Walking in Annapolis Royal

 (Delayed posting. Visited during summer 2024) 

Walking around Annapolis Royal always warms by heart. If I believed in past lives I might think an ancestor once lived there. Rather, I think it is just the right mix of things I have come to love about the Maritimes: history, old buildings, the water and the seafood from it, good cuisine, and good people. Here are some pictures from my walks around here over my three day stay and the additional two nights I was here with my spouse.

The remains of Queen's wharf, the original dock of Annapolis Royal, the oldest European settled town in North America.

AN image of Port-Royal, on the opposite side of the water from Annapolis Royal. You can visit there when it is regular tourist season. 

This is Fort Anne on the edge of the main part of Annapolis Royal. The grounds are open all year long with the main barrack building and museum open during tourist season. 

When I was a child until my early teenage years I used to sled here during the winter, when we drove by to see relatives, and during the summer. Being able to play and run up/down hills brought me so much joy.

The barracks and museum.

Some very old houses. The first one dates back to when the French controlled Annapolis Royal (Port Royale 1605-1713 back then)!

Some graves here date back to the founding of this colony.

Built in 1837, this court house is one of the oldest and is still in use.

Apparently the owner built this building to compete with the dentist who built the Bread & Roses Inn where I was staying. As you can tell, they lost but there is still good bones in this house.

The old train station last used in the 1990's when the line shut down. 

The tracks are torn up and been converted to a walking/biking trail.

The small community of Granville.

As this is on an inlet that goes to the Bay of Funny the tides go up and down.

Some yard art.

Twice weekly market.

Lots to see in town. More restaurants, shops, bookstores, consignment stores, antiques, and more.

The Garrison House Inn and Restaurant

 (Delayed posting. Visited during summer 2024) 

On the third night in Annapolis Royal I ate at The Garrison House Inn and Restaurant. When my wife arrived in the Maritimes and we stayed in town, we ate here twice! The restaurant is seasonal but the accommodations is open most of the year.

For an appetizer, a house sales of spinach, tossed pecans, cheese, strawberries, and balsamic vinaigrette. 

I had the special which was a blackened haddock with chow chow on top, to quell the slight heat, seasonal vegetables, and rice Piaf. Very well done.

For dessert I had a creamy lemon pudding with berry compote. Perfect dish to round out the meal.

On our second visit I had the same salad but this time it came with some poached pears.

For a main I had the deluxe seafood pasta: linguine with scallops, shrimp, and haddock. The cause was a rose with parmesan cheese. It satisfied my seafood itch in style with its robust flavour.

For the third time I had the escargots stuffed in cherry tomatoes, herb butter, grated parmesan with rosemary focaccia bread. The wine pairing for the meal was exceptional and local.

The main was pork tenderloin with a smoked apple glaze, chipotle spiced sweet potato gratin, and seasonal vegetables. Everything was great especially the sweet potato gratin. 

If I came back to Annapolis Royal I would eat here again.

ARCH & PO Pizza

(Delayed posting. Visited during summer 2024) 

For supper on my second night in Annapolis Royal, I ate at ARCH & PO Pizza. Appropriately named, it is in the old Annapolis Royal Customs House and Post Office, built in 1890.

The menu has a good amount of choice. I went with the Angel from Montgomery: garlic oil, prosciutto, dates, blue cheese, arugula, and balsamic reduction.

They serve wine, coffee bar drinks, and other rotating items.

The pizza was perfect for one person with lots of inviting flavours. They know their craft when making pizza. I would eat here again.

Restaurant Compose

 (Delayed posting. Visited during summer 2024) 

I had supper at the Restaurant Compose in Annapolis Royal on one of the evenings I stayed here. Combining European and Austrian cuisine (the owner is Austrian) I wanted to give it a try.

I started with a good salad with a lemon dill dressing to get my vegetables.

For my main I had the linguine pasta with lemon basil pesto. Scallops and shrimp were included with this delicious dish. After a long day of driving, with little walking, this was delicious but sat a little heavy. Highly recommend after a day of good walking excursions.

For dessert I chose an apple strudel with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle. Very decedant, warm, and yummy. I was glad that I was staying very close by.

Bread & Roses Inn

 (Delayed posting. Visited during summer 2024) 

While I stayed in Annapolis Royal for three nights, my base of operations was the Bread & Roses Inn. I enjoyed it so much that when my spouse arrived in the Maritimes we stayed here for two nights! Built around 1880, by a showoff dentist, it has changed hands many times but has kept the architecture and interior intact. Its location in the centre of Annapolis Royal was perfect for my needs. The owners can answer a great many questions about the area, recommended restaurants, and places to see.

Here some images of the inside.

On the second floor, my bed and bath rooms were just perfect.

The sitting room is available to all guests staying here.

The dining room is where breakfast is served. You can speak with other guests easily, or not as you wish. If you do communicate then perhaps you will learn about local events and points of interest.

Speaking of breakfast, below is a sample of what they might serve. They can cater to dietary restrictions or preferences too.

Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre

(Delayed posting. Visited during summer 2024) 

While driving to Annapolis Royal I wanted to stop off at the Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre. On Millbrook First Nation land, near Truro, this centre has a museum that teaches about the history of the Mi'kmaq people who lived and still live here and in the Maritime provinces. They also have rentable spaces and a shop that generates revenue for local Mi'kmaw products.

The museum, my main purpose for coming here, was incredibly informative and contained excellent displays. I learned more about the Mi'kmaq peoples here than I ever did in school while growing up in the Maritimes. They are an important part of history and should be included in an education curriculum. As responsible adult, we can do more.

Here are just a few images of what you can see when you visit.

The gift shop has many items of interest. I picked up some history books and a three pack of Wabinaki maple syrup that has been aged in toasted oak, whisky, or bourbon barrels. More items to feed the mind and the body are here to explore.