I recently spent a week experiencing the beauty of Nova Scotia and as part of my travels, I spent a day in lovely Lunenburg, home to the famed Bluenose fishing and racing schooner.

This bustling town is full of charm, history and has an excellent selections of restaurants and activities to keep you happy and engaged.
While I was only able to spend one day there, I made the most of my time by experiencing a tour of Lunenburg courtesy of the seventh-generation local, Shelah, who's also the co-owner of Lunenburg Walking Tours.
During my tour, which was a bit over two hours, Shelah took the group and I through various historical sites, shared a plethora of information about her town (including why the buildings are painted in different colours) how Lunenburg is more than just the home of the Bluenose and gave us a long list of great things to do, experience and eat during our stay.

Fun fact: UNESCO World Heritage Site town – one of only two such urban sites in North America!

Here's what Shelah has to say about why you should experience Lunenburg:

In addition to having a picturesque waterfront lined with boats, restaurants and shops, there's a strong welcoming feeling emitted by Lunenburg that's echoed by the friendliness of the business owners and residents. 
I stopped in at the Ironworks Distillery, which is a micro-distillery located in the old port of Lunenburg on Nova Scotia’s historic South Shore. They distill by hand in small batches and use natural ingredients for a wonderful, fresh taste. 
Products include rum, brandy, gin and fruit-based liqueurs.
Of all the ones I sampled, the favourite was Blueberry liqueur.

After the tour, Shelah and I took a short drive to Blue Rocks (Lunenburg's version of the famed Peggy's Cove area) and if she hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have had the chance to experience this postcard-worthy piece of Lunenburg.
Named for the blue slate rocks which line the shore that receives the Atlantic Ocean, this beautiful part of Nova Scotia offers scenic views of landscapes, water, boats and I can only imagine how beautiful the sunset is.
Fun fact: According to the Lunenburg Region site, this fish shack sitting in the water is the most photographed building in the county.

Food-wise, there are over 20 places to get your food fix in (which is quite a bit considering the town is only 4 square kilometers) and there's hiking and biking trails to work off your meal.
If being on the water is your thing, Pleasant Paddling offers various kayak tours (and lessons) for a unique view of the town. 

My suggestion is to park the car and explore this town by foot as there's so much to see and do here. 
If you're looking for that beautiful photo opportunity, head over by the golf course and you'll get your million dollar shot.

The town is also forward thinking and a main driver of that is the revitalized Lunenburg Academy.
Their website says "The repurposed, iconic Lunenburg Academy has recently undergone over $1 M in tenant readiness interior renovations. Single offices, office suites, full classrooms are available on the second floor Creative Enterprise Centre with shared common areas including kitchen and community event/meeting room."
I'd happily head over to Lunenburg for a meeting or two!

The only drawback is that I wasn't able to spend more time here but on the positive side, it gives me a reason to return sooner than later.

Before you go, check in here to plan your experience: www.explorelunenburg.ca

Enjoy the gallery below: