Mahone Bay is a small town on a bay (of the same name) on Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast. The bay has many islands and is a popular place to sail and kayak as the islands are mostly in a natural state and home to a lot of wildlife. The first Europeans to arrive in the area (early 1600s) were the French who labelled the bay as La Baye de Toutes Iles (The Bay of Many Islands).
In 1754 the British brought German speaking farmers from Europe to colonize the area, starting in Lunenburg. However, the soil here is not that rich or conducive to quality agriculture and many of the settlers turned their energies to ship-building and harvesting the bounty of the sea. German was the main language spoken in the area for many years.
The area was affected by the French and Indian War, and the War of 1812. The town prospered in the mid-1800s, especially from forestry and shipbuilding. It was at this time that some of the landmark buildings in the community, like its churches, were constructed. Today the town’s principal economic engine is tourism, but there are still working fishing communities elsewhere along the bay.
Mahone Bay is a pretty town, pleasant to explore on foot. You’ll see lovely Victorian homes, shops, restaurants, gardens, and old churches all spread out along the lovely waterfront. A terrific place for a day-trip or weekend getaway.
