Exploring Historic Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
Charming Tidal Town on the Bay of Fundy in Eastern Canada
A visit to the town of Parrsboro is like stepping into the past, to an age of afternoon teas served on vine-covered verandas from turreted houses looking out over the water.
Parrsboro is a quaint seaside town nestled into the shores of the Minas Basin in Nova Scotia, Canada. The area was explored by Samuel de Champlain and in 1874 named after then Governor of Nova Scotia John Parr.
Parrsboro: Town of High Tides
The town of Parrsboro offers visitors the chance to experience the world's highest tides--a timeless ebb and flow that touches beaches twice daily. Tidal action is so significant that boats become stranded and landlocked in the Parrsboro harbor when the waters recede.
Parrsboro is the largest seaport on the Minas Basin and, as such, is a one of the best areas to view the Bay of Fundy tidal phenomenon. Tidal waters flood over 3.2 kilometers of tidal flats, with the cycle taking approximately 5 hours, 40 minutes.
Parrsboro's Gemstones and Fossils
Powerful Fundy tidal action has uncovered semi-precious stones such as amethyst and agate. Parrsboro resident Eldon George has made it his life's work to collect and catalogue the treasures deposited on the beaches and found in the cliffs. A visit to the Parrsboro Rock & Mineral Shop & Museum opens a window onto gemstones, minerals, shells and fossils--and the chance to see the world's smallest dinosaur footprints!
The town of Parrsboro is also home to the renowned Fundy Geological Museum, where visitors can see Triassic and Jurassic fossils and view some of the oldest bones in Canada. The facility boasts an exhibition gallery and lab where ongoing research yields clues about prosauropod dinosaur life. Guided tours are available to help visitors explore Parrsboro's geological history.
There's plenty to see and do in Parrsboro. In fact, you may be hard-pressed to do it all if time is short. Parrsboro offers ample and varied accommodations, ranging from campgrounds and seaside cottages to Inns and B&Bs, to turreted homes and mansions. Whatever your preference, you'll find lodgings to suit your taste.
From its rich shipbuilding past to present day tourism, Parrsboro is a place that stirs the imagination and captures the heart and soul of visitors.
Distance: approximately 2 hours drive from Moncton and Halifax
Bay of Fundy Attractions
- Partridge Island--a short walk from Ottawa House by the Sea Museum. Day hikers can follow a trail to a lookout for stunning views of Cape Split and the Minas Basin.
- Joggins Fossil Cliffs
- Cape D'Or
Amethyst
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Dinosaur Footprints
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Turreted House in Parrsboro
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Parrsboro Harbor at Low Tide
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Cliffs and Beach Near Parrsboro
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