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There’s one thing profoundly soothing concerning the mixture of ocean air, mushy gentle, and stillness. One thing I felt deeply on the Oceanstone Resort & Nordic Spa in Nova Scotia, only a brief drive from Halifax and solely 5 minutes from iconic Peggy’s Cove.
We arrived after a vibrant few days exploring Halifax, prepared for stillness and to dive extra into these Nordic Spa therapies we had been beginning to type a love affair with. The street to Indian Harbour wound previous rugged coastlines and salty breezes till we reached this seaside retreat that instantly felt like an exhale.
Over two restorative nights, Oceanstone Resort & Spa grew to become each our residence and our sanctuary, a spot the place nature and nurture converged in probably the most peaceable of how. We stayed at Oceanstone and close by Peggy’s Cove as a part of our 7-day Nova Scotia street journey (in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia) Right here’s what we skilled…
The placement: A seaside escape near Halifax and Peggy’s Cove
Oceanstone’s location is considered one of its biggest presents. Shut sufficient to Halifax (simply 45 minutes) for a simple getaway, but far sufficient to really feel worlds aside, it’s the sort of place the place time slows down with the tides.
Set alongside St. Margaret’s Bay, the resort rests on a quiet cove, a rocky little seaside good for morning reflection or a brisk ocean swim. It’s not the sort of seaside for lengthy walks, however for quiet contemplation, sunbathing on a boulder, or meditating to the rhythm of the waves, it’s divine.
In every single place you flip, there’s a view, from the decks of the cottages to the spa terrace to the home windows of the on-site restaurant. The setting alone is sufficient to restore stability.
Our keep: Consolation with a coastal contact
We stayed within the Oceanvista Suite, a brilliant, open-concept studio with a small kitchen, sitting space, and personal deck overlooking the property and the ocean. Mornings started with ocean gentle filtering by way of the home windows, the air cool and clear with salt carried in on the breeze, and a cup of espresso respiration all of it in on our deck.
Whereas our suite was pretty, I couldn’t assist however admire the waterfront cottages, personal hideaways with firepits proper on the shore, good for a comfortable night below the celebs. In case your funds permits, a cottage (sleeping two to eight) can be my decide for a future keep. There’s simply one thing magical about being that near the water, listening to waves lapping as you drift to sleep.
The resort is family-friendly and pet-friendly, so everybody in your crew — human or furry — can benefit from the expertise.
The Hydrothermal Spa Expertise: Therapeutic by the Sea
The actual spotlight of our keep, although, was the Hydrothermal Spa — a serene wellness sanctuary carved into Oceanstone’s pure panorama.
Designed across the historic apply of Nordic hydrotherapy, the spa invitations you to cycle by way of warmth, chilly, and relaxation to awaken the physique’s pure therapeutic rhythm. The method is superbly easy but deeply transformative:
- Heat up in a sauna, steam room, or thermal pool to open pores and loosen up muscular tissues.
- Quiet down with a plunge into chilly water — a bracing shock that stimulates circulation, boosts immunity, and clears the thoughts.
- Relaxation by the fireplace or in quiet areas to permit the physique to recuperate and soak up the advantages.
Repeating this hot-cold-rest cycle two or thrice brings on a way of rejuvenation that feels each bodily and emotional — a full-body reset.
Our Hydrothermal Journey
We booked the 3-hour Hydrothermal Journey, and from the second we stepped into the spa, the world exterior appeared to dissolve.
The out of doors space is gorgeous — intimate but open, surrounded by bushes and the distant sound of ocean waves. The air carried that clear, mineral scent you solely discover close to the ocean.
We started by wandering by way of the Kneipp River Stroll, a shallow, rocky stream of chilly water designed to stimulate circulation as you wade by way of it. It’s a delicate introduction earlier than the extra intense chilly plunges.
Subsequent got here the barrel saunas — one dry, one hammam-style — each overlooking the remedy swimming pools. I lingered a little bit too lengthy within the hammam, the eucalyptus-infused steam wrapping round me till my coronary heart raced. The chilly plunge that adopted was shockingly intense, a reminder to not push my physique too far past consolation.
However as I sank into the Arctic plunge pool, one thing shifted. Breath deepened, thoughts quieted, and that surge of vitality and calm hit . Since our go to to Nature People Spa in Halifax a couple of days earlier, I’d been slowly coaching my physique to embrace the chilly, and right here, I stunned myself once more, staying in for round ten minutes at a time.
We actually beloved making our closing chilly plunge within the ocean, which is inspired by Oceanstone and is its distinctive distinction to different Nordic spas in Nova Scotia. At 14 levels Celsius it was hotter than the 10-degree arctic chilly plunge pool within the remedy space.
To not lose any of our treasured three-hour time restrict throughout the spa, we did the ocean chilly plunge after our time had wrapped up! Then we popped again into the spa to return our robes and luxuriate in a heat bathe!
Afterward, we stretched out by the firepits, sipping a Lighthouse smoothie made with lemon, ginger, honey, turmeric, and pear. I paired it with a morning glory muffin and a protein energy ball, each scrumptious and nourishing.
The spa affords extra than simply the hydrothermal circuit. Inside, friends can entry a health middle with floor-to-ceiling home windows overlooking the spa — simply one of many nicest lodge gyms I’ve seen — and a yoga studio for personal or group classes.
In addition they have meditation dens, and as a each day meditator, I used to be disillusioned I didn’t discover the time to enter into personal stillness. Subsequent go to for positive!
Remedies and Wellness Choices
Whereas the hydrothermal circuit alone is definitely worth the go to, Oceanstone additionally affords an intensive menu of spa therapies, together with:
- Therapeutic massage remedy
- Physique polishes and scrubs
- Facials and skincare
- Acupuncture
- Assisted stretching classes
Every is designed to enhance the hydrothermal journey, serving to you deepen the expertise of leisure and launch.
Meals and drinks from The Lighthouse are additionally out there all through your spa time with recent, yummy goodness like grazing boards, stews, flatbread, recent salads, and cold-pressed juices. For many who want a little bit indulgence, wine and native craft beer are additionally out there. In hindsight, I’d have most popular to eat lunch right here than on the café close by the place we went.
I beloved that every little thing at Oceanstone felt deliberately unhurried. There have been no crowds, no background chatter — simply the sound of water, wind, and fireplace. Even with out the ocean view, you’d really feel such as you had been immersed in nature’s rhythm.
Issues to know earlier than you go
Right here are some things to know earlier than your go to to the Hydrothermal Spa at Oceanstone Resort:
- Ebook forward: Spa entry is proscribed to small teams for a serene ambiance. Every session is capped at three hours.
- Carry your swimsuit and a non-glass water bottle. Robes, towels, sandals, and lockers are supplied.
- Telephones and cameras usually are not permitted contained in the spa space, encouraging full digital detox and presence.
- Go to year-round: In summer time, you may add a dip within the ocean; in winter, the fire-side relaxation areas and heat swimming pools develop into much more magical below a blanket of snow.
Eating at Oceanstone: Coastal Flavors and Quiet Moments
Oceanstone has its personal Rhubarb Restaurant, which persistently ranks among the many greatest within the space. Sadly for us, it was closed on the evenings we stayed (Monday and Tuesday), however the resort supplied an in-suite meal service with choices like hen wings, meatballs, curries, pasta, and roasted dinners. We ordered a charcuterie board, pork tenderloin, and seasonal greens.
We pre-ordered dinner anticipating it pre-cooked, solely to find it uncooked and prepared for us to organize. Not fairly what I envisioned for a lazy night, however it turned out to be a small present in disguise. Because the scent of bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin and apple cider-Dijon sauce stuffed the kitchen, we opened a bottle of Luckett Winery pink wine* (a Nova Scotia favourite we’d later go to in Wolfville) and ate on our deck because the sky dimmed to twilight.
Timber partially blocked the ultimate dip of the solar, however that didn’t matter — the second was peaceable and ideal, the sort of journey reminiscence that stays etched in your coronary heart.
On our second night, we found a restaurant on the resort grounds that opens when Rhubarb is closed. Had we identified, we’d’ve dined there the evening earlier than! This time we loved gourmand meals of salmon with a honey-soy glaze and a Thai hen katsu curry — each superbly cooked and stuffed with taste. We took our meals again to our suite and watched the solar set and the fog roll in over the bay.
Mornings started with a easy buffet breakfast — scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit, and toast — nothing elaborate, however hearty sufficient to begin the day. Visitors also can pre-order BBQ platters or packed lunches for seaside picnics, one other pretty contact for these exploring Peggy’s Cove or close by trails.
And don’t miss the afternoon pleased hour on the foremost lodge. We spent our first afternoon sipping wine on the ocean-view deck, feeling each muscle in our our bodies begin to let go.
* There’s a small grocery retailer a couple of five-minute drive away the place you’ll find wine and snacks. I used to be thrilled to search out they stocked Twirls – my favourite chocolate again in Australia that the USA nonetheless doesn’t find out about! Thanks Canada!!
Exploring close by: Peggy’s Cove and Past
One of many greatest perks of staying at Oceanstone is how shut it’s to Peggy’s Cove and Peggy’s Level Lighthouse, considered one of Nova Scotia’s most photographed and iconic spots.
We spent a day there wandering the rugged granite rocks across the lighthouse, grabbing a fast lunch from Café L’Acadie, and later making an attempt to eat at Tom’s Lobster Shack (sadly, they’d bought out of lobster rolls for the day — an indication of their reputation!). Fortunately, our cozy kitchen at Oceanstone saved the night as soon as once more.
When you’ve got extra time, the close by Polly’s Cove Path affords spectacular ocean views and a peaceable hike away from the crowds. We additionally loved this brief hike with stunning views throughout. When you get to the coast, there isn’t a actual outlined path, so fastidiously weave your individual, being cautious with the cliff edges. We couldn’t discover a definitive finish or loop so we turned again after we felt we’d seen sufficient.
Learn extra in our information to discover Peggy’s Cove and Peggy’s Level Lighthouse.
Returning to Stillness
Our time at Oceanstone felt like a fantastic midpoint in our Nova Scotia Nordic Spa street journey — the second the place every little thing slowed down sufficient for the experiences of the week to sink in.
There was one thing deeply symbolic about transferring between warmth and chilly, effort and relaxation, ocean and land. It jogged my memory that wellness isn’t present in fixed movement, however within the stability between doing and being.
Sitting on our deck after our closing hydrothermal session, watching fog roll gently throughout St. Margaret’s Bay, I felt that uncommon sense of full peace, the type that lingers lengthy after you’ve returned residence.
Plan your go to
Oceanstone Resort & Hydrothermal Spa
📍 8650 Peggy’s Cove Rd, Indian Harbour, Nova Scotia
🌐 oceanstoneresort.com | rhubarbrestaurant.ca
📞 (902) 823-2133
Whether or not you go to for a day spa expertise or keep in a single day to completely unwind, Oceanstone is a type of locations that quietly grounds and restores you, reminding you to hearken to the rhythm of your individual breath, just like the ocean in opposition to the shore.
Learn extra from our Nova Scotia Street Journey
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