9 Things to Do in Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Are you looking for things to do in Wolfville? You’ve come to the right place!
I lived in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, for almost two years, and Wolfville was one of my favorite weekend getaways. The city is about an hour’s drive from Halifax and sits in lush Annapolis Valley region, full of vineyards and orchards.
The town is home to a popular Acadian University, and there is no shortage of beautiful historic buildings and Victorian homes. So you’re in for a treat!
Wolfville is definitely worth adding to your Nova Scotia road trip.
Keep on reading to discover what to do to make the most of your time in Wolfville.
Best Things to Do in Wolfville
1.Go Wine Tasting on a Magic Winery Bus
Magic Winery Bus is a perfect solution for visiting some of the finest wineries of Nova Scotia’s wine country with the freedom to enjoy tastings along the way.
The Magic Bus is a London-style double-decker that offers a hop-on, hop-off service and takes you to the best vineyards in the Wolfville area. Spectacular countryside views along the way add to the experience.
I found that 1 hour at each stop was just the right amount of time per winery to savor the local wines offered at each vineyard, explore the property and enjoy the best of what the winery offers.
The bus departs from the Wolfville Visitor Information Centre, and the package includes transportation, a professional guide, and a glass of wine at each winery.
Nova Scotia is known for its white wine varieties. My favorite is Tidal Bay at Gaspereau Vineyards.
Don’t miss a chance to phone home from the phone box at the Luckett vineyards.
Book a wine and lunch escape with transport from Halifax
2.Sample Local Ciders
Wolfville not only has some of the best wines in Nova Scotia but also ciders.
At Annapolis Cider Company, you can sample a range of tasty, award-winning ciders made from apples from local orchards.
I also love the building of Annapolis Cider Company with its red exterior. The space has small benches for seats and standing booths for a quick drink with friends.
The corn nuts are a great addition to tasting flights.
They have many interesting varieties, from single-varietal apples to Earl Blue (Earl Grey tea and blueberry) or Hopped Pear. Most of their ciders taste semi-sweet.
If you’re visiting the town of Wolfville, this is a must-stop.
3.Have Lunch or Dinner at Troy
Popular spot to dine in Wolfville is Troy. The restaurant is tucked away between Wolfville’s Main Street and the farmers market. It serves Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on Turkish flavors.
The interior has a lot of character with wooden floors, red-brick walls, hanging chandeliers and brightly painted light shades. The menu contains Turkish classics like kebab, roasted lamb and falafel pita wraps.
If you’re a vegetarian like me, you should definitely try their roasted beet salad, lentil & mint soup or mixed mezze platter with a selection of hot and cold appetizers so you can sample multiple dishes in one.
If the weather allows it, their outdoor patio is a place to be.
4.Enjoy a Meal or Beer Tasting at Church Brewing Co.
Considering Wolfville is a small town, it has a surprisingly high amount of fantastic eateries.
On a sunny day, Church Brewing’s patio is a must-stop. The brewery is in a beautiful historic building with stained-glass windows and lots of indoor and outdoor seating. It was a church in the past.
They have a wide selection of craft beers on tap, from IPAs and lagers to stouts, as well as delicious pub grabs. The popular menu options are chicken sandwiches, beer-battered fish & chips and wings.
The atmosphere is laid-back and casual, perfect for enjoying a cold beer with friends in the summer.
It’s one of the busiest restaurants/breweries in Wolfville, but it’s worth the wait.
5.Visit Local Farm Markets and U-Pick Farms
If you keep driving a few minutes further down from Main Street on Highway 1 past Acadia University, you’ll arrive at Wolfville’s farmland with u-pick farms and orchards.
One of my favorite things to do in Wolfville is to go fruit picking at Elderkin’s. They grow cherries, blueberries, gooseberries and apples.
Another popular farm market in the area is Hennigar’s, with its petting zoo and u-pick sunflower field at the back.
You can buy a bite to eat and ice cream at Hennigar’s and have a picnic or go stroll the 2.5km Tannery Hollow nature trail. They sell a little bit of everything, from fudge and baked goods to local produce. The displays are enticing, and the products are delicious.
During the fall season, you’ll find a pumpkin patch and corn maze at Stirling’s Farm Market.
Don’t forget to try local specialty apple cider donuts.
6.Explore Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens
Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens is one of the most aesthetically pleasing areas and a little hidden gem of Wolfville.
These 6-acre gardens showcase the native plants from the Acadian Forest Region.
You can walk through nine local habitats, and there’s also a medicinal and food garden, a beautiful walled garden, and a greenhouse conservatory in a beautiful historical setting.
The gardens are free to access and definitely worth the visit.
7.Browse Shops and Cafes in Downtown Wolfville
The Main Street in Wolfville is where most of the action takes place. The street is lined with majestic trees. This is where you’ll find most coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques and accommodation in town.
The student population adds to the vibrant atmosphere of the town.
Realm Boutique, with out-of-this-world crystals and a selection of cool products, was definitely the highlight for me. But there are also other cool spots like Wild Lily Boutique, a little gift shop and Paddy’s brewpub.
After shopping, you can stop by for coffee at T.A.N. cafe or have a treat at Naked Crepe Bistro.
8.Watch the Tides at the Waterfront Park
This may come as a surprise, but Wolfville also has a small waterfront, which offers fantastic views of Cape Blomidon.
Wolfville has some of the highest tides in the world and you can watch them rise and fall every day from the Waterfront Park. The scenery changes depending on whether the tides are low or high.
The Waterfront Park also has interpretive panels that tell about the history of the area and shipbuilding.
9.Step Back in Time at Grand Pré National Historic Site
On the outskirts of Wolfville is Grand Pre, UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. It’s home to one of the most tragic events in Canadian history, the forceful deportation of the Acadians by the British in 1755.
The site is what used to be an Acadian village. There is a large museum complex with a bookstore and beautiful Tangled Garden gift shop, along with information panels describing Acadian life, the deportation, and the return of Acadians to Nova Scotia.
The main attraction of the site is the 1922 church, the statue of Evangeline and the Domaine de Grand Pré winery.
Every winter, the winery hosts the Ice Wine Festival.
Festivals and Events in Wolfville
Devour! The Food Film Fest (October)
Annual week-long food and film festival held in October featuring Acadian, Québecois, Cajun, Creole, and French cuisine.
Wolfville Farmer’s Market (every Saturday morning)
This vibrant market is in a charmingly renovated apple warehouse. It’s open year-round on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 1 pm.
The market offers the valley’s rich locally grown produce. You can find here everything from artisanal cheeses and freshly baked bread to handcrafted goods and fresh fruit from over 60 local artisans and vendors.
Mud Creek Days (July)
Before 1830, Wolfville was known as Mud Creek because of its harbor full of mud. The festival includes Mud challenges, live music and other fun activities.
Other Things to Do Near Wolfville
Bike Harvest Moon Trailway
The Harvest Moon Trailway in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley is a recreational trail that spans approximately 110 kilometers (about 68 miles) across Annapolis Valley. It was developed on the abandoned railway.
The trail passes through a picturesque landscape, including farmland, forests, and historic towns, including Wolfville. Biking a trail is a fantastic way to experience beautiful Annapolis Valley.
Hike Cape Split
Wolfville is surrounded by provincial parks and multiple hiking trails.
The most popular trail near Wolfville is Cape Split, offering spectacular scenery of the Bay of Fundy from the top. The hike takes about 3-4 hours round trip and is moderate in difficulty.
Check Out Blomidon Provincial Park
Blomidon Provincial Park on the shores of the Minas Basin has four main trails that collectively cover 14 km (9 miles).
The beach is accessible at low tide, but be sure to check the tide timings. The water comes back in quite rapidly.
The 1.6-km (1-mile) Lookoff Trail boasts the best cliff-top views.
River Raft at Burncoat Head Provincial Park
One of the top Nova Scotia bucket list experiences is river rafting at Burncoat Head Provincial Park.
Located on the Bay of Fundy, this park is famous for its world’s highest tides and majestic red cliffs.
River rafting tours are available from various companies in the area and offer an exciting way to explore the rugged coastline of Nova Scotia. You can check out Shubie River Wranglers, Fundy Tidal Bore Adventures or Shubenacadie River Adventure Tours.
Where to Stay in Wolfville
- Blomidon Inn
- Gaspereau Hideaway
- Tattingstone Inn
- The Evangeline Hotel (Grand Pre)
- Bespoke Lake Cottage (New Minas)
