If you want to make gardens and architectural history a priority during your stay, Annapolis Royal offers two distinct points of interest. Its well-maintained grounds, theatre and historic buildings make the town especially appealing to travellers who want to explore cultural themes in different ways.
Gardens and Historic Buildings
The Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens cover 17 acres of carefully maintained grounds. The Annapolis Royal Historic District offers a different perspective: it encompasses a dense collection of buildings dating from the 18th to the early 20th century. The gardens and historic buildings thus offer distinct attractions. When choosing places to visit, consider whether the landscaped grounds or the area’s diverse architectural history matters more to you.
King’s Theatre at 207–209 St. George Street served as a theatre for most of its existence. Fort Anne National Historic Site offers a different historical focus: it is Canada’s first nationally administered historic site. Both places complement the garden and architecture theme with the history of theatre and Fort Anne’s special historical significance.
The O’Dell House Museum is located on the Annapolis Royal waterfront in a building that served as an inn and tavern around 1869. Visitors can explore the parlour, dining room, kitchen and small office of the inn. These named rooms give the museum visit a tangible connection to the house’s former use.
In the centre of Annapolis Royal stands the Sinclair Inn, a two-and-a-half-storey Georgian-style building with neoclassical influences. The museum presents the town’s architectural and social history. The building combines two existing structures from the early 18th century. Its architectural form, origins in two older buildings and current function as a museum offer three different ways to explore local history.
Annapolis County: Trails and Nature
The wider destination of Annapolis County also offers its own trail and nature attractions. The Harvest Moon Trailway is about 115 km long, officially opened in 2017, and connects communities in the Annapolis Valley between Annapolis Royal in Annapolis County and Grand Pré in Kings County. Much of the route consists of multi-use trails for hiking and cycling. The historic route was known as the Dominion Atlantic Railway (CP). This gives you a choice between exploring local history and a much larger regional trail system.
The Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail passes through 130 acres of forest along the wind-swept coast of the Bay of Fundy. Its trail system includes the 2.2 km Bohaker Trail, a loop that takes about an hour to walk, and the 1.9 km Charlies Trail. The 2.7 km Shore Road Trail connects the two in one direction. The details outline different trail options: the Bohaker Trail is identified as a loop with an approximate walking time, while the Charlies Trail is specified by its length.
A 43-foot waterfall is located at Bohaker Cove, and basalt lava rocks can be seen on the cliff from a viewing platform. These features add specific scenic destinations to the trail distances. Visitors interested in the Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail will also find opportunities for birdwatching and photography alongside the trails. In more remote sections, visitors may see stone walls, foundations and lilac bushes.
When looking for a hotel in Annapolis Royal, it helps to distinguish local attractions from trails across the county. Consider whether gardens, theatre and historic buildings are the deciding factors, or whether you also want to explore routes in Annapolis County. This way, choosing a destination starts with the kind of trip you want: local history and gardens, or trails in the wider region as well.
Discover more destinations: Bridgetown, Deep Brook, West Springhill, Granville Ferry
Back to the regional travel overview: Annapolis County.
