Discover Queens County

Queens County brings together protected wilderness, coastal nature and a history you can experience in museums and historic buildings. Families looking to bring different interests together will find ideas for days outdoors as well as discoveries around Liverpool. When choosing where to stay, it helps to first consider whether you want to focus on nature, the beach, history or a drive through the region.

Wilderness, Coast and Trails

The Shelburne River Wilderness Area protects nearly 3,500 hectares of remote wilderness in the lower Shelburne River watershed in Queens County. The Peppered Moon Nature Reserve, in turn, preserves an undisturbed coastal forest that provides habitat for rare lichens, including the Peppered Moon lichen. The two protected areas highlight different sides of nature: remote wilderness in the river watershed on the one hand, and a forest where rare lichens grow on the other.

At Kejimkujik Seaside, visitors can explore trails and a beach; the day-use park is free. It has two named trails: the Harbour Rocks Trail and the Port Joli Head Trail. Those who enjoy being active can also consider cycling in Kejimkujik National Park, where visitors of all ages can ride. These nature experiences offer different ideas for your vacation day, without requiring you to settle on just one way to enjoy the outdoors.

Nearby is Beach Meadows Municipal Beach: the white-sand beach is one kilometre long, has salt water and offers a view of Coffin Island. The beach has a picnic area, a playground, restrooms, changing rooms and boardwalks; wheelchair access is also available. If you’d like to combine a beach visit with a break, there’s both a picnic area and a playground. Beach Meadows is a specific point of reference for travelers who would like to include a beach day when choosing where to stay.

Liverpool and the Region’s History

Exhibits at the Queens County Museum range from Mi’kmaq history and early medicine to maritime history and wartime memorabilia. Visitors can also step aboard a replica deck of the famous privateer ship “Liverpool Packet” and learn why Liverpool was known as the “Port of the Privateers.” The museum brings together a variety of historical topics and a vivid glimpse into the area’s maritime past.

Nearby, Perkins House tells Liverpool’s story in a different way: it was built for Simeon Perkins in 1766 and is the oldest house in the Nova Scotia Museum collection. The house is associated with the Perkins Diary, a 40-year record by Simeon Perkins of colonial life in Liverpool. Those interested in history can explore a building and a long-running written account side by side.

Fort Point Lighthouse is also nearby. Built in 1855, the lighthouse is the third-oldest surviving lighthouse in Nova Scotia and a rare example from before Confederation. It can be visited as a museum and gift shop. The Queens County Fair in Caledonia is an agricultural fair held after the fall harvest; its first exhibition took place in 1886. Both places offer visitors a glimpse into the history and traditions of the area.

Getting Between Places

The Kejimkujik Scenic Drive, Highway 8, connects Liverpool with Annapolis Royal and passes through Milton, Middlefield and Caledonia. If you’d like to include a drive through the region in your trip, this route is a helpful guide. Nearby, the Trestle Trail follows a former section of railway line along the Mersey River through Liverpool. The trail is flat and suitable for all skill levels, which may be helpful when choosing an activity that’s right for you.

Explore the communities in the county as further points of reference for your search: Mill Village, Port Mouton, Port Medway, Liverpool, Greenfield and Hunts Point. You can focus your vacation rental search on the place that best suits the experiences you’re most interested in having in Queens County.

For the broader travel overview: Nova Scotia.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Annapolis County, Digby County.