Annapolis Royal in Top 10 places to see in Canada

According to MacLean's magazine Annapolis Royal is among the Top 10 places to see in Canada.

To view the article and video they produced visit placestosee.macleans.ca and click on Annapolis Royal.

NS: Yarmouth-Portland ferry service on target for start-up, says Nova Star Cruises

www.novastarcruises.com

Nova Star Cruises, the company that will reestablish ferry service between Yarmouth and Portland, ME, says it is on schedule for a May 1st. To read the full article click here

HILLSDALE HOUSE INN CHOSEN AMONG TOP 10 B&B’s IN CANADA

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, NS December 8, 2011 -- Hillsdale House Inn in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia has been selected among the Top 10 B&B’s in Canada in the seventh annual Best of BedandBreakfast.com™ Awards, 2011-2012. Hillsdale House Inn is recognized as a top inn around the world providing the best travel experience, hospitality and customer service.

BedandBreakfast.com is the most comprehensive global site for finding bed and breakfast properties around the world, with more than 11,000 properties worldwide.

The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award winners are selected based on the quality and quantity of the traveler reviews from the past year on BedandBreakfast.com, as well as the quality of inns’ photos, listing descriptions and overall online customer experience on BedandBreakfast.com.

“The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award winners, including Hillsdale House Inn really exemplify the special experience that travelers expect from staying in a bed and breakfast,” says Martin Slagter, vice president of HomeAway, Inc, which owns BedandBreakfast.com. “Take one look at Hillsdale House Inn’s reviews and you’ll see guests who share stellar accolades for its quality accommodations, breakfasts, amenities and outstanding hospitality and service.”

"It's a true honor to be chosen for a Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award, and we thank our guests for the positive reviews that resulted in this award, says Val & Paul Stackhouse, Innkeepers. "It is gratifying that our guests took the time to share their comments about our hospitality, accommodations, breakfasts and attention to the details which set our Inn apart." Here's an excerpt from one of our reviews: “We loved this experience. The Inn was wonderfully cared for. The breakfast was exceptional. The furnishings throughout were thoughtful. Perfectly located within walking distance of all there is to see and do in the town.”

For a complete list of Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award winners, please visit http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/about/BestofBedandBreakfast.aspx

This recognition is now added to the TripAdvisor® Travellers’ Choice Awards that the Inn received in 2010 and 2011 where it also placed among the Top 10 Inn’s in Canada.

For more information please contact the Inn directly by phone 902-532-2345 or email info@hillsdalehouseinn.ca.

Snappers Brass & Gas

Snappers Brass & Gas, a set on Flickr.

We had the great pleasure of having members of this car club from the United States with us this past weekend.Via Flickr:These vintage automobiles are all built in 1914 or earlier, with the exception of the Rolls Royce which was built in 1917.

$1-million expansion set to start at Upper Clements Parks

Work on a major expansion of Upper Clements Parks is expected to begin this summer and possibly be open by the fall, says general manager Gregg Gaul.

To read the full story click on the Zipline Rider photo.

We look forward to offering special packages to stay and play when the new part of the park opens in the Fall.

Plant a Tree

Earlier this week we had the great pleasure of having a few of the children from Good Beginnings Day Care in Annapolis Royal come by to plant some trees on our property. They are participating in the "Adopt a Stream" program.

As you can see from the photos below they got their hands dirty and seemed to have as much fun finding worms as they did planting the trees.

We look forward to watching the trees grow and have invited the kids to come back to check on their trees any time.

Potential Good News for Local Economy

Digby ready to wade into tidal energy trade

The tidal turbines are coming and Digby, Nova Scotia wants to be at the centre of the action.

The town has launched a campaign to position itself as a service centre for the tidal energy industry that is beginning to evolve in parts of the Bay of Fundy.

Digby is located less than 30 minutes from the Hillsdale House Inn on Annapolis Royal.

To read the entire article Click Here

Moose River Rug Hooking Studio Now Open

We are very excited to share that a few local friends of ours have recently opened the MOOSE RIVER Rug Hooking Studio in Clementsport, Nova Scotia. The studio will be a place for seasoned hookers to hang out and share stories and techniques, as well as a place for those who want to learn the skills required to learn from the best. They will also be able to supply you with much of the required equipment needed to achieve the best results.

The studio is located just 10 minutes from Annapolis Royal and we would be happy to put a package together for you including  accommodations if you are interested in taking in one of the many workshops that they will be offering.

To learn more about the studio and the classes they will be offering visit their website: http://www.mooseriverstudio.com/

Tourism Best Practice Mission - Day 1

I have the privilage this week of participating in a Tourism Best Practice Mission to the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia. The mission is focused on "Iconic Touring Product" and how a region in Virginia has capitalized on it to develop and grow it's tourism industry.

Today I flew from Halifax to Washington Dulles airport where after a number of delays I eventually linked up with a many of my fellow participants to be shuttled to the George Washington Hotel in Winchester, Virginia where we first met as a group for dinner. The itinerary for the week ahead is quite full, but looks like it will be quite interesting and applicable for our region of Nova Scotia.

I will make a few more posts during the coming week to share some of what we have experienced.

Open For The Season!!

Val and I are very excited to be open again. We are anxious to receive visitors, whether returning or first timers. There appears to be some optimizism in people again that the economy is beginning to rebound somewhat. This is evidenced by an increase in reservation activity, especially out of the USA.

Once again this year there will be lots to see and do in the Annapolis Royal region and we will endeavour to keep you up to date as things are approaching. We have just started sending out a regular e-newsletter. If you would like to be added to the distribution list please send along an email.

Visit the Hillsdale House Inn website or the Special Offers & Packages section of our blog from time to time to see what's new.

We hope to see you this season in Annapolis Royal.

2008 Crystal Tourism Award of Excellence Winner!!

On Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at the annual Tourism Summit Gala Dinner held at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia the Hillsdale House Inn was one of the recipients of a Crystal Tourism Award of Excellence. Val and I attended the dinner to receive the Tourism Atlantic Technology Award. This award recognizes innovative and strategic use of technology benefiting your business and the Tourism Industry as a whole.