There are few places in Canada where nature and food are as closely connected as they are along Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy. Home to the world’s highest tides, fertile farmland, celebrated vineyards, charming villages and a thriving community of passionate food producers, this region rewards travellers with experiences that are every bit as memorable as its scenery.
Whether your perfect getaway includes wandering through vineyards, sampling award-winning wines, discovering edible plants growing along the shoreline, enjoying afternoon tea in an enchanted garden or chatting with chefs who have helped shape Atlantic Canada’s culinary identity, the Bay of Fundy delivers at every turn.
Harvest season is perhaps the best time to visit. As orchards overflow with apples, vineyards prepare for the grape harvest and roadside farm markets brim with fresh produce, visitors experience the region at its most vibrant. The crisp autumn air seems perfectly matched with local cheeses, seafood fresh from the coast, artisanal preserves and wines crafted from grapes grown only meters away.
This culinary road trip follows Highway 1 through the Annapolis Valley before winding north along the Fundy coast, introducing travelers to the people whose passion has transformed simple ingredients into unforgettable experiences.
Foraging Along the Shore
Our adventure begins in Port Williams at Gourmet by Nature Wild Food and Tours (1390 Church Street), where Sean and Tara have built a reputation for introducing visitors to the remarkable bounty growing naturally along the shores of the Bay of Fundy. What many people dismiss as ordinary plants, seaweed or shoreline vegetation quickly becomes a fascinating lesson in flavour, sustainability and respect for nature.
When asked which wild ingredient best captures the flavour of Nova Scotia, Sean laughs before admitting it’s impossible to choose just one. Instead, he points to the incredible diversity of seaweeds growing along the Bay of Fundy shoreline.
“There are so many plants available on the shores of the Bay of Fundy that picking one is impossible,” he explains. “We use a lot of different seaweeds because seaweed is one of the easiest and most abundant to identify and access.”
Walking the shoreline with Sean and Tara quickly changes how you view the landscape. Suddenly every rock pool, patch of seaweed and coastal plant becomes another ingredient waiting to be discovered. More importantly, visitors begin to appreciate how Indigenous knowledge, ecological stewardship and modern culinary creativity intersect in this remarkable ecosystem.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson guests take home isn’t simply identifying edible plants but learning how to harvest responsibly. Sean emphasizes what he calls the “rule of thirds.” Never harvest more than one-third of a plant, allowing it to regenerate while continuing to support the surrounding ecosystem. Visitors also learn to be especially respectful when foraging near popular trails, taking only what they genuinely need.
That philosophy transforms the experience from a simple guided walk into something much deeper. Participants leave not only inspired to experiment with wild ingredients but with a renewed appreciation for the delicate balance that allows these coastal ecosystems to flourish.
Raising a Glass at Planters Ridge Winery
Just minutes away sits Planters Ridge Winery (1441 Church Street), where rolling vineyards stretch across the Annapolis Valley beneath wide Maritime skies.
The relaxed tasting room and welcoming patio invite visitors to slow down and savour the landscape. It’s easy to lose track of time while overlooking rows of carefully tended vines that have been producing award-winning wines since grapes were first planted in 2011. Nova Scotia’s cool climate creates wines with remarkable freshness and vibrant acidity. That signature style shines throughout Planters Ridge’s extensive selection of reds, whites, rosés, mead, rummed cider and port.
My personal favourite remains their award-winning Riesling. Bright green apple flavours combine with refreshing acidity to create a wine that is crisp rather than sweet, making it the perfect companion for seafood or simply an afternoon overlooking the vineyard.
Their White Flight showcases the diversity of Nova Scotia wines beautifully. L’Acadie, Quintessence and Valley each display distinctive aromas, flavours and finishes that reflect both the grapes and the unique Fundy terroir.
Retreat to a beautifully restored 1864 farmhouse at Planter’s Ridge, where historic charm meets contemporary luxury. Thoughtfully renovated, the property features three elegant guest rooms, each with its own spa-inspired ensuite, creating a serene haven in the heart of wine country. Each stay begins with a handcrafted artisanal breakfast, celebrating the region’s fresh flavours and local ingredients.
The kitchen deserves equal attention.
Their Warm Olives and Almonds demonstrate how thoughtful simplicity can elevate a tasting experience. The combination pairs beautifully with the wines while setting the tone for a menu that offers refined flavours without intimidating prices. (You’ll find the chef’s version of this appetizer in our Recipe section.) The cheeseboard and charcuterie board are delectably curated with local artisan foods – a great option for a table of tasters.
Planter’s Ridge is also featured in The Wine Lover’s Guide to Atlantic Canada which we showcased last year. We thought you’d like to win a copy in our Giveaway section.
Wolfville: A Culinary Community
Continuing down the road brings you to Wolfville, one of Nova Scotia’s most charming small towns.
Elegant heritage homes line the streets leading into downtown, reflecting generations of community pride and preservation. Along the way, roadside farm markets—including Noggins, Elderkin’s and Hennigar‘s—offer irresistible opportunities to stop for freshly picked apples, vegetables, baked goods and local specialties.
Wolfville is much more than a picturesque university town. It has become one of Atlantic Canada’s culinary capitals thanks to its remarkable concentration of chefs, producers, farmers and artisans who celebrate local ingredients.
One of those champions is longtime resident Michael Holloway. Having cooked professionally in both Nova Scotia and the Bahamas, Michael has spent decades promoting Atlantic Canadian cuisine. Readers can learn more through his cookbook and try his delicious Finnan Haddie and Chorizo Chowder featured in our Recipe section. Don’t forget to enter our Giveaway section for a chance to win a signed copy of the book.
Michael’s influence extends far beyond restaurant kitchens. He helped launch what would become the internationally recognized Devour! Food Film Fest, growing the festival from modest beginnings into one of the world’s premier celebrations of food, film and culture.
Today, Devour Studios remains a lively gathering place for concerts, culinary events and community celebrations. Under Michael’s continuing guidance and the capable leadership of Lia Rinaldo, visitors can enjoy everything from celebrity chef demonstrations and special dinners to music performances, themed dance parties and festive European-style Christmas markets.
Every October, the festival transforms Wolfville into a destination where food lovers from around the world gather to celebrate Atlantic Canada’s vibrant culinary scene.
Learn to Cook Like a Nova Scotian
Located within Devour Studios is a unique attraction: the Nova Scotia Seafood Academy. Designed for travellers who enjoy learning by doing, the academy offers a unique immersive seafood culinary program.
Imagine spending three days preparing eighteen seafood recipes alongside an experienced chef while learning professional techniques for lobster, scallops, mussels and other local favourites.
Wolfville also embraces experiences beyond the kitchen.
Food Art Nature grew from strong community partnerships that emerged following the pandemic, creating new opportunities for visitors to experience the Annapolis Valley in meaningful and memorable ways. Today, the initiative offers a diverse range of immersive activities, from learning about medicinal herbs and enjoying the restorative practice of forest bathing to walking with friendly goats, trying your hand at archery, and joining guided nature experiences. Each activity is designed to foster a deeper connection with the landscape while introducing visitors to the stories, traditions, and local people who have shaped the region for generations.
Along the way, you’ll discover the history, cultural significance, and fascinating knowledge behind each experience, leaving with a richer appreciation of the Valley and its vibrant communities. Whether you’re seeking relaxation, adventure, or inspiration, Food Art Nature offers authentic experiences that connect you with both place and people. Book your experience today at Foodartnature | Home | Discover the Place, Connect with the People and discover the place, connect with the people.
A Fairytale Afternoon at Tangled Garden
A leisurely drive along the Harvest Highway leads to Grand Pré, where one of Nova Scotia’s most enchanting destinations awaits.
Walking beneath an archway of greenery into the Tangled Garden (11827 Hwy 1) feels like stepping into another world. Before even reaching the gardens, visitors are welcomed inside the charming gift shop, where shelves overflow with more than 125 handcrafted preserves, chutneys, vinegars, jellies, syrups and cordials. Friendly staff encourage tasting before purchasing—a dangerous proposition when every spoonful seems better than the last.
Beyond the shop lies a peaceful network of winding paths, hidden seating areas, ponds, flowering borders and herb gardens. Every corner invites visitors to slow their pace and simply enjoy the surroundings.
The highlight is undoubtedly the Plein Air Afternoon Tea. Guests receive a beautifully prepared basket filled with fresh pastries, delicate sandwiches, clotted cream, preserves crafted on-site, tea or coffee, and a cocktail or mocktail before choosing one of several secluded garden alcoves for their meal.
The garden is an experience that encourages lingering conversations, quiet reflection and an appreciation for the beauty that careful gardening—and thoughtful hospitality—can create. By the time you leave, you’ll likely carry home more than a few jars of preserves. You’ll also take with you the feeling that, for a little while at least, life moved at exactly the right pace.
Garlic, Harvests and Small-Town Traditions
Leaving the Annapolis Valley behind, continue along the Harvest Highway to Windsor, a community where agriculture isn’t simply an industry—it’s part of everyday life. Surrounded by fertile farmland and orchards, Windsor celebrates the harvest with enthusiasm, and nowhere is that more evident than its annual love affair with garlic.
Each September, downtown Windsor comes alive during the Windsor Garlic Fest, one of Nova Scotia’s signature harvest celebrations. What began as a local event has grown into a festival attracting thousands of visitors who come to celebrate one humble ingredient in remarkably creative ways.
More than 100 vendors fill the streets with garlic, ginger, artisan foods, handcrafted products and locally produced beverages. Cooking demonstrations showcase new ways to use garlic beyond the familiar loaf of garlic bread, while educational presentations explore growing techniques, preserving methods and the health benefits of this versatile bulb.
For adventurous eaters, the festival has become famous for its garlic eating contest and unusual creations like garlic ice cream—a novelty that inevitably sparks curiosity and conversation. Live entertainment, wineries, breweries, distilleries and family activities ensure that everyone, from dedicated foodies to young families, finds something to enjoy.
The festival perfectly captures what makes Nova Scotia’s food scene so appealing. Rather than simply selling products, producers eagerly share their knowledge, their stories and their passion with visitors.
To whet your appetite before attending, check out our garlic page in the Canadians + Food section and be sure to try our Garlic-Fig Chicken with Port featured in this issue’s Recipe section. Then stop by our Giveaway section where you could win a commemorative Garlic Festival apron, mouse pad and key chain.
Celebrating Rural Excellence
Windsor‘s agricultural roots stretch back generations. The Hants County Exhibition, first established in 1765, proudly holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating agricultural fair in North America. Long before food festivals became fashionable, local families gathered here to celebrate farming, livestock, baking, preserves, crafts and community spirit.
Walking through the exhibition halls is like opening a living cookbook. Tables overflow with perfectly preserved jams, pies, breads, cakes, vegetables and handcrafts that reflect decades of tradition and friendly competition.
One name has become legendary. For an astonishing sixty years, Evelyn Strong has dominated the baking competitions, earning the title of Baking Queen. Her remarkable consistency speaks not only to exceptional skill but also to the enduring importance of home baking within Maritime culture.
Readers can discover more of her award-winning recipes in Baking Queen of the County Fair: Recipes from Nova Scotia’s Most Decorated Baker, reviewed in this issue, and enjoy her delicious Maritime Egg Tarts in our Recipe section. Win this classical Maritime book in the Giveaway tab.
The Flying Apron: Slow Food at Its Best
Continuing north along the Fundy coast brings you to Summerville, home to one of Nova Scotia’s culinary treasures. The Flying Apron (3 Summerville Wharf Rd) has transitioned into something more than a restaurant.
Owners Chris and Melissa have transformed a historic country property into a welcoming destination that blends accommodation, coffee shop, bookstore, special events and culinary education under one roof.
Guests staying at the inn begin their mornings with breakfast prepared from locally sourced ingredients before spending the day exploring the coastline or participating in one of Chris’s popular cooking classes.
Farm-to-table dining isn’t a marketing slogan here—it’s simply how they’ve always believed food should be enjoyed. The Flying Apron also embraces the international Slow Food movement, encouraging diners to appreciate where their food comes from and the people responsible for producing it.
Throughout the year, special events such as Oktoberfest dinners, holiday feasts and seasonal celebrations draw visitors from across the province.
Chris’ Cookery School continues to inspire both locals and travelers alike. Whether you’re learning to make fresh pasta from scratch, exploring aquaculture or discovering authentic Mexican cuisine, the emphasis is always on approachable techniques that home cooks can confidently recreate.
Chris and Melissa’s own journey mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit found throughout Nova Scotia. They began by creating artisan food products for farmers’ markets before expanding into the destination visitors enjoy today.
Their story also reflects the remarkable growth of farmers’ markets across the province. Nova Scotia now boasts more farmers’ markets per capita than anywhere else in Canada, creating vibrant community gathering places where visitors can meet growers, sample fresh produce and support local artisans directly.
A Detour Through History
Before continuing your coastal adventure, consider making a short detour inland to Shubenacadie.
The Shubenacadie Tinsmith Museum (2854 Main St) offers a fascinating glimpse into everyday rural life during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The beautifully preserved tinsmith shop, historic hardware store, military displays and household collections illustrate the ingenuity that once defined small Maritime communities.
For food lovers, the displays of vintage kitchen utensils, milk cans, baking equipment and handcrafted household goods provide an appreciation for the tools earlier generations relied upon long before electric mixers and modern conveniences became commonplace.
The museum gift shop features handcrafted items made entirely by local artisans, making it an excellent place to find authentic souvenirs that celebrate Nova Scotia craftsmanship.
Following the Tides
If time allows, choose the scenic secondary road from Summerville toward Maitland rather than taking the faster highway.
This stretch of coastline rewards patient travellers with spectacular viewpoints overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Frequent pull-offs provide opportunities to photograph dramatic cliffs, expansive mudflats and the powerful tides that have shaped this landscape for thousands of years.
Stops at Walton Lighthouse, Burntcoat Head Park and Dawson Dowell Park reveal different perspectives of the world’s highest tides, reminding visitors why this natural wonder has become synonymous with Nova Scotia itself.
Before leaving the area, the Fundy Tidal Interpretive Centre provides fascinating insight into the science behind the remarkable tidal movements that influence everything from marine life to agriculture throughout the region.
Understanding the tides also helps explain why the Bay of Fundy supports such abundant seafood and fertile farmland—two essential ingredients in the region’s celebrated culinary identity.
A Maritime Institution: Masstown Market
Bypassing Truro leads to one of Nova Scotia’s most beloved roadside destinations.
Even arriving shortly before opening, you’ll likely find a parking lot already filling with eager customers at Masstown Market (10622 Hwy 2). Since opening in 1969 as a modest farm-gate operation, the Jennings family has steadily transformed the business into a destination that locals proudly recommend to every visitor.
Fresh produce, baked goods, meats, seafood, prepared meals, local wines, preserves and artisan products fill the spacious market. Every aisle showcases the remarkable diversity of Nova Scotia agriculture.
Outside, one of the market’s most recognizable features is its full-sized lighthouse. Visitors can order classic fish and chips before enjoying lunch on the dock overlooking the surrounding countryside.
On clear days, climbing to the top of the lighthouse rewards visitors with distant views of the Bay of Fundy—a fitting reminder of the waters that influence so much of the region’s agriculture and cuisine.
Masstown Market has become more than a shopping stop. It’s where road trips pause, families gather, travellers stock picnic baskets and locals reconnect over coffee and freshly baked treats.
Cheese With a View
The final culinary stop takes us along the northern shoreline to Upper Economy and The Dutchman’s Cheese Farm (4595 Hwy 2).
Cheese lovers should allow plenty of time. The two-storey country shop showcases an impressive selection of handcrafted Gouda cheeses produced on-site, ranging from young and creamy varieties to richly aged wedges bursting with flavour.
Spreadable cheeses, specialty products and the boldly flavoured Dragon’s Breath Blue Cheese ensure every palate finds something memorable. Sampling is highly encouraged—and choosing only one favourite is nearly impossible.
Outside, the experience continues. Walking trails wind through peaceful woodlands, natural gardens, ponds and meadows where heritage farm animals graze quietly nearby. Families especially appreciate the petting areas, while photographers will enjoy panoramic views overlooking the Bay of Fundy.
It’s a fitting conclusion to a culinary journey built upon local agriculture, craftsmanship and genuine hospitality.
Leaving the Bay of Fundy
As this leg of your journey comes to an end, the memories extend well beyond the meals themselves.
You’ll remember standing atop rugged cliffs overlooking waters where whales return each year to feed and play. You’ll remember walking across the ocean floor only hours after watching tides rise to the height of a four-storey building. You’ll remember vineyard patios warmed by afternoon sunshine, shoreline walks revealing edible treasures hidden in plain sight and gardens where afternoon tea seemed to slow time itself.
Most of all, you’ll remember the people.
The chefs, winemakers, farmers, foragers, bakers and artisans who welcomed visitors with genuine Maritime warmth are the heart of this region. Their willingness to share stories, traditions and knowledge transforms a simple road trip into something much richer.
The Bay of Fundy is a place where land and sea work together in extraordinary harmony. Lobster, scallops, mussels and smoked salmon arrive fresh from nearby waters, while apples, garlic, berries, vegetables and grapes flourish in fertile soils shaped by the tides. Award-winning wineries, bustling farmers’ markets and innovative culinary experiences demonstrate that Nova Scotia’s food culture is rooted equally in tradition and creativity.
Travel Tip: September and October are U-Pick months in the region. Check out Curbside Harvest to find a map of farm stands throughout Nova Scotia. Note that this is a VERY busy time in the area and crowds, traffic and accommodation may be at its peak. September 21 is Nova Scotia’s Open Farm Day and will be helpful in planning your activities.
Whether you’re discovering wild sea vegetables on a Fundy shoreline, sipping Riesling in a vineyard overlooking the Annapolis Valley, enjoying afternoon tea surrounded by fragrant gardens or sampling handcrafted Gouda overlooking the bay, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the Bay of Fundy doesn’t simply offer spectacular scenery—it invites you to taste Nova Scotia, one unforgettable stop at a time.
Content and images used with permission by Tourism Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Travel & Tourism | Official Guide to Nova Scotia