Why You Need To Visit Port Medway, Nova Scotia

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Nova Scotia is full of small towns and hidden gems. Port Medway is both of those things. It’s a small village just a short drive outside Liverpool, NS.

While it’s a small village, it’s large on charm, so here’s why you should head to Port Medway on your Nova Scotia road trip!

Here’s a handy map around Port Medway, NS, so you can find your way around! You’ll see it’s a pretty small place, so most things are close together.

Rosefinch Mercantile & Tea Room

As you pull into Port Medway, you’ll notice the green building of the Rosefinch Mercantile. If you’ve read the previous iteration of this post, it is the former Port Grocer. Bought and lovingly restored by owners Audra and Haritha. The store features a lovely selection of gifts, paper items, crafts, and so much more. Plus, Rosefinch is the only restaurant in Port Medway. Their tearoom serves soup and sandwiches every day, and offers Afternoon Tea on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Community Garden

Be sure to walk behind Rosefinch Mercantile and enjoy the community garden, where locals maintain a lovely vegetable and flower garden. Bring a book, chat with locals and visitors, and enjoy the space!

Carroll Baker Mem’ries Centre

Next door to Rosefinch, you’ll find the Carroll Baker Mem’ries Centre inside the former Port Medway Baptist Church. The Mem’ries Centre is a tribute to Canada’s First Lady of Country Music, Carroll Baker. 

Sea Port Gifts and Treasures

Ever wander into a gift store and know you could spend an hour or more there? That’s how I feel at Sea Port Gifts and Treasures. There’s so much to see, and the selection is ever-changing which means you can visit over and over. They have a great selection of plants for those of you with green thumbs, and I love the selection of kitchen stuff!

Salt-Water Ballad Books

I absolutely love wandering through a bookstore, and Salt-Water Ballad Books is a special one. It is located in an old barn on the owner’s property, and inside you can find new and used books, records, VHS tapes, cassettes, and more. Be sure to have a chat with owner Jeremiah and browse through all of the treasures!

The hours may change depending on the week, so check ahead.

Seely Hall

Seely Hall was built in the mid-1800s to be a general store, warehouse and shipping office with public space on the second floor. Since then, it’s been used by the community for various events like dances, church pie sales, a radio repair business, storage for fishing equipment, a cabinet shop, an antique store and kayak rentals. The current owners bought it in 2016, and now you can visit the hall and learn about the area’s history. Plus, it is used free of charge for community events.

Port Medway Lighthouse Park

Just past Rosefinch Mercantile and Sea Port Gifts & Treasures, you can relax at the Port Medway Lighthouse Park. Although it is a small park, it has nice views, and you can sit at a picnic table and relax for a while. Bring your coffee and a friend, and it sounds like a lovely place to spend a while. The Lighthouse, built in 1899, is a Registered Heritage Property.

The public boat launch is also located by the park, so bring your boat & fishing gear and head out for the afternoon!

Old Port Medway Cemetery

For some reason, I enjoy visiting cemeteries. They’re always a reminder of the history of an area and the importance of learning about history while we travel. This cemetery dates back to the late 1700s and includes over 300 monuments representing settlers of Port Medway. 

Old Meeting House

The Old Meeting House was built in the 1830s by the Free Will Baptist congregation, and it stands today relatively unaltered. It is a recognized heritage property. It also hosts the Port Medway Readers’ Festival annually.

Port Medway Readers’ Festival

The Port Medway Readers’ Festival takes place in July and August, and it provides an opportunity for readers to listen to and meet local and international authors. The Festival continues the tradition of the Tennysonian Reading Circle, started by the women of Port Medway in 1903.

Proceeds from the ticket sales support the upkeep of the Old Meeting House and the Port Medway Cemetery.

Stay in Port Medway

If you’ve read this far and think that you need a few days to really soak in all Port Medway has to offer, there are a few options for accommodations in Port Medway. 

First, Rosefinch Mercantile offers a lovely vintage camper by the community garden. Imagine sleeping under the stars and wandering into the tearoom in the morning for a cup of coffee and delicious baked goods. It’s the stuff dreams are made of. 

Additionally, there are a few Airbnbs in the area, including The Idle Hour, The Periwinkle, and Waterfront Cabin in the Woods.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Port Medway has so much to offer; it is the perfect place for a little day trip, or stay for a night or two to really explore the area. It’s definitely worth the detour off the highway!

Where To Next?

Nova Scotia has so much to offer on the South Shore!

• Check out the Ultimate South Shore Nova Scotia Road Trip
• Or plan your trip to Lunenburg & Mahone Bay
• Don’t miss visiting Liverpool, NS
• And I can’t recommend enough staying at the Quarterdeck Beachside Resort

Port Medway FAQs

What is the population of Port Medway?

About 200 people currently live in Port Medway. Although at the village’s peak, about 5,000 residents called Port Medway home. 

How far is Port Medway from Halifax?

Port Medway is approximately 137 kilometres from Halifax, which will take you about 90 minutes to drive.