Where can you find an ice cream in Antigonish? We have lots of choices for enjoying an ice cream on a hot summer day.
Add your favorite spot in the comments below
We decided to do a day trip along the Sunrise Trail from Antigonish, via Pictou to Tatamagouche.
Although the day was cloudy and cool in early June it was an enjoyable and scenic trip. We stopped at Seafoam Lavender along the Northumberland Coast. It was early in the season so the Lavender was not blooming but the scent on walking into their shop was heavenly. Kathleen welcomed us and explained that all the lavender products are produced in-house by this family owned business.
We purchased a couple of lavender plants for our garden and have been enjoying the Lavender Essential Oil and Lavender Soap to give that fresh lavender fragrance at home. There was a lovely selection of products – Lavender Sugar, Lavender Sea Salt, Essential Oils, Lavender Herbs, soap, creams and skincare products and more. The shop is very attractive and welcoming.
Outside we explored the information panels with their stories of lavender. You can learn a lot on this stop and it will be wonderful later in the season when the fields of lavender are in bloom. Thank you to Seafoam Lavender for their photos of the fields in bloom and their poster for the July Lavender Festival.
A great time to visit will be at their annual Lavender Festival July 15-16. Create your own lavender bouquet with U-Pick and enjoy the gardens in flower. Bring a picnic and enjoy the Northumberland coast. You will find Seafoam Lavender on the section of the Sunrise Trail between Pictou and River John.
SEAFOAM LAVENDER CO. & GARDENS
(SEASONAL ONLY, 1 JUNE – 30 SEPT, 10-6 DAILY)
AND BY APPOINTMENT
3768 HIGHWAY 6 (SEAFOAM)
RIVER JOHN NS B0K 1N0
Nova Scotia has wonderful Famers’ Markets. A great way to meet some of the locals, try fresh local produce, enjoy entertainment, shop for arts and crafts from local crafts people. Markets vary by area so check out the local bulletin board or shop to find out the dates and times. Or check the link below to “find a market”.
You can look for food, art, photography, crafts, jewelry, breads, cookies, muffins, fiddlers, dancers, local produce, jams, jellies, honey and sauces, beer, gin, vodka and wine, quilts, and more. Ask for recipes and tips if you find unfamiliar items.
Do You Have an X Ring? Chances are you have been into Cameron’s Jewellery on Main Street, Antigonish.
The "X" featured in Floor Inlay and Chandelier
Cameron’s on Main St. Antigonish has undergone a transformation and their new look is bright and inviting. With the interior design of Andrew Murray of Antigonish the store has a new look that celebrates the traditions of the past but adds the sparkle and modern décor of the present.
The center piece that features its “X” connection is a large black marble “X” inlay in the center of the floor area with an inlay of “1922” when the store was first opened. Above it is a chandelier with the “X” and crystal pendants.
The X Ring dates back to 1942. Working with the engineering class of St. Francis Xavier University, Cameron’s Jewellery designed the present X-Rings, a gold ring featuring a black enamel X within a raised gold square, with the date of graduation flanking the X on its shoulders.
The wooden oak cabinets running along the wall are the original oak cabinets with
Cameron's 90 Year Old Oak Wood Cabinets
design that highlights the oak grain. The cabinets are 90 years old and have been refurbished by CACL to bring out the beauty of the wood.
The large fireplace on the opposing wall gives a comfortable feel to the shopping experience and highlights art work on the feature wall. According to Donna MacPherson, the store manager “We had incredible craftsmen for the stonework, woodwork, electrical and fittings” in making over the store look. On our buying trip we looked for new items that were not currently available in Antigonish.
Cameron’s is a great place to shop for gifts, home decorating items, dishes and jewellery. The tasteful selection of items and the welcoming staff make this a great Main Street destination.
Browse the slide show using the arrow keys and click on the “Caption” button on the right to view the captions.
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In the early evening the lighting on the displays adds a sparkle to Main Street. Be sure to stop in for a visit to see this new gem on Main Street.
Walk in to this tiny shop on Main Street of Antigonish and you are in the midst of a treasure trove of locally made items that engage all your senses.
The Made in Nova Scotia Store is not your normal tourist shop. Everything here is hand made by known crafts men and women, artisans, cooks and artists.
Maple Products, Jams and Jellies
Taste the jams and jellies with the flavors of Nova Scotia. Enjoy the colors and feel of locally grown wool, hand knitted and woven shawls, mitts and sweaters. Explore the exotic hand crafted candles and soaps with scents of lavender, pine, and unscented if that is your preference. Marvel at the jewelry designed with local stones and beach glass with intricate designs in silver. The choices go on and on – Mi’kmaq porcupine quill ear rings, leather moccasins; framed photos and gift cards; hand made quilts, beach stone lamps, wooden frames made from old barn wood. Every corner has unique and local items. You can find body products, blue berries, carved wooden salad servers made from Bird’s Eye Maple and even enjoy home made baked goods or buy free range eggs.
Anna DeCoste, the owner of The Made in Nova Scotia Store says “I had
Anna DaCoste, owner The Made in Nova Scotia Store
been doing crafts for years and really just wanted a place to display my own things. I have a lot of contacts with arts people in the area and the idea just snowballed in a very short time to setup the shop”.
Visitors to the shop are primarily tourists and visitors to Antigonish who are looking for gifts or mementos. They comment that they are so pleased to find a store where they can buy everything local and to easily find such a variety in one location. Everything is made locally and you can learn about the person who made it. There are author bio cards and Anna knows the artisans personally and can give details about who they are and their backgrounds. This is so different from the regular “tourist shop” where items might come from China. Everything is made locally by a known artisan. Local people come in to browse and bring in their visitors as a convenient location to find a wide variety of gifts.
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The Made in Nova Scotia Store is located on the ground floor of a handsome clapboard house that was built in 1857 by Alexander MacDonald, “Sandy the Carpenter” and was originally owned by Master Mariner and Ship Owner, Captain Dan MacDonald who lived here with his household of 13 people. It is one of the charming buildings on Main Street that gives an old world charm to the town.
The store is a boon to the artisans of the Antigonish and surrounding areas. This one-stop outlet gives crafts people a wonderful place to display their works all year round.
Winter shot of The Made in Nova Scotia Store
How to find it: The Made in Nova Scotia Store, 324 Main St. Antigonish NS, Canada (across from Shoppers Drug Mart). Browse the website for products and shipping information.
Links for more information
Article and photos (c) Denise Davies. For information on republishing please fill contact davies@eckova.com .