Winter Gems – Bliss on the Cabot Trail
The Cabot Trail has so many great little communities along the way. Some are hidden gems that don’t get half the attention they deserve, the St. Ann’s/North Shore region is one of these places. Here, you can rest in comfort, enjoy delicious foods and explore trails that look and feel so different in the winter!
Yurt Sweet Yurt
No matter the time of year, for my wife and I, the weekend means heading to the Cabot Trail for an adventure. This winter adventure started with a stay at Cabot Shores in their Big Red Yurt. Not only is this Mongolian yurt pet-friendly, it’s also the perfect place to curl up beside the wood stove and listen to the waves crash on the shore all night. Even our senior dog, Randy, thought it was a cozy spot to relax. Our yurt had a deck where we enjoyed a stunning view of Church Pond and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Experiences like Nowhere Else
One of the best parts of the Big Red Yurt was the hot tub just next door with a sauna and changing room! Thankfully, a delicious meal wasn’t hard to find either. Cabot Shores has a Bistro on-site with incredible food. After a bite, we were treated to a peaceful and soothing Meditative Kirtan performance in the Cabot Shores event space. Then it was time to hunker down for the evening in our toasty yurt.
Red Islands Trail
This is an area that I had always been meaning to explore more so when morning came, that was the plan. Just a short drive from Cabot Shores, we decided to check out the Red Island Trail. Honestly, I don’t know how I slept on this trail for so long! This 3.3km loop was the perfect spot to get out on some snowshoes, walk through the forest and take in the magnificent shoreline stretching up and down St Ann’s Bay and a view of Cape Dauphin in the distance. The trail started at St Ann’s United Church on the Cabot Trail and had us stopping to say “wow” at every twist and turn. Randy loved it too!
Dancing for Pannekoek
After working up an appetite, it was time to head to the Dancing Moose Cafe for a bite and more importantly, a cup of coffee. This is another spot that I’ve always wanted to stop to try and in no way was I disappointed. The Dancing Moose provided a warm and relaxing atmosphere and the staff there were all so sweet! We enjoyed a delicious meal while enjoying a beautiful view from the eating area. Their specialty is a Pannekoek. What’s that, you ask? A Pannekoek is a Dutch way to enjoy a pancake. Trust me, you’ll want to try one of these! Talk about the perfect way to wrap up our blissful winter adventure on the Cabot Trail.
Just like a Pannekoek stacked with fresh whipped cream, fruit and honey, our night away was too good to just enjoy it once. I know we’ll be back for more adventures on the Cabot Trail.
