New Authentic Visitor Experiences Telling the Story of the Annapolis Valley

The Food, Art, Nature project in which Earth Rhythms is collaborating with the Blomidon Naturalists Society and the Wolfville Farmers’ Market, will be launching a suite of new visitor experiences in April, 2023. These experiences, which have already been developed and pilot tested this fall (2022), will feature low carbon, low waste, experiences that are about the land, natural history, food and the people who live in this area. These experiences will include wild foraging, learning from local naturalists, certified forest bathing guides, songwriters, chocolatiers, farmers, artists, and chefs. They are all about low emissions experiences, and will be offered in all seasons of the year. These experiences are ideal for Atlantic Canadians to realize that they do not have to go to far flung destinations in which long-haul travel creates massive high atmospheric pollution. These experiences are about walking, being outdoors, and combining a love for nature, and giving back to community projects.

Authentic experiences with local naturalists, food producers, and storytellers are increasingly in demand not only by visitors but by people who are interested in travelling closer to home. The importance of local guides is that that is what national and international travellers desire. Local guides can be “the filter” to thoughtfully take visitors in small numbers to places where there are opportunities to experience Acadian forests, migrating birds, organic foods, and morning nature walks.

Many of the people who come to the Annapolis Valley are known to Tourism Nova Scotia’s research team as “Learners”. In fact, 60% of all non-resident travellers to the Annapolis Valley are “Learners”. This is good news. Wouldn’t it be great to offer more experiences that help “learning travellers” to not only travel more sustainably, but learn why the Annapolis Valley is a place that offers sustainable travel experiences?

Earth Rhythms will be packaging these unique experiences into customized (bespoke) itineraries for small groups.

These recent articles offer some insights into how tourism must shift to address climate change, and why travellers want to experiences destinations as locals, more authentically.

This is how tourism must shift to actually address climate change

Travelers Want to Experience Destinations as Locals, Crave More Authenticity

Discovering the Acadian Forest through your senses

Foraging and walking experience to learn the Acadian forest wildlife and wild plants.

Harvesting ingredients for dinner in the greenhouse

Walk with an organic farmer to learn about their farm management practices, taste, and harvest fresh ingredients. Dine together in a greenhouse using these ingredients prepared as a nutritious meal by a chef who champions health and immunity.

From Bean To Bar

Most chocolatiers use chocolates prepared by a bean to bar producer. What if you could meet a bean to bar producer, and then make your own chocolates using local Annapolis Valley ingredients?

Forest medicines

Today, in a post-Covid reality, we yearn to know what steps we can take to be healthy. With a clinical herbalist and forest ecologist, you will be learning about Aacadian forests, and preparing your own tonics.

Highland Cattle, Views, and Remedies

Visiting a farm is not what visitors often think about when travelling. But, wouldn’t it be great to visit a farm, learn from your farm hosts, and do this experientially?

The Apothecary's Invitation

Come into our home, make your own tonics and body oils. That’s an invitation!