Guided Tours Offered in the Annapolis ValleyWhy pay for guided tours? My question would be more like why miss out on this fantastic opportunity? There is so much to experience and learn in this historic valley. By taking a historic walking tour you can really get a feel for life back when. Chances are the professional guides will be dressed appropriately for the tour you are on. They will tell you stories and folklore you will not read or hear about anywhere else. Guided tours can give you hands on opportunity also. Opportunities like learning new songs and dance to catching that "big" one while deep-sea fishing. You do not just learn; you experience what you are learning. So take a look at all the different types of guided tours offered in and around the Annapolis Valley area. Plan which ones you would like to participate in before you get here. This will leave you more time while you are here to add in another one or two. So do you have your comfortable walking shoes on? You have decided to take one of the walking guided tours today offered in the Annapolis Valley. Good choice, you are going to love it. Check out which ones are offered, where they are located and what time they start. You may want to check the weather outside today, and then depending on where the tours are located, dress appropriately. Most of the walking tours in the Annapolis Valley are approximately 1 - 2 hours long. The walk goes along at a slow pace, stopping often as the guides tell stories about the area. The tours will end either back at the starting point or close to it. Questions are welcome; the tour guides are very knowledgeable and will do their best to answer all of them for you. Bring your camera and your quest for fun.
Durlene Melanson Dressed for the Acadia Heritage Tour Annapolis Royal Historical Association provide several different walking guided tours. Their walking tours are very informative and entertaining while covering the culture and history of this area. In 2005 their three main walking tours won first place as the "Hometown Pride Event of the Year" from Nova Scotia Tourism's Festivals and Events Council. Their walking tours are guided by two of the best; Alan Melanson and his beautiful wife Durline. On Valentine's Day, 1997 they were selected by the Chronical Herald as one of the provinces three "Most Romantic Couples". Alan is a tenth generation Acadian whose ancestors founded the nearby Melanson Settlement. They both have a love of history and 26 years experience as tour guides. The Acadian Heritage Tour gets started from the lighthouse in Annapolis Royal on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m. from June to September. During the guided tour you will walk on the same shores where the Acadians first arrived and would have walked themselves. You will explore the fort where several battles were fought for control between the French and British. Also visited is the site where the history book was written that was used as a reference for Longfellow’s poem Evangeline. You will even visit the wharf where 1664 Acadians were deported from here. Hear Alan's personal story of his ancestors during the deportation and what happened to them after. You will sing and dance to Acadian music and learn how to prepare the Acadian dish "Rappi Pie". All too soon the tour will be over but you will receive a special gift of a free Acadian Heritage booklet as a keepsake. This one of the guided tours is well worth the modest admission fees. For more information about this tour you may call 902 532 3034.
The Annapolis Royal Historic District Tour The second of the Annapolis Royal Historic Associations' Walking Guided Tours is the National Historic District Tour. This walking tour also gets started from the lighthouse in Annapolis Royal. On this tour you will explore the largest and one of the most interesting National Historic District in Canada. There are 131 Registered Historic Properties and 4 National Historic Sites in and around Annapolis Royal. The costumed interpreter will walk you through 400 years of history from the area. There were struggles, battles, hardships, joys, triumphs and love stories. Learn about the people of the area, the Mi'kmaq, Scots, British, French, Acadians, Loyalist and the New England Planters. See the buildings and hear about their history. Last year I joined one of these guided tours and was very impressed with it. Even though I have lived in the area all my life and studied the history, there was still more for me to learn. Durline Melanson was the tour guide for this walking tour and her knowledge of the area is second only to her enthusiasm and energy she brings to the group. After an entertaining and informative presentation at the lighthouse the group headed down the street. We stopped often along the way and heard the history of several of the buildings. Many of the past citizens of the town were brought to life for us with Durlines' descriptions of them. We made our way down Lower St. George Street to the bottom and then back up to the wharf area. A walk on the boardwalk brought us back up town where we came back out to the street and strolled up to the historic courthouse and back. There was information and stories told the whole way. Some of the other people in the group were visiting here from England and they asked several questions, all of which Durline answered. Before we knew it and all too soon the tour was over. Each of us on the walking tour was given a very nice certificate as a keepsake. I recommend this tour even if you think you already know the history of the area. The entertainment and the information are much greater than you will ever find in a history book. You can join this one of the walking guided tours every Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the lighthouse. There is a small admission.
Alan Melanson with the Candlelight Graveyard Tour The longest running and the most sought after of the walking guided tours in Annapolis Royal put on by the Historic Association is the Candlelight Graveyard Tours. Internationally acclaimed heritage interpreter Alan Melanson created these walking tours in 1991. They have become one of the most popular events in Nova Scotia. Thousands have taken the tour over the years including former Prime Minister Paul Martin. The tour starts from the parking lot at the Fort Anne National Historic Park at 9:30 p.m. every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from June to October. After being geared up with a lantern for everyone the tour moves to the oldest English Graveyard in Canada. We visited the oldest tombstone still in existence in Canada from 1720. It has been several years since I last took the Candlelight Graveyard Tour but my nephew, son and I really enjoyed it. I really have to go on another one soon. I was sceptical as first, how interesting could a graveyard be? I was soon to find out. A lot of it was because of the mystery and excitement our guide, Alan portrayed in his explanations and stories. As Alan took us to several tombs he would stop and point out the different art that was used on the stones. It was neat to hear how this artwork changed over the years and what each one represented. As we read over the names and dates on the stones we were provided with an insight to their lives, deaths and their contributions to the area. Some of the names I had heard before but I learned a lot more about them from this tour. I fully recommend this experience for everyone, it is an enjoyable evening. Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for after the sun goes down. The tour last for just over an hour and there is a mosest admission charged. To find out more on this great guided tour you may call 902 532 3035 or 902 532 2397.
The Historic Cyprus Walk, Bridgetown When you are in the Bridgetown area I suggest you take the self guided Historic Cyprus Walking Tour found there. You may pick up a picturesque guidebook at the Bridgetown Town Hall or at the Bridgetown Visitor Information Centre. This tour will take you on a journey past many sugniticant buildings in Bridgetown, and through the Jubilee Park and then along the Annapolis River. You will learn many aspects of life in Bridgetown as it developed through the years. All you have to do is follow the blue line and the interpretive signs and the informative guidebook will tell you about what you are viewing. It makes for a enjoyable afternoon / early evening walk. For more information about this tour you may call 902 665 4637 or 902 824 0387.
Middleton also offers self-guided tours of it's beautiful town. Pick up your guided tours booklet at the Middleton Tourist Information Centre and learn very interesting information about many of the historic buildings and houses of the area. You will learn about some very significant landmarks of the area and how they came to be there. For more information you may call the Town of Middleton at 902 825 6611.
I added this to the walking tours however there is not a lot of walking involved. The Tidal Power Project, located on the Annapolis Causeway is the first of it's kind in North America. This power plant generates up to 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. This is accomplished when the forceful tidal waters turn the huge turbine located below ground. The visitor Information Centre staff conducts unique “Down Under” tours of the tidal power Plant during weekdays when possible. Interested travelers are taken below ground by elevator to the upper machine room, directly above the turbine. Call 532 5454 for schedule.
The Digby Waterfront Walking Tour This is a guided walking tour in Digby starting from the Digby Marina just before sunset. The tour takes about one hour and covers the town’s history from its first settlers to the bustling town it is today. The tours run from June to August by appointment only. Please call 902 245 6322 for more information or email at admuseum@ns.sympatico.ca.
These nature walking tours are based in Freeport but cover both Long and Brier Islands. The tour guide not only shows you but also tells you about the wildflowers native to the islands. They also cover the botanical habitats, birds, rock formations and the history of the islands. There is also a boat tour of the waters surrounding Brier Island. Packages are available.
When visiting Grand Pre make sure you take part in the Dyke and Acadian Cross Tours. Climb aboard the wagon and let the tractor pull you along for an hour of relaxation, interesting information and fun filled entertainment. There are two stops, first one is at the Acadian Cross, also know as the Deportation Cross. Learn the story about the deportation of thousands of Acadians from these lands. You will also stop at a dyke where you will learn from the guide its use and how they were built. The bilingual guides will also keep you interested with information on the history, culture and significance of the Acadians of the Grand Pre area. There will also be many interesting tales of local folklore.
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Take a guided tour with "By The Tide Tours" and learn about the little known and out of the way areas of the Annapolis Valley. Listen to the waves lapping on the shore and smell the fresh sea air and then take in the peacefulness of the area. These guided tours are very informative and relaxing as you drive on the less travelled roads throughout the valley. Take in the scenery missed by those taking the major highways. By The Tides Tours are located at 1072 Milne Avenue in New Minas. You can find out more information by calling 902 681 2840.
Another guided tour group for the area is "Into The Wilderness Expeditions." This tour company offers several tours including their "Bay of Fundy Tides and Annapolis Valley Tour". This 8-hour tour is conducted in smaller groups giving the opportunity to explore places the bigger tour buses cannot go. Tours may include hiking, canoeing, sailing or cruising, bird watching, fossil hunting, and gold prospecting. Located at 6411 Quinpool Rd.; Halifax; NS; B3L 1A7, or call 902 425 9453 for more information.
For another very good interactive guided tour you may want to give Kathleen a call at Kathleen's Shuttle & Tours. Kathleen works from Digby and offers several very interesting tours like her:
If you tell her what your interest are she will even devise a special tour to fit them. You do not just drive around with Kathleen, you stop, get out and get active to. This is a good way to learn about and experience the beautiful Annapolis Valley.
The Norwood Boat Tours are located on Water Street in Westport, Brier Island offer ocean tours on their boat "The Seadog IV. The tour takes you out to explore around Brier Island, the most westerly point in Nova Scotia. Although not really a whale watching tour, the trip does take you close to the feeding grounds of the humpback whale so sightings are quite common. For more information call 902 839 2274.
One of the most popular guided tours in the region these days is the whale watching tours. In 1999 the fish stocks were in trouble so new stricter regulations were heavily enforced to try to save them. It was harder to make a living fishing so several of the fishermen looked for other ways to support their families. The tourist industry was building in the province and not wanting to leave the water the retired fishermen looked at using their boats for guided tours. They offered fishing trips, bird watching and whale watching. This caught on big, especially the bird and whale watching. These fishermen knew where the whales and birds were; they had seen them for years during their daily fishing trips. For a few years it seemed everyone was offering these whale watching tours, but as with any industry over the years only the best survive. Check out this page for a list of the guided whale watching tours being offered. Well there you have a good list of guided tours you can take in and around the Annapolis Valley. As I find others I will list them and as I try some of them out again I will give you a review on them, so check back often. In the mean time make sure you check out all the other great things there is to do in the Annapolis Valley during your vacation. There is sure to be enough to keep you as busy as you want to be.
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