Submitted by Kelsey on
There are so many ways to experience the Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley region and there is something for every pace and every interest. With tides that reach up to 16.5 metres (54 feet), this spectacular natural phenomenon occurs nowhere else on the planet. The power of nature surrounds the Bay of Fundy, showcasing some of the world’s most dramatic coastal seascapes.
Three Sisters sea stacks at Cape Chignecto Provincial Park definitely put time into perspective. Experience the Bay of Fundy on a whale watching tour off Digby Neck. The deep rich waters are teeming with marine life including more than a dozen species of whales, along with porpoises, dolphins, seals and migrating shore birds, and hiking along the rugged coast or rafting the tidal bore. Comb the beaches at low tide and examine 350 million-year-old fossils at Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Food lovers will delight in the bounty of land and sea. Feast upon succulent Digby scallops or visit the Hall’s Harbour Lobster Pound for the catch of the day. Explore plentiful farmers’ markets and U-picks of the Annapolis Valley where fresh strawberries, blueberries and apples inspire many a seasonal local dish.
The Annapolis Valley is Canada’s up-and-coming wine destination, with 11 established wineries in the region; three more producing in other areas of the province. Perfect boutique wineries and unique varietals such as Marechal Foch and L’Acadie Blancs make tours and tastings a must-do in this region.
Throughout the region, you can explore the legends of Nova Scotia’s First People, the Mi’kmaq, and of the settlers who arrived in the 1600’s with Samuel de Champlain and set up camp at historic Port-Royal National Historic Site. Port-Royal along with Grand-Pre National Historic Site, and Fort Anne National Historic Site provide an important history lesson about the life and deportation of the Acadians.
The Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley region is home to two scenic travelways, the Evangeline Trail and the Glooscap Trail.
Evangeline Trail
From the seaport of Yarmouth, the Evangeline Trail follows Nova Scotia's Fundy seacoast back through time to the earliest days of North American settlement. Enjoy picturesque French-speaking Acadian villages, visit Digby home port of the world's largest scallop fleet, and travel through the rich farmland, orchards and wine-country tapestry of the Annapolis Valley. Named after Longfellow's immortal epic poem "Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie," the Evangeline Trail takes you to the Grand-Pré National Historic Site where a statue of the fictional heroine can be found.
Glooscap Trail
Travel the Glooscap Trail from Windsor to Amherst to learn the Mi'kmaq legend of Glooscap, who is said to have created Five Islands and controlled the magnificent Bay of Fundy tides with his magic. Where else can you walk on the ocean floor at low tide, or experience the thrill of white-water rafting upriver on the world's highest tidal bore? Here the tides have carved the landscape into sea cliffs, pristine beaches and the Five Islands nestled in the basin. Discover fossilized footprints of Coal Age creatures along the shore at Joggins Fossil Cliffs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a journey where the power of nature is evident all along the magnificent Fundy coast with its world-famous tides and ever-changing landscapes.
