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There are places that sneak up on you. Places you might not expect to resonate with until you’re suddenly standing in the middle of them, glass of wine in hand, warm sun on your face, and thinking, I could live here (well maybe in the summer). For us, that was Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
At the tail end of our weeklong road trip through this stunning Canadian province (in partnership with Nova Scotia tourism), we landed in Wolfville for two nights. We thought it would be a fun way to round off our journey with a little wine tasting and relaxation. Instead, Wolfville drew us in with so much more.
Hello from Wolfville Nova Scotia!
The combination of perfect summer weather, a lifestyle that hums with the energy of a university town yet still feels laid-back, an agricultural region brimming with fresh produce and world-class wines, and locals who radiate that rare ability to make you feel instantly at home – it was all too enticing.
It reminded us so much of wine region living back in Australia – the vineyard views, the relaxed tastings, the food that celebrates what’s grown nearby, and the general ethos that a good life is lived in harmony with nature, good company, and good times.
If you only have two nights in Wolfville, you’ll get a delicious taste of it all: wine, wellness, history, food, and that intangible sense of joy that seems to drift through its streets and vineyards like a breeze off the Bay of Fundy. Here’s an itinerary of how we spent our two nights in Wolfville and how you might plan yours. And as it’s only an hour from Halifax, you can also easily visit on a day trip!
Note: Nova Scotia Good Cheer Trail is Canada’s first and only winery, brewery, cidery, distillery and Meadery trail. Collect stamps by visiting a stunning wine region, trying a craft beer tasting, sampling a cider or taking a distillery tour.
But first: Check into Planters Ridge Winery
On the edge of the vineyards
We arrived in Wolfville in the late afternoon, driving in from Lunenburg, just in time to check into Planters Ridge, our winery home for the next two nights. There’s something extra special about staying right at a vineyard, especially in a region that’s quickly becoming known as Nova Scotia’s “wine country.”
We saved all our exploring for the next day and spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening enjoying the fruits of this winery come inn.
Planters Ridge is housed in a beautifully renovated 1864 farmhouse, perched among rolling vineyards with wide valley views. Even though we arrived just on closing time, the staff warmly welcomed us as guests of the inn.
A table was waiting on the patio, where we could watch the sun spill its golden light over the vines while sipping a flight of their premium wines: an unoaked chardonnay, a Riesling, and a pinot noir.
It was the perfect first taste – literally – of why Wolfville is so beloved. We ordered ahead for meals from the kitchen (lots of gluten free options) that we could enjoy on the patio.
We enjoyed the fresh flavors of salmon crostini – so delicious with the pineapple salsa on tip -, a grazing board, garden salad with chicken, chicken sandwich with a side of soup. All of this paired with a chilled bottle of their Tidal Bay, Nova Scotia’s signature white blend.
Sitting on that patio felt like stepping into a scene from home in Australia’s Hunter Valley or Barossa Valley. Relaxed, delicious, and downright dreamy.
Our farmhouse room was just as inviting: modern and luxurious yet grounded in its rural setting. Oversized bathrooms with soaking tubs and walk-in steam showers, custom birch furniture, heated floors, and thoughtful touches like wireless phone chargers and Netflix-equipped TVs made it hard to leave. But the star of the show was the view — vineyards stretching across the horizon, the kind of view you want to wake up to with a coffee in hand.
Pro tip: If you’re arriving late, you can always save the wine tasting for the next day. As guests, we popped back in the following afternoon for another complimentary glass (chardonnay for me) before heading into town for dinner. Guests receive one complimentary wine!
Day One: Wellness, Lobster, and Local Flavors
Delicious breakfast at Planters Ridge
Our morning began with artisanal breakfast at Planters Ridge — gluten-free granola and bread for me, thanks to their gracious hospitality — before driving a 30-minute drive north to the Bay of Fundy in the Annapolis Valley.
Stop 1: Morning at Saltair Nordic Spa
Saltair
Tucked down a short drive along a dirt road above the shoreline is Saltair Nordic Spa & Wellness, a sanctuary that quickly became one of my favorite stops of our entire Nova Scotia road trip.
The setting is almost otherworldly: infinity-style hot and cold pools overlooking the Bay, panoramic saunas with wall-to-wall windows framing the tides, fire bowls, and walking paths through 14 acres of coastal woodland.
We started with a guided class called All the Feels, which wove breathwork, meditation, and gentle coaching into the hot-cold-rest cycle of Nordic spa tradition. It was the perfect way to settle into the rhythm of the spa.
Over the next three hours, we floated between steaming saunas, icy plunge pools, mud masks, and silent relaxation rooms where the only sounds were birdsong and waves.
When hunger struck, Saltair’s café — run in collaboration with a local chef — offered fresh snacks, coffee, and even a delicious gluten-free brownie that paired beautifully with the view. Rumor has it they’re adding on-site accommodation soon, and if that’s true, I’d return in a heartbeat. I’d return even without it!
Read our full review of Saltair Nordic Spa & Wellness on the Bay of Fundy
Stop 2: Lunch at Hall’s Harbour Lobster Pound
Great views with your lobster
After such serenity, it was time for something quintessentially Nova Scotian: lobster. Just west of Saltair is the tiny fishing village of Hall’s Harbour, where the tides of the Bay of Fundy rise and fall dramatically, leaving fishing boats high and dry at low tide before lifting them dozens of feet back up again.
The tidal movements here are the biggest in the world (rise has high as 54 feet with movement change averaging 11.6 m) – a fact I’ve known since we worked at Kuri Bay pearl farm in Western Australia, home of the second biggest tidal movements in the world. So being at the Bay of Fundy was a special experience for us.
Except… I obviously can’t read a tidal chart as we arrived at high tide and missed the experience! I guess I really do have to come back now. (You can walk on the ocean floor twice in a day – so you do have two chances to get it right)
Lobster poutine | lobster roll
But we still enjoyed a hearty lunch at the Lobster Pound and Restaurant, a popular spot to enjoy some fresh local seafood. Craig’s lobster roll was fresh and classic, while I tried a lobster poutine — a decadent twist I didn’t know I needed.
Confession: lobster has always felt a bit overrated to me, but there’s something about eating it in Nova Scotia that feels almost like a rite of passage. If you want the full “lobster in the rough” experience, time your visit with low tide for the most dramatic views.
Note: The Nova Scotia Lobster Trail highlights restaurants, retail and fisheries that have some of the freshest lobster dishes and lobster-related experiences in Nova Scotia.
Stop 3: Afternoon coffee and gardens
On the way back to Wolfville, we stopped at Just Us! Coffee Roasters, Canada’s first fair trade organic coffee roaster. Their Grand-Pré café served up an excellent flat white — proof that Australia has trained my coffee palate for life.
Next, we wandered the quirky grounds of Tangled Garden, a labyrinth of overgrown herbs, sculptures, and flowers. It felt a little wild and unkempt, but that was part of its charm.
The owner transforms her harvest into jewel-like jellies, vinegars, and even liqueurs, and the whole place smelled like a healing apothecary. If you’re short on time, you could skip it, but garden lovers will enjoy its eccentricity.
Stop 4: Wine and cider tastings
Grand Pre Winery tasting flight
Back in Wolfville, it was time to dive deeper into what the region does best: wine and cider.
- Domaine de Grand Pré Winery – The oldest farm winery in Atlantic Canada, run by the Swiss-born Stutz family since the 1990s. Their wine flights showcased the diversity of Nova Scotia varietals, from crisp whites to bold reds, all in a convivial atmosphere. Their on-site restaurant, Le Caveau, is world-renowned for fine dining if you want to splurge on dinner.
Grand Pre Winery Annapolis Cider
- Annapolis Cider Company – While we’re not usually cider drinkers, we couldn’t resist stopping by after learning they’d just won Canadian Cidermaker of the Year. Their tasting flight included a Geneva crab rosé, a traditional Gravenstein, and a hopped pear — light, fruity, and surprisingly complex. We sat on their outdoor patio watching downtown Wolfville hum with life. I appreciated the friendliness and cider passion of the servers who shared the cider companies’ stories and ciders with us.
By this point, Wolfville had fully worked its charm on us. The small town buzzed but never rushed, and every conversation we struck up with locals seemed to end in laughter.
Stop 5: Dinner in Wolfville
Church Brewing
Downtown Wolfville is a lively place to be of an evening so worth eating at one of their many restaurants.
A local favorite is Church Brewing Company, set inside a restored stone Presbyterian church, which took me back to living in London and visiting a few pubs in churches. The soaring architecture, landscaped outdoor patio, and elevated pub food made it a highlight of the trip.
My maple soy-glazed salmon dragon bowl was both hearty and refined, while Craig declared his brisket sandwich one of the best he’d eaten in Nova Scotia. Bonus: they often host live music, making it a vibrant evening spot if you can time it.
Church Brewing food | Library Pub
If you’re after something more intimate, locals raved about Juniper Food & Wine., a cozy, farm-to-table restaurant with a pared-down but exquisite menu. A tip given to us by the owners of Nature Folk Nordic Spa in Halifax – more on that later.
And if you’re not quite ready to call it a night, head to The Library Pub, a cozy tavern where shelves of ale replace shelves of books. We popped upstairs for live music — they host bands on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays — and it felt like the kind of place where conversations with strangers easily turn into friendships.
Day Two: Farmers’ Market and a Farewell Feast
Stop 1: Breakfast at Wolfville Farmers’ Market
On our final morning, we headed to the Wolfville Farmers’ Market — and wow, what a community hub. Every Wednesday and Saturday morning from Waterfront Park, more than 50 vendors gather here with fresh produce, meats, breads, cheeses, crafts, and ready-to-eat meals.
There was live music and even a dance class during our visit, giving the whole space a joyful, communal vibe. If you’re the type who loves to taste your way through local specialties, don’t miss this market. You could spend hours sampling jams, chatting with farmers, and filling a basket with picnic supplies.
Stop 2: Downtown Stroll and Coffee
Before leaving town, we wandered Wolfville’s boutique shops. Market General Merchants offered artisan goods, while Wild Lily was a stylish clothing boutique worth a browse. Pay attention to the street art as you wander the main streets of Wolfville and you may come across some beautiful plant covered buildings like this one …
Gorgeous!
For one last coffee fix, we popped into TAN Coffee, a local roaster committed to fair trade and sustainability. Their flat white was spot-on.
Stop 3: Lunch at Luckett Vineyards
Luckett Vineyards
We had saved one of the best wineries for last: Luckett Vineyards. Perched on a hill overlooking the Gaspereau Valley, it’s one of the most picturesque spots in the region.
A red telephone box sits in the middle of the vineyard — yes, the classic British booth — and you can even call anywhere in North America for free from it. Naturally, it’s become one of the most Instagrammed spots in Nova Scotia.
We sat on the covered patio for lunch, and it was one of our favorite meals of the trip. My taco al pastor with braised lamb, pineapple, and roasted poblano was outstanding, paired with a crisp chardonnay. Craig went for a shrimp and lobster roll, which he declared his trip favorite.
The wines were superb, and we realized we’d actually enjoyed one of their reds earlier in the week without knowing it. Even better, we had lunch with long time travel blogging friends, Dalene and Pete Heck (who helped organize this trip) and we finally got to meet in real life and learn even more about why this region of Canada is so special they chose to live here!
It was the perfect note to end on — bellies and hearts full, overlooking a valley that felt both rooted in history and brimming with possibility.
Additional Suggestions
So much more to discover in Wolfville
By 2:30 pm, it was time for us to head to the airport. But if you’re anything like us, you’ll already be plotting your return. We were meant to go to lunch at Lightfoot & Wolfville, as recommended by Dalene and Pete, but it was closed for a private event. So, if you are looking for another winery to visit, this one’s also loved by locals!
If you have more time in Wolfville, here are a few extras worth considering:
- Wine Tours: From the Magic Winery Bus (a hop-on-hop-off experience through several vineyards) to chauffeured vintage car tours, there are many ways to explore without worrying about driving. We met people at the wineries on this tour having a great time.
- Grand-Pré National Historic Site: A moving monument to Acadian history, telling the story of the 18th-century Deportation and celebrating the culture that endures today. Visit this site to see different attractions within the Landscape of Grand Pre UNESCO site.
- More Wineries: Lightfoot & Wolfville, Gaspereau Vineyards, and Blomidon Estate Winery are all within minutes of town.
- Devour! The Food Film Fest: If your visit coincides with this international event, don’t miss it. It’s the largest festival of its kind in the world, celebrating food and film side by side.
- Real Scoop Ice Cream – In warmer months, the Real Scoop is said to be the place to go to get award-winning scratch made ice cream
- Deep Roots Music Festival – Taking place at the end of September, this festival is the largest annual celebration of culture and heritage in Wolfville. It’s run by the Town of Wolfville and Acadia University and is a charity event featuring live music and community-focused events.
- Blomidon Look Off – A viewpoint in North Mountain with sweeping views of forests, Wolfville, and the Bay of Fundy in the distance.
Final thoughts
We’d come back to Wolfville
Wolfville is rich in history. Just outside town lies Grand-Pré National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site marking the Deportation of the Acadians in the 1700s, a tragic chapter that shaped the culture of this region.
Today, Wolfville feels like the epicenter of renewal, a place where vineyards flourish, creativity thrives, and food and drink festivals draw visitors from around the world.
I’ll be honest: before this trip, Nova Scotia wasn’t at the top of my travel list. I’d heard it was pretty, but I didn’t expect to fall so hard. Wolfville, in particular, left us smitten. It was the perfect finale to our road trip for its blend of wine, wellness, food, history, and those intangible vibes that make you want to linger.
From sipping Tidal Bay as the sun set over the vines, to plunging into icy spa pools overlooking the Bay of Fundy, to chatting with friends in a certain wine style reminiscent of home, Wolfville offered us a taste of life well-lived. And isn’t that what we’re all searching for when we travel?
If you’re planning a Nova Scotia adventure, make sure Wolfville is on your list. Stay two nights if you can — more if possible. Because once you arrive, you may find, like we did, that two nights just isn’t enough.
Read more from our Nova Scotia Road Trip
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