15 Canadian Tourist Traps That Are Total Letdowns

14. Lunenburg (NS): Pretty… and Pretty Predictable

Lunenburg has all the right visuals: bright-painted buildings, seafood shacks, and a waterfront that looks like it was made for postcards. But beneath the charm lies a well-rehearsed script. Tour groups shuffle past curated signage, souvenir shops sling nautical kitsch, and it can feel more like a set piece than a living community. The influx of cruise traffic doesn’t help—it often turns the town into a brief stopover instead of a place to linger. If you want the Nova Scotia coast without the staged experience, head to Mahone Bay or Shelburne. These towns offer similar views, real community rhythms, and stories that haven’t been sanded down for tourist consumption. You’ll find the same sea breeze, but with less spectacle—and more soul.