Have a Life
The Annapolis Valley is notorious for making even the most faithful urbanites want to swap the city for something with a little more breathing space. Located along the majestic shores of the Bay of Fundy (home to the world’s highest tides!) and the Minas Basin, the pace is slower but by no means sleepy. Make no mistake, this is a dynamic region with as much community and culture as there is awe-inspiring natural beauty.
Small in size. Huge in personality.
Here, we trade #StuffyCrowds for #SelfCare. Say hello to adorable little towns filled with friendly faces, cute indie shops, and insanely yummy food. Hit up the coastline whenever you need a breath of fresh ocean air. Roll the windows down, crank the tunes, and explore our scenic back roads through the countryside. Each and every day out here has the potential to end with stargazing and bonfire-ing. Whatever your heart desires, you have options aplenty in the Annapolis Valley to live, work, and play.
Love every season. Even winter (seriously).
Nestled between two small mountain ranges, the Annapolis Valley has its very own microclimate with some of the most temperate conditions in eastern Canada. Each season gives you something unique to look forward to: apple blossoms in spring; warm windswept gardens in summer; harvest season in fall with its bursts of red and gold; and a real-life snow-globe wonderland in winter (with warm & cozy farmers markets that are a JOY to walk out of the cold into).
Who says the city has the
market cornered on culture?
Middleton Railway Museum
Macdonald Museum
James House Museum
Tupperville School Museum
North Hills Museum
Annapolis Heritage Society Museum
Kings County Museum
Northville Farm Heritage Centre
Concrete House Museum
Prescott House Museum
Blue Beach Fossil Museum
Avon River Heritage Centre
Shand House Museum
Hockey Heritage Museum
Haliburton House Museum
Greenwood Military Aviation Museum
Port-Royal National Historic Site
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
Melanson Settlement National Historic Site
Grand Pre National Historic Site
Fort Edward National Historic Site
Landscape of Grand Pre – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Bloody Creek National Historic Site
So. You hungry?
When some of the Province’s best crops are grown right around the corner (or literally ON the corner, for that matter), it’s no surprise that chefs, vintners, brewers, and foodies alike all want to be here. There’s so much to savour in the Annapolis Valley—from a crisp glass of Tidal Bay (a wine appellation so unique that we had to make it up ourselves; you’re welcome) to a butter-drenched lobster to that perfect sip of locally-roasted fair trade coffee. You’ll never run out of new flavours to explore, or to try growing on your own. It’s pretty much our official regional pastime.
20+ wineries, craft breweries, distilleries, and a cidery
Award-winning restaurants
Countless Farmers’ Markets
Awesome education for all.
The Annapolis Valley is famous for its great schools, which includes forty public schools, two adult schools, three private schools, Acadia University, and three Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses. With so many educational institutions nearby, there’s plenty of talent in the region; not to mention a whipsmart population.
Annapolis East Elementary School
Berwick and District Elementary School
Bridgetown Regional Community School
Brooklyn District Elementary School
Cambridge and District School
Champlain Elementary School
Clark Rutherford Memorial School
Coldbrook and District School
Dr. Arthur Hines School
Dwight Ross Elementary School
Falmouth District Elementary School
Gaspereau Valley Elementary School
Glooscap Elementary School
Hantsport School
Kings County Academy
Kingston and District School
L. E. Shaw Elementary School
Lawrencetown Consolidated School
New Minas Elementary School
Port Williams Elementary School
Somerset and District Elementary School
St. Mary’s Elementary School
Three Mile Plains District School
Windsor Elementary School
Windsor Forks District School
Wolfville School
Berwick and District Elementary School
Bridgetown Regional Community School
Coldbrook and District School
Evangeline Middle School
Hantsport School
Kings County Academy
Northeast Kings Education Centre
Pine Ridge Middle School
West Hants Middle School
Wolfville School
Avon View High School
Bridgetown Regional Community School
Central Kings Rural High School
Highbury Education Centre
Horton High School
Kings County Adult High School
Lawrencetown Education Centre
Middleton Regional High School
Northeast Kings Education Centre
West Hants Education Centre
West Kings District High School
Windsor Adult High School
Keep your heart rate up, indoors and out.
If outdoor adventuring is your jam then you really couldn’t pick a better spot to spend your time. The Annapolis Valley is home to stunning beaches, hiking and biking trails, rivers, lakes, ski-hills, national and provincial parks, golf courses, outdoor hockey rinks, and so much more. We’re talking wide open spaces and plenty to do in ’em. Best of all? It’s no sweat to make staying active part of your daily routine since you’re never far from your next adventure.
200 km of biking trails stretching from Kentville to Yarmouth
3700 km of trails for walking, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, and all-terrain vehicles
44 soccer fields
15 baseball fields
12 indoor ice rinks and 11 outdoor ice surfaces
1 ski resort and high ropes adventure course
7 curling clubs
8 golf courses
30 beaches
All roads lead to the gold standard.
Keep your welcome mat out. It’s easy to get here, whether you’re traveling via road, rail, ocean or sky. And just a heads up: so many are coming. The Annapolis Valley is certified as the world’s first “Smart and Sustainable Rural Region” by the World Council on City Data. We’ve achieved a Gold Certification, putting us in the top ranks of cities across the globe. Not that we needed to be told that we had something amazing (oh, we already knew that), but it sure is nice that everyone else does too.
Follow along with us.
902-678-2200 | hellothere@haveitallav.ca
We acknowledge that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) People first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.
This site is brought to you by the Valley Regional Enterprise Network, the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Business Leaders’ Initiative.