Learn the history and seafaring culture of this port town and admire mansions that belonged to sea captains in the late 19th century.
Yarmouth is a town that has grown around lobster fishing. It has a pleasant waterfront and a culture steeped in port traditions with marine museums and fisheries. Stroll past the yachts of the port and note the intriguing Victorian architecture of the houses.
To get an idea of the fishing culture in Yarmouth, visit the W. Laurence Sweeney Fisheries Museum. Overlooking the water, this site shows what life was like on the wharf in the early 1900s. Learn about the fishing, shipping and banana trade through many exhibits of authentic items. See the simulation of a traditional fishing wharf and inspect the photos of historic cruisers.
The museum adjoins Frost Park, a serene garden with a stunning view of the bay. See the bandstand and fountain when they are illuminated at night.
On the other side of the park is the Yarmouth County Museum, which is housed across a former church and two old houses. Peruse its fascinating array of marine paintings. Note the circular metal plaque that pays tribute to victims of World War I. Encounter the Yarmouth Runic Stone, which could be evidence of Viking explorers in the region.
Bring your kids to the Firefighters’ Museum, where they can pretend to drive an old-fashioned truck. Peruse the older models that date back to the 19th century and imagine these historic vestiges rushing through Yarmouth to put out a fire. Play with antique toy fire engines and browse the collection of badges and patches from around the world.
Play golf at Yarmouth Links and shop at Yarmouth Mall.
The town is in southwestern Nova Scotia in the southeastern corner of Canada. Expect freezing winters with heavy snowfall and mild summers. July and August are the warmest and driest months of the year. Yarmouth is on the Bay of Fundy and has regular overnight ferries to Portland in the U.S. state of Maine. Drive west for 3 hours from Halifax to reach the port town. Yarmouth International Airport is 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) to the east.
Yarmouth is a charming shrine to the sea captains who braved the waters for fish.
