TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL | Top 10,000 Places to Visit in Canada
The page created by Katie Scott | Dalhousie University | Photo by
The Deifenbunker is a 64,000-square-foot bunker built in the 1960s during the cold war, meant to serve as a military base in the event of nuclear war. Forty feet below the surface, the bunker was later decommissioned in 1996.
Now, it’s the location of the “Enter the Bunker” room escape.
Photo: https://www.novascotia.com/see-do/attractions/enter-the-bunker/7729
Built-in 1936-1940, Debert was a staging area for an estimated 300,000 soldiers shipped overseas to fight for our freedom in World War II. When the Debert Military Camp was built in 1940, 1400 carpenters, 1600 labourers, 200 steam fitters, 150 painters, ten electricians and 150 truck drivers were employed.
The Debert Military Historical Society (Museum) has an extensive assortment of exhibits within the museum – a Russian Photo Exhibit, Army Room, Bunker Room, Navy Room, Airforce Room, Chapel Rook, etc.
Photo: http://debertmilitaryhistorysociety.weebly.com/
The most popular destination in Debert is the Masstown Market, also referred to as the Masstowner. It’s conveniently right off the Trans-Canada Highway exit if you’re driving through.
At the Market, you can find fresh produce, fresh-baked goodies, an in-house butcher, and a liquor store. If you’re struggling to choose a treat, I’d recommend grabbing a pack of their cheese bagels and a tray of cinnamon rolls.
After, you can have lunch at the sandwich bar or maybe head straight for the dairy bar for an ice cream treat. There’s also Creamery Café across the road from the Market.
Photo: Google Street View
If you’re looking for good ole fish and chips, the Fish and Chips Boat is beside the Market, sharing a deck with the Lighthouse that includes a fresh fish market on the bottom floor. Adults can relax in the eating area near the boat while kids enjoy the large, enclosed sandbox built right off the deck.
There are also walking trails and other attractions around the Masstown Market property; you could easily spend a whole day in one spot!
Photo: Google Street View
MacElmon’s Pond Provincial Park is a lovely 1 km loop, suitable for all ages. The pond is a migratory area for waterfowl, so birdwatching is popular here.
There is also a picnic area to have a seat and enjoy a snack. In the Fall, the park is a great location for photographers to capture the colourful foliage.
Photo: https://parks.novascotia.ca/park/macelmons-pond
The Mi’kmawey Interpretive Trail is a 4 km loop open to the public year-round. It takes about an hour to complete and has parking available. Popular activities on the trail include birdwatching or snowshoeing.
It’s recommended for foot traffic only, as wheeled vehicles may struggle with some sections. The best part of the trail is the panels along the way that give tidbits of history about the Mi’kmaq people.
Photo: Google Maps, Nancy Veinot
The trail for the Sam Higgins Falls is over 5km long, taking an average of 1.5 hours to complete. It’s moderately challenging but great for hiking and mountain biking. It’s open all year round, but the best time to explore this trail is between May and October.
There are 4-5 waterfalls in this area, and the pool at the base of the falls is large enough to do some swimming. Hitting the falls in the summer heat is a great way to cool off.
Photo: Google Maps, Benoit Lalonde
