Down by the bay today?
Transcription
Down by the bay today?
Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Canary seeds cleared for consumption D2 D 5 SHOWS TO WATCH TONIGHT GAME OF SILENCE MOTIVE MR. D Pilot Global, 8 p.m. The Score CTV, 8 p.m. Gerry Turns 40 CBC, 9:30 p.m. BROOKLYN NINE-NINE BEYOND THE TANK FOX, 10 p.m. ABC, 11 p.m. Cody Whynot and partner Karlene Hauer operate Whynot Tours, specializing in guided and self-guided outdoor trips in Nova Scotia. LOCAL TOURISM Down by the bay today? Seek adventure in your own backyard THE CHRONICLE HERALD [email protected] @chronicleherald If you truly want to have great escapades in Nova Scotia this summer, adventurer Cody Whynot said his best advice is to pack an overnight bag, find a highway you’ve never driven before and go. “Nova Scotia is full of historic lodges and bed and breakfasts, employed by locals who are teaming with advice for an ‘authentic’ experience in their area,” he said. “And if you’re really looking for something wild, grab your tent instead and spend the night next to a campfire.” “There’s magic in spontaneity.” Whynot and partner Karlene Hauer operate Whynot Tours, specializing in guided and self-guided outdoor trips in Kejimkujik National Park and Lake Rossignol, the province’s largest freshwater lake. The self-guided trips are by far the most popular package they offer, he says. “People from all over the world come here for the solitude and beauty our wilderness brings.” “We tell people to give us your dates and some input to planning meals. All they have to do is just show up with a toothbrush and a credit card, we take care of the rest.” That includes booking your campsite, purchasing and packing fresh food and outfitting you with all the proper equipment you’ll need. When you get there, they’ll teach you how to set up your tent and use your camp stove and away you go. “There are so many hidden From Wolfville you can ride the hop-on, hop-off British double-decker that is the Wolfville Magic Winery Bus. gems in our province ... especially wine country,” says Susan Downey Lim, tour director with Grape Escapes. World-class wineries and local food culture is making the Annapolis Valley a popular destination for as many locals playing tourists as real ones from outside the province. “My favourite part is talking to people who have no idea we have such great wine and scenery, and experiencing their surprise when they discover how wonderful it is.” Downey Lim and her husband are embarking on their fifth season chauffeuring visitors from Halifax to destinations in the Annapolis Valley and South Shore, including dinner tours and local winter escapades. Interpretation of local history and wine offered en route on a five to seven hour day tour visiting some of the region’s best wineries and giving guests an opportunity to sample some of the most celebrated, award-winning vintages. “We aim to make wine society accessible, and less pretentious, to those who are unfamiliar,” she said. “But we can also speak ‘sommelier’ with those who are fluent.” From Wolfville you can ride the hop-on, hop-off British doubledecker that is the Wolfville Magic Winery Bus. “Our wineries are innovative and create unique experiences that have our guests returning and encouraging others to visit,” said David Hovell, experience manager. “We are authenticating the region as a premier wine and culinary destination.” Departures begin the end of June on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until midOctober. And how about experiencing the Bay of Fundy’s world highest tides first hand? Advocate Tours located on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy in Cumberland offers tours from a rigid-hull zodiac that is both comfortable and safe to board and ride on, says owner Darcy Snell. You'll certainly get a unique view of Annapolis Valley stunning landscapes and spectacular geological formations including around Cape Split, Cape Chignecto Shore and the Three Sisters, complete with lunch on the beach. You can also a book an excursion to Isle Haute, a wildlife sanctuary populated with birds and seals in the upper Bay of Fundy near the entrance to the Minas Basin Advocate Tours also partners with NovaShores Adventures for those who wish to kayak. “Either one you choose, wind is the caveat that prevents us from going out on the water,” said Snell, “and obviously we have to have water, so tide times are important.” If you opt for an activity or guided tour requiring tickets or special considerations, don’t throw caution to the wind. Saturdays sell out quickly, so you’re advised to plan ahead and make reservations. These are just a sampling of the growing number of affordable day tours and see and do excursions for those with a palate for the easy, local and fun. For more ideas across the province, visit novascotia.com.