Step back in time to enjoy the warmth and charm of an authentic Homestead with all the modern amenities. The Rose Bay Homestead is 32 acres of forest and fields on the Atlantic Ocean. You can wander back behind the house through the fields to discover forested trails, or walk from the front of the house across the road, where another field takes you down to a sheltered cove, perfect for canoeing, tide-pooling, or watching the sunset from the Boathouse deck. The Rose Bay Homestead is ideal for a large family, or multiple families who love nature and outdoor fun. It’s a 4-minute drive to two of the best beaches in Nova Scotia: Hirtle’s Beach and Kingsburg Beach. It's a 2-min drive to Sand Dollar Beach, and 1 min to the Rose Bay General Store and Bistro. It’s a 15-min drive to historic Lunenburg, the UNESCO World Heritage Site with restaurants and shopping, and only a 1.5-hour drive from the Halifax International Airport. How perfect! The Farmhouse: This 150-year-old Farmhouse is in excellent condition inside and out. Facing the ocean, the house comfortably sleeps 9 people (13 including the sofa beds). Upstairs offers 3 bedrooms: 2 rooms each have a queen bed, dresser and sitting area, 1 smaller room has a double bed, dresser, and closet. There is a full bathroom located upstairs with a bay window, double sink vanity, large whirlpool bathtub and shower combination. On the main floor, a long 4th bedroom doubles as a den, sleeping 5 with a bunk bed (single over double) and a sofa that pulls out into a double bed. The den also offers a smart screen TV, Blu-Ray, DVD and VCR (Netflix and a large collection of movies on Blu-Ray, DVD and VHS are included). The living room, dining room, and kitchen follow an open concept floor plan. The living room also has two sofa beds that pull out into double beds, an oak table, a sound system that hooks into a computer or iPod, a quality library, puzzles, games, and kids’ toys and books, and an ocean view. The dining room seats 14, with a server cabinet and a china cabinet at either end, and French doors opening onto the back deck. The sunny, south-facing deck runs the length of the house at the back. It is equipped with a BBQ, tables, chairs, and umbrellas for outdoor dining. The kitchen is fully equipped for those who love to cook. Household appliances include: full fridge and extra half fridge, chest freezer, microwave, electric stove and oven, dishwasher, coffee makers of every style including a Keurig, kettle, toaster, blender, food processor, handheld mixer, washing machine and drier, iron and ironing board, and several vacuum cleaners. The laundry nook is off the kitchen hall and contains a half bathroom (toilet and sink). Linens, bath towels, and beach towels are provided. A clothesline is located in the backyard for drying beach towels and bathing suits. There are numerous window fans and stand-alone fans for the hottest days, though the breeze off the ocean keeps things fairly comfortable throughout the summer. Heating in fall and winter is provided by an oil furnace with forced air throughout the house, electric baseboard heaters are located in top floor rooms to boost the heat, making it a cozy vacation rental year-round. There is WiFi throughout the house and compact office work stations in the den and master bedroom. There is a fire circle and Adirondack chairs to enjoy campfires in the backyard, as well as a couple of picnic tables for lunches under the shade of maple trees. The Barn: The Barn is available for storing bikes (rentals obtainable in Lunenburg) and there is an arts and crafts centre for kids of all ages (art supplies are provided for use) as well as a rustic “clubhouse hangout” for rainy days. The Barn does have electricity with lighting and electrical outlets around the craft center, and we supply a jug of water and a wash basin for cleanup, as there is no running water in the barn. Beach gear and lawn games are also provided and are stored in the barn. The Property: Behind the house is a large field from which a lovely trail leads deep into the forest to a hunter’s blind (not currently safe to climb, so please refrain). The property backs onto the Lower LaHave Commons, a forested conservation area, which affords a great expanse of contiguous habitat for wildlife like deer, fox, coyote, porcupine, snowshoe hare, a diversity of birdlife, and very rarely a sighting of bear or cougar. We restored the old Mossman homestead by purchasing two separate parcels of land divided by Kingsburg Road (the “farm” and the “ocean” lots). Original farmsteads with acreage, deep forest, water views and ocean access are becoming difficult to find – and ours is less than fifteen minutes from historic Lunenburg! Our goal is to provide an opportunity for families to relax, reconnect with nature and with each other during a summer of fun that will linger a lifetime in memory. Construction Site on the Ocean Lot: Starting in June 2024, there will be a few months of construction on the ocean lot behind the boathouse as we build a new “Ocean House”. Our hope is to have another, separate house rental sometime in 2025. Our house builder has told us that guests will still be able to access the boathouse when the heavy equipment is not operating. With advance notice, the canoe and kayaks can be moved to the other side of the hill for access to the water when access via the boathouse is on hold. Boathouse and Option to Rent Canoe and Kayaks: A short walk across the road takes you down to the water’s edge where there is a rocky beach and the old Boathouse. It has a small deck with table, chairs, and small BBQ to enjoy a meal with a view of the water, as well as a fire circle for bonfires by the rocky beach. There is an option to rent our two kayaks, one canoe, paddles, life jackets, and safety equipment for an additional fee of $100 per week with a signed rental agreement and waivers for every person in your party. Canoes and Kayaks may also be rented in Lunenburg. We recently outfitted the old boathouse as a rustic “Glamping” (“glamorous camping”) site. There is a four-posted mahogany double bed (with fresh bedding in plastic tubs), a velveteen Victorian sofa, oriental carpets, outfitted camp kitchen complete with Coleman propane gas stove, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, plates, bowls, cutlery, and a makeshift wash station for washing hands and dishes. Bottled drinking water is provided. There is an outhouse and solar shower out back, and between the trees, a hammock by the ocean completes your glamping experience! The Teepee: We are saddened to report that our teepee was destroyed by the hurricane / tropical storm that hit Nova Scotia in September 2023. With increased frequency of storms, we have decided that the story of the three little pigs is worth heeding. Thus, we are building a more solid structure, i.e. the “Ocean House” in an effort to increase our guest accommodations. Background on Our Teepee: When our friend, Mi’kmaq elder Joe Michael, suggested in 2017 that we get a teepee for our Rose Bay Homestead as a meeting place for cross-cultural sharing, we thought it was a great idea. We asked our mutual friend, Mi’kmaq elder Danny Paul, to order our teepee for us. Arriving all the way from an Indigenous company in western Canada, it was an 18-foot diameter canvas teepee, complete with a liner for use in colder weather. Danny Paul also cut, cured, and peeled the teepee poles from his own land up in Cape Breton. Then he delivered the canvas and poles and taught us how to pitch the teepee. Joey Sack, a Mi’kmaq Firefighter, also cut and prepared an additional five strong poles. These formed the main support tripod and lift pole. The teepee slept six people comfortably. In our library in the farmhouse, you can learn more about the Indigenous cultures who have been caretakers of our Earth for time immemorial. We also recommend a visit to Kejimkujik National Park to learn more. John and Ree continue to work cross culturally in their respective careers in film, Inuit art, and conservation biology and welcome Indigenous guests and people of all backgrounds to the Rose Bay Homestead. Policy on having Dogs at the Rose Bay Homestead: We love dogs. We want to keep welcoming dogs as part of family vacations and events held at the Rose Bay Homestead. Please help us do this by following these rules, for your dog’s safety and wellbeing, as well as for the wellbeing of our property and wildlife. We have three overall goals: 1) Keep your dog safe; 2) Keep the wildlife safe; and 3) Keep the carpets and upholstered furniture clean. To achieve these goals, please abide by the following Dog Rules: 1) Your dog must be on a leash at all times when outside so he/she doesn’t chase or scare wildlife, run into our numerous porcupines and skunks, or run on the road where the traffic is fast and dangerous. 2) You must scoop up, bag, and throw away any dog droppings (please bring your own poop bags). 3) When inside the house, Dogs are only allowed in the den, not on the carpeted areas of the house. There is a baby gate to keep your dog in the den and prevent him/her from entering the living room where there is wall to wall carpeting. The den has its own door onto the back deck so please enter and leave the house with your dog through this door. 4) Please bring a dog bed or blanket for your dog to sleep on. 5) If your dog gets muddy or sandy feet, please wash them off, or hose off his/her feet before letting him/her enter the house. 6) Please check for ticks and if possible, please use flea and tick medicine beforehand. And please brush your dog outside often to minimize dog hair in the house. 7) Dogs are allowed in the boathouse, but they are not permitted on the beds, chairs or sofa there. Large parties or events are not allowed during vacation rentals. Wedding and event rentals must be arranged separately in advance and require a different fee structure. Wedding and Event Rentals: Share the beauty of the Rose Bay Homestead and surroundings with your favourite people! Please inquire about packages and rates. Discounted rates may be available for June, September, and October. Inquiries are welcome and a tour of the property and facilities can be arranged. For vacation rentals or event availability please contact: Ree