Trout Point Lodge of Nova Scotia  Kemptville, Nova Scotia

This upscale eco-lodge fits perfectly in its setting on the banks of two wilderness rivers and surrounded by verdant and pristine Acadian forest. The three-story lodge pays homage to the Great Camps erected along the U.S. and Canadian Eastern Seaboard in the early 20th century. When guests arrive they exhale. The “haute-rustic” main lodge has a dozen rooms and there are two lakeside cottages, each sleeping four. Trout Point ticks every box for sustainability, offers 5 star amenities and service, spectacular scenery and exquisite cuisine. The menu boasts Atlantic Canada’s freshest seafood (There is no better lobster.) and traditional and innovative French-Acadian dishes with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients including produce from the Lodge’s organic gardens, the neighboring forest and its own dairy. Cooking lessons are offered along with activities like guided edible walks. A series of three day/2 night cooking school vacation packages are held on set dates. Hands-on lessons can include smoking and curing,  foraging for fiddleheads and visiting local lobster pounds, smokehouses, oyster farms and clam beds. Of note here is that the Lodge owners' Acadian “Cajun” ancestors were expelled from this land in the 18th century and resettled in Louisiana. Thus, the “Cajun-connection." Preserving the Acadian foodways is a lovely way to honor that heritage. Guests can savor smoked fish jambalaya or Rappie Pie. There are loads on non-edible adventures to enjoy, trekking, fishing, kayaking or just nothing more than relaxing or soaking in a wood fired hot tub and gazing up at the stars.