Lunenberg

The next morning we cruised diagonally across the province, with a quick stop to have a paddle in Kejimkujik National Park (hourly canoe rentals available). Our destination for the next two nights was the working seaport of Lunenberg, named a UNESCO world heritage site in part for the preservation of its prismatic streetscape. The Mariner King Inn is centrally located in the heart of Old Town and a convenient choice for those wanting to explore on foot. From here, we didn’t have to go far to discover our best find in Lunenberg, Rime Restaurant + Wine Bar.

Chef Jeffrey Macneil has lined the walls of his establishment with hundreds of homemade canned goods. At the time of our visit, Macneil had gone 11 months without buying tomatoes from California, opting instead to source his vegetables seasonally. “If it’s local, it’s in a jar downstairs,” he states, while pouring us cocktails made with gin from Ironworks Distillery down the street. My top pick on the exceptionally sustainable menu? His hot-pot inspired chowder. It features pork belly, smoked kohlrabi, maitake mushrooms, and a quail egg, all poached in a broth of diluted clam liquor and fermented pepper juice. This dish is a testament to his farm-to-table method, with all ingredients sourced from regional producers.