Your stay at the village is just the beginning.
Tiny Village sits in the heart of Clare — the largest Acadian community in Nova Scotia, where more than 75% of residents speak both French and English. The Acadian Shore is a place of wild beaches, seafood suppers, living culture, and some of the darkest skies in North America. Here’s a start.
Beaches
Mavillette Beach Provincial Park is a 1.5 km sweep of golden sand backed by dune grass and boardwalks, with views of Cape Saint Mary’s fishing wharf. At low tide, the sand flats feel endless — perfect for long walks, kite-flying, or even beach yoga. Surfers ride the Bay of Fundy waves here year-round.
Smuggler’s Cove Provincial Park, a short drive away, was once a Prohibition-era rum running hideout — today, 80 steps lead down to the ocean floor at low tide. Dramatic cliffs, interpretive panels, and a history that’s hard to believe.
Acadian Culture & Food
Clare is the cradle of Acadian culture in Nova Scotia. Visit Église Sainte-Marie — the largest wooden church in North America. Attend a Les beaux vendredis seafood supper at the Belliveau Cove wharf on Friday evenings in summer: lobster, steamed clams, live music, and storytelling under the open sky.
Try rappie pie (râpure), the beloved traditional Acadian dish that’s unique to this region — not a pie in the usual sense, but a mix of potato and chicken that locals have been making for generations. If your visit aligns with Le Festival acadien de Clare or National Acadian Day, you’re in for a celebration.
Clare is part of the Acadian Skies & Mi’kmaq Lands Starlight Reserve — the first Starlight-certified destination in North America and one of only four places in the world with both Reserve and Tourist Destination designation from the UNESCO-backed Starlight Foundation.
Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park
Perched on the westernmost tip of mainland Nova Scotia, with dramatic cliffs dropping into the sea. The Coming Home monument honours those lost to the ocean over Clare’s 250-year fishing history. Seabirds wheel overhead. The views are worth the drive on their own.
Cycling
The Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie draws cyclists from across the Maritimes for a scenic ride through the Acadian Shore. Even outside the event, the coastal roads here — rolling past fishing villages, lighthouses, and ocean vistas — are perfect for two-wheeled exploration.
Birdwatching
The shores of Saint Mary’s Bay are popular with birders, and the saltwater marsh behind Mavillette Beach is home to a wide variety of species. Bring your binoculars — Clare is a great place to add to your list.
More To Explore
Belliveau Cove walking trail and craft centre. Cape Forchu Lighthouse in nearby Yarmouth. Rendez-vous de la Baie Visitor Centre. Local art galleries and studios along the shore. Corberrie Cider for a tasting. And if you’re arriving or departing by ferry, The CAT high-speed service between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, Maine makes for an adventure in itself.