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Sherbrooke Village

and

Memory Lane Heritage Village

The Plan

7:30am – 9:00am
Home to Sherbrooke Village 1h18mins 112kms
11am – 12pm
Sherbrooke Village to Henley House Pub 1h3mins 82kms, 1hr to eat
1pm – 2pm
Henley House Pub to Memory Lane 41mins, 54kms, 2hr visit
4pm – 4:15
Memory Lane – Uprooted
Coffee sweets
4:45pm – 5:45pm
Uprooted to Bev’s Country Diner 
Home 7:45pm

The Reality

Just as we were getting ready to leave, my daughter arrived home from work. She’s been working the backshift lately, so I haven’t seen much of her. We took a few extra minutes to catch up—about 15 minutes behind schedule, we were finally on the road.


Bowman isn’t exactly a morning person, so to get him up early, I bribed him with a breakfast stop at Tim Hortons. We pulled into the Irving/Tim Hortons on Cowan Street in Westville, NS, where we filled up the tank and grabbed some food. At 8:05 AM, I reset the odometer and fuel consumption stats. With a full tank, a fully charged battery, and breakfast in hand, we hit the road. About ten minutes later, were taking Exit 26 onto Highway 347 – Sherbrooke bound. 


Our first stop was the Moose River Barter Barn—a place that instantly sparked the imagination. The building was covered with all kinds of intriguing objects, and the front was lined with what must have been a hundred license plates. It’s definitely a stop for the curious, and I’ll absolutely be going back.

Next, we pulled over along the St. Mary’s River, just on the edge of Sherbrooke. I couldn’t resist walking across the bridge to take in the stunning views both upstream and downstream.

Aside from a few wooded stretches, the drive was beautiful. As the trees gave way to open fields and lakes, the scenery really opened up. Eden Lake, in particular, was breathtaking—I finally understood why my buddy always talked about the Garden of Eden.
 
We arrived at Sherbrooke Village right at 9:30 AM. The EV charger (Switch—$2/hour with a $4/hour idling fee) is conveniently located at the main gate with two available spots. Admission is directly across the road from the charger. After paying $28, we began exploring—and what an incredible experience it was! It truly exceeded our expectations.

Set on 53 acres, Sherbrooke Village is Nova Scotia’s largest living history museum, offering an immersive experience into 19th-century rural life. Located along the picturesque St. Mary’s River, the village features over 80 heritage buildings, including a blacksmith shop, pottery studio, water-powered sawmill, and Canada’s longest-running commercial Ambrotype photography studio. 

Visitors can engage with costumed interpreters, participate in hands-on workshops, and enjoy traditional crafts like weaving and woodturning. Open from June to September, Sherbrooke Village is a vibrant destination that brings the past to life through interactive exhibits and cultural events.

Stationed throughout many of the historic buildings and walking the streets, costumed interpreters bring Sherbrooke Village to life. The women in the old jail and the interpreter at Donald MacDonald Tailor & Clothier were especially memorable—sharp, witty, and fully committed to their roles. 


The entire museum was impressive, with knowledgeable interpreters who not only shared fascinating insights but were also happy to pose for a quick pic. We originally planned to stay for two hours, but ended up spending three—it was just that captivating.

Back on the road, we headed to Sheet Harbour for lunch and a charge at the Henley House Pub. But, when we arrived, the parking lot was packed—the outdoor deck full, and the EV charging spot taken but not in use. So, we continued on to Lake Charlotte and had lunch at Ralph’s Downeast Diner, arriving around 2:15 PM. 


Ralph’s Downeast Diner is a cozy, moderately sized takeout-style fish and chips spot. Inside, there’s an order window straight ahead. After placing your order, you can sit at one of about ten tables in a clean, comfortable dining area—or on the many umbrella’d picnic tables on the front deck.

After lunch, we drove to Memory Lane Heritage Village—a living history museum in Lake Charlotte that recreates life in a typical rural village from the 1940s. It features restored buildings, vintage vehicles, and hands-on demonstrations. Visitors can explore a general store, schoolhouse, cookhouse, and other historic sites while learning about traditional skills, local industries, and daily life during that era. It’s an educational and immersive experience for all ages.
 
When we arrived, the village was BUSY—cars lined both sides of the road. They were celebrating their 25th anniversary and Father’s Day with a large car show that was just wrapping up. We parked at the EV charging station and took advantage of a free charge. Because of the event, interpreters were busy assisting with the car show and the village was closing early.
 
That didn’t stop us from exploring, though. A friendly young lady at the entrance informed us the buildings would be closing soon but kindly allowed Bowman and I to take a quick self-guided tour at no charge. It’s definitely a museum worth revisiting when we have more time.
After about 40 minutes, we hit the road again, heading for Uprooted Market & Cafe for dessert and a free charge—but unfortunately, they close at 4 PM on Sundays. We did plug in for a short charge while walking up to the Musquodoboit Harbour Railway Museum, but I don’t recommend it. There are no sidewalks, and cars drive fast up and down that road. We knew the museum was closed, but went anyway. At the old train station, there was a beer garden on one side and an ice cream shop on the other, but not much else to do—unless you’re up for a hike.
 
I think this would be a great PHEV charging location when Uprooted Market & Cafe is open—and someday, we’ll be back to try it out.
 
We were back on the road by five, heading to Upper Stewiacke to plug in for a charge at the Co-Op, followed by a stop at Bev’s Country Diner for a clubhouse sandwich and pie. This spot is an excellent stop for a family road trip in a PHEV—and depending on how long you plan to stay, it could work well for an EV too.
 
Bev’s Country Diner is conveniently located right across the road from the Co-Op. Next to the diner is a spacious park with a playground, picnic tables both in the open and under a shelter. Just behind the park runs a river, perfect for a leisurely stroll if you’re so inclined. If you happen to visit on the right day and time, you might also catch the Stewiacke Valley Museum nearby, which is known for its unique glass-sided horse-drawn hearse.

After Bev’s, we set off for the 45-minute drive home. The scenery was classic country—wooded areas and beautiful stretches of road with an 80 km/h speed limit. The drive was fantastic… until we entered Pictou County. The difference was striking—where our earlier route had smooth, well-maintained roads, Highway 289 in Pictou County was noticeably rough and poorly maintained, with a 90 km/h speed limit. It was like night and day.

All in all, it was a fantastic day filled with great food, beautiful drives, and some awesome stops along the way. Whether you’re rolling in a PHEV, EV, or even an ICE, this route offers plenty to explore and enjoy. We’ll definitely be back to revisit some spots and try out a few more. Until next time, happy travels!
 
Driving stats:
379kms
5h19m driving time
3.8L/100km