No matter your idea of adventure, the Annapolis Valley has what you are looking for, including historical sites, look-offs, lobster and seafood restaurants, historical vineyards and cheese farms! There’s so much to do within a short drive of the Farmhouse Inn B&B.

The Look-off

Located on North Mountain, providing a panoramic view of Minas Basin and 4 counties, one of the Evangeline Trail’s most popular attractions. Situated 200m (600 ft) above the floor of the valley, the Look-off provides a view of the valley’s rolling farmlands, orchards and woods to the majestic shore of the Minas Basin. The Look-off Café provides the perfect opportunity to “look and lick” with their great ice cream, grab a quick lunch, or pick up some souvenirs.

Historical Site at Grand Pré

Learn all about the history of the Acadians — their contribution to creating the rich, fertile agricultural lands of the Annapolis Valley and their expulsion from this area. You can sit in the theatre and wear headphones that let you listen in French or English to a brilliant short film (approximately 20 minutes long) that depicts the history of the Acadians. The Interpretive Centre houses many displays, including a model of the dykes. It is also the site of the memorial church and cemetery of the 17th-18th century Acadian village that became the scenic setting for Longfellow’s narrative poem Evangeline. The gardens are beautiful. Click here for more information.

Wolfville Farmers Market

The Wolfville Farmers’ Market hosts over 40 vendors selling organic and fresh produce, organic and free-range meats, baked treats, plants and flowers, and hand-made crafts. With live music, special events with activities for the kids, and a genuine friendly atmosphere, the market is a great place to tap into the vitality of our farming community. Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings in the restored de Wolfe Apple Warehouse beside the old rail bed on Elm St. Wolfville. Click here for more information.

Halls Harbour and the Lobster Pound

A picturesque and bustling (with the tide) fishing village. The Halls Harbour Lobster Pound serves as one of the largest lobster holding facilities in Canada with the ability to hold up to 65,000 pounds of lobsters. From this facility, lobsters are packed and shipped wholesale to points from Europe to Asia. You can choose your own freshly caught lobster and have it cooked for you. The restaurant has a wine and beer license. While you’re here check out the Fairy Cottages up the road. They were built by Charles Macdonald, who founded the Kentville Concrete Factory and are colourful, whimsical cottages built with totally out of concrete. Click here for more information.

Tangled Garden

A truly magical place! Delicious treats are made right from the garden. Jellies, vinegars, chutneys, honey, mustard, oils, salsa, sauces and ice cream are all produced with herbs grown right in the Tangled Garden. The property features an herb garden, art gallery and a production kitchen. Fresh herbs are picked daily from the garden from late Spring to early Winter. Fruit from local farms and orchards and wine from local wineries are used to make the jellies in single batches, six jars at a time. Mmmm… perfect souvenirs! Click here for more information.

Acadia University

The university was founded in 1838 and is one of the leading small universities in Canada with an enrollment of approximately 3500 full- time students. In1838 the Nova Scotia Baptist Education Society founded Queen’s College (named for Queen Victoria). The College began with 21 students in January 1839. The name “Queen’s College” was denied to the Baptist school, so it was renamed “Acadia College” in 1841, in reference to the history of the area as an Acadian settlement. It became a university in 1891. Some would consider Acadia University’s most outstanding feature to be its Acadia Advantage programme. The initiative (which was unique in Canada for several years after beginning in 1996) integrates the use of laptop computers, which are loaned to all students, into the undergraduate curriculum. Acadia’s newest addition, the K.C Irving Environmental Science building, is a sight to behold. A gift from the Irving Family the building features a gorgeous reading room and a wonderful botanical garden, perfect for exploring. Click here for more information.

Just Us! Coffee

Just Us! Roasters Co-op is Canada’s first Fair trade coffee roaster. Sold here are Fair Trade and Organic coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar. All of the products are grown naturally, without chemicals allowing for the preservation of the environment and tropical wildlife habitat. Fair Trade guarantees a fair price for cooperatives of small farmers that in turn allows them to grow quality products and improve the quality of their lives. Just Us! Coffee Museum is North America’s only Fair Trade Coffee Museum. You can learn more about coffee, how it grows, how people live, and why fair trade is important to them. The Farmhouse Inn proudly only serves Just Us! Coffee. Click here for more information.

Prescott House

Apple lovers have Charles Prescott to thank for many of the varieties-especially the tart, snappy Gravenstein apple that Nova Scotia is famous for. Sir Charles Prescott was a businessman, politician and horticulturalist who settled at Starrs Point. His classic Georgian-style brick mansion, custom built in the early 1800’s, and orchard is beautifully restored and has been in the Nova Scotia museum system since 1971. The museum is filled with antiques and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Enjoy the diverse exhibits held during the summer months. Click here for more information.

Foxhill Cheese

Fox Hill Cheese House is unique cheese house. Their products are made strictly from the milk of their own 50-head herd of drug/hormone free Holstein cows. They specialize in stirred cheddar, plain and herbed havarti and gouda, quark and fresh curds – with more varieties to come! They also offer imported cheeses as well as selected crackers and fruit juices. The perfect addition to a picnic. Click here for more information.

New Ross Living Farm

At Ross Farm you will learn about what life was like on a Nova Scotian farm between 100 and 175 years ago. Ross Farm is typical of the many small farms that existed throughout Nova Scotia when the province was still being settled. Ross Farm Museum is located on 60 acres of the original 800 acre grant given to Captain Ross. Five generations of the Ross family have lived and worked on Ross Farm between 1816 and 1970, when the New Ross District Museum Society purchased the property. Even today many of the people who work at Ross Farm are descendants of early settlers in the area. The goal of Ross Farm Museum is to give our visitors an understanding of the importance of the land in our past and a sense of pride in Nova Scotia rural heritage. Click here for more information.