Communities

Chester

Chester has long been a vacation destination and is home to many seasonal and year-round estates. Two natural harbours along with the numerous islands in Mahone Bay have made Chester a well known cruising destination. A ferry from the village connects to Big Tancook and Little Tancook Islands.
www.district.chester.ns.ca

Halifax

Halifax can be found only 45 minutes from Atlantica Hotel & Marina Oak Island. This modern port city is teeming with culture and heritage. With an impressive array of entertainment, museums, galleries, historic sites, fine restaurants, colourful gardens and lively nightlife, the city offers something for everyone.
www.halifaxinfo.com

Lunenburg

The town of Lunenburg, was formally established in 1753 as the first British Colonial settlement in Nova Scotia, outside of Halifax. Early settlers came from Germany, Switzerland, and the Montbeliard region of France. More than 200 years in fishing, ship-building and marine related industry have provided the economic foundation to the town.

Today the town features many architectural delights, with houses, businesses, churches and public buildings from the late 1700 and early 1800 still in use today. The Town’s German heritage has been maintained and promoted, and the history of the fishing industry has been captured in the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. In 1995, the World Heritage Committee, recognized Lunenburg’s cultural and natural heritage by adding it to the list UNESCO World Heritage List.
www.explorelunenburg.ca

Town of Mahone Bay

Named one of Canada’s best small-town downtowns by Harrowsmith Country Life Magazine, Mahone Bay is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful towns in Canada. The charming main street hosts an assortment of art galleries, romantic restaurants, specialty shops and living museums – all within an easy stroll. Hike or cross-country ski the miles of trails, or explore the more than 100 islands situated in the bay by sail or kayak. Find out for yourself why the New York Times describes Mahone Bay as “pretty as a picture”.
www.mahonebay.com

Tancook Islands

Tancook and Little Tancook are two islands located 6 miles off the southern coast of Nova Scotia in Mahone Bay. In 1829, thirty families of German colonists and French Huguenots, who had been brought over by the British Government, established their homes on the islands. Today, the population of Tancook Island is approximately 125 year round, with 200 in the summer. Little Tancook is home to 35 people. Most subsist on the sea for their living. These two islands are accessible by passenger ferry – the William G. Ernst, making daily runs between Big Tancook and the community of Chester.
freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tancook