Acadian Family Adventure Circuits: Acadian Shores & Annapolis Valley

Starting in the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores region and looping through the Annapolis Valley, this route highlights the heart of Acadian Nova Scotia. You’ll explore the fishing villages and coastal trails of Clare and Argyle before delving into the historic farmlands of the Annapolis Valley. From giant wooden churches to living history museums and beach adventures, each stop offers something special for curious families.

Recommended Travel Style: Self-drive (with optional guided site tours), allowing flexibility to linger at beaches or join local events as you wish. Summer brings the best weather and many seasonal activities (festivals, interpretive programs), making it ideal for this circuit.

Depending on your pace, you might spend 1–2 days around Clare/Argyle and 1–2 days in the Annapolis Valley. Towns like Yarmouth, Digby, or Wolfville make good bases for overnight stays on this circuit. Don’t forget to sample some local Acadian foods along the way – rappie pie (a hearty grated-potato dish) or seafood fricot stew – many local restaurants in Clare and Argyle serve these specialties!

Clare (Baie Sainte-Marie) – Culture & Coastline

• Rendez-vous de la Baie. Begin at this Acadian cultural centre on the campus of Université Sainte-Anne, where interactive exhibits introduce the rich history, language, music, and folklore of the Clare Acadians. Friendly staff and student guides often provide insights, and there’s an artist-run gallery and small theatre on site. It’s an engaging primer on Acadian heritage for both kids and adults.

• Le Petit Bois Trails. Right behind the Rendez-vous centre, hit the Petit Bois coastal trails for a family nature walk. This 5 km network of wooded and shoreline paths features interpretive panels (pick up a trail map at the centre) and even an observation tower overlooking Saint Mary’s Bay. Keep an eye out for local wildlife in the forest and salt marsh. It’s an easy adventure to let kids burn off energy while learning about local flora and fauna along the way.

• Église Sainte-Marie (St. Mary’s Church). Stop by (and snap a photo of) the largest wooden church in North America, an architectural marvel completed in 1905 by 1,500 Acadian parishioners in just two years. Its design was inspired by the castles of France’s Loire Valley, and the 56 m steeple contains 40 tons of stone ballast to withstand ocean. While the interior may not always be open to visitors, the sheer scale of this wooden cathedral is awe-inspiring – a tangible testament to the faith and craftsmanship of the Acadian community.

• Mavillette Beach Provincial Park. Take a relaxing detour to this beautiful sandy beach backed by fragile grass-covered dunes. At low tide, warm sand flats stretch out into the bay, creating shallow pools that are perfect for young kids to splash and play. Boardwalks lead over the dunes (which protect them – stay on the paths) to the 1.5 km shoreline. Pack a picnic and enjoy building sandcastles or searching for sandpipers and seashells. It’s a great afternoon of fresh air and seaside fun to balance the driving and sightseeing.

• Bay of Fundy Whale Watching. For an unforgettable wildlife experience, dedicate a half-day to a whale watching cruise off Digby Neck (a short drive from Clare). The nutrient-rich Bay of Fundy is a prime spot for summer whale sightings – tours operate June to October from ports like Tiverton or Brier Island, where you’re likely to encounter humpback whales breaching, playful dolphins, plus minke and finback whales feeding in these waters. Family-friendly tour operators provide lifejackets and often a naturalist guide on board. Seeing these gentle giants up close in the wild is sure to be a trip highlight for kids and parents alike. (Tip: book your whale tour in advance for the best timing with tides, and bring a jacket as it’s cooler on the water.)

Argyle (Pubnico & Tusket area) – Living Acadian Heritage

• Le Village Historique Acadien de Pubnico . Step back in time at this historic Acadian village in West Pubnico. Costumed interpreters bring the early 1900s to life as you wander among the 17-acre seaside site overlooking Pubnico Harbournovascotia.com. Families can pop into the blacksmith’s shop, fish sheds, and homestead buildings to see demonstrations of traditional skills – from cooking molasses cookies on a woodstove to weaving and woodworking. Kids can ask questions and even try a few hands-on activities, making it a joyful, immersive peek into how Acadian families lived over a century ago.

• “Living Wharves” at Dennis Point. Head to the working fishing wharf in Lower West Pubnico (Dennis Point) to meet real local fishermen and fisherwomen as part of the Living Wharves . This hands-on experience (offered on select summer days) invites visitors to learn about the tools and daily tasks of the lobster and tuna fishing industries. Your kids might get to touch a lobster trap, coiled ropes, or a grappling hook, and hear seafaring tales of shipwrecks and storms directly from those who work the sea. It’s an authentic slice of Acadian fishing life that’s both educational and fun – don’t be surprised if your little ones start dreaming of being sailors afterwards!

• Tusket Islands Boat Tour . Embark on a family-friendly boat tour of the Tusket Islands, departing from Wedgeport. Operated by local Acadian guides, these 3–4 hour tours are filled with storytelling and music. As you cruise through a cluster of low-lying islands and fishing shanties, you’ll hear legends of rum-runners, buried treasure, and World War II spies alongside facts about lobster fishing and island life. Many tours stop at a private island where you can explore on foot and enjoy a bowl of seafood chowder for lunch. The lively guides often break out the guitar on the return trip, treating passengers to Acadian folk songs. It’s an entertaining way to connect with the maritime heritage – keep your eyes peeled for seals and seabirds too!

• Argyler Lodge – Coastal Cooking & Kayaking .For a dose of adventure and local cuisine, consider a stop at the Argyler Lodge in the tiny fishing community of Lower Argyle. This oceanfront lodge (open to both overnight guests and day visitors by reservation) offers guided kayaking tours in the calm bay, as well as hands-on cooking classes featuring ingredients fresh from the garden and sea. Imagine your family learning to prepare an Acadian-style meal – perhaps digging clams or picking herbs, then cooking a seafood dish under a chef’s instruction. In the evening, you can relax on the lodge’s wrap-around porch with a view of the sunset over Lobster Bay . On certain nights they even host a beachside lobster boil where kids can help gather firewood or rinse the catch. It’s a wonderful way to taste Nova Scotia’s flavors and enjoy coastal recreation together.

Annapolis Valley – History Comes Alive

(As you travel northeast into the Annapolis Valley, you transition from the Acadian shore to the fertile lands where Acadians first farmed in Nova Scotia. History buffs will love this leg, but there’s plenty to keep children engaged too.)

• Grand-Pré National Historic Site. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Grand-Pré, set in peaceful gardens and meadows near present-day Wolfville. Grand-Pré commemorates the 17th–18th century Acadian settlement and the Deportation of 1755, and it remains an emotional touchstone for Acadians worldwide. Families can take a guided tour (offered in summer) that begins in an immersive theatre built in the hull of a “deportation” ship – a powerful way to introduce the story. Costumed interpreters and engaging exhibits help make the history accessible for kids, with outdoor storytelling sessions that bring to life the daily experiences of Acadian families before the Expulsion. Don’t miss the iconic statue of Evangeline (heroine of Longfellow’s poem) and the Memorial Church, where simple displays and a film personalize the Acadian experience. Before you leave, stroll up the path to the Landscape of Grand Pré View Park on the hill – from there you get a panoramic view of the “grand pré” (great meadow) and dykelands that Acadians ingeniously farmed centuries ago. It’s a beautiful spot for a family picnic or reflection.

• Port-Royal Habitation. Step even further back in time at Port-Royal, near Annapolis Royal, the site of one of North America’s earliest European settlements. The Port-Royal National Historic Site is a reconstruction of the 1605 French Habitation – essentially a fortified farm/trading post – and it offers a fantastic kids’ discovery program. Inside the wooden palisade, costumed interpreters portray blacksmiths, carpenters, gardeners, and members of the Mi’kmaq Nation, demonstrating how people lived and worked here 400+ years ago. Your children can take part in hands-on activities like carding wool, weaving mats, or writing with quill pens, experiencing the chores and games of the era. The smell of woodsmoke and baking bread, the rhythmic clang of the forge, and the lively characters (who often speak French and English) make it easy to imagine life at Port-Royal. It’s both educational and entertaining – kids often leave proudly wearing a “Junior Explorer” badge earned by completing fun tasks during their visit.

• Historic Gardens of Annapolis Royal. Just up the road in the charming town of Annapolis Royal, the Historic Gardens offer a lovely break that blends nature with history. These award-winning gardens include an “Acadian House” exhibit – a replica of a 1670s thatched-roof Acadian dwelling and garden plot – complete with informative signs about how Acadians dyked the land to create fertile fields. Families can join a kid-friendly garden tour or pick up a scavenger hunt sheet that encourages children to find specific plants and features throughout the 17-acre site. Stroll through rose arbors, Victorian gardens, and rhododendron dells, then step into the Acadian house to see heritage vegetables and an aboiteau (wooden dyke sluice) on display. It’s a gentle way to reinforce the agricultural heritage you learned about at Grand-Pré and Port-Royal. Plus, the Gardens have a café where you can get ice cream or lemonade – a nice treat on a warm day after exploring.