a crusty roll. Why spoil perfection with anything else? We split a large lobster roll which was priced at something like C$8.00.

I also has a bowl of the Harbor View's thick and creamy seafood chowder. It was nicely seasoned, a perfect balance between the creamy and with a little spice. :)

Bonnie and Sara also went for salad, both of which were simple and made with fresh greens and accompaniments.

I noticed a couple of folks at another table who ordered various versions of the local seafood platters. It looked scrumptious, and I could literally hear the food still sizzling from its time in the seafood fryer. Ummm-ummm good, and I didn't even taste it. The seafood platters are HUGE, so if you're not a big eater, you may want to consider sharing.