The Annapolis Valley is in the thick of its harvest right now, and for many of us in Halifax it's the go-to autumn day out. The valley is roughly 270 km round trip from the city, so plan on about 3.5 to 4 hours of driving in total. Once you arrive, orchards, wineries and cideries are all busy with the season's fruit.
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Apples have been grown in the valley for more than 400 years, and the region produces most of the roughly 2.5 million bushels grown across Nova Scotia. Many orchards run u-pick, and the picking often carries on into October, with corn mazes, pumpkin patches and fresh cider sharing the same farms. Pears are traditionally picked from late summer into early autumn, so they're a little earlier in the season than the apples.
The valley has more than 12 wineries, almost all with tasting rooms, and Tidal Bay is the white wine style that's Nova Scotia's own designation. Vineyards generally start with the sparkling wine grapes in late September, while other white and red varieties can keep going into October, so the pace of picking depends on what's being grown where.
For colour, the leaves usually begin to fall in early October, though that depends on the weather. The window for good autumn colour runs from late September to late October, which makes the next couple of weeks a good time to be out on the roads.
If you'd rather let someone else handle the driving, Grape Escapes Nova Scotia Wine Tours is a Halifax-based operator with day trips to the valley. Its Wine & Lunch Escape includes guided visits and tastings at three wineries, a winery lunch and round-trip transport. It costs between C$136 and C$189 per person and runs until December 13, 2026. The Afternoon Escape takes in three celebrated Nova Scotia wineries with visits, tastings and aged cheese, for between C$133 and C$156 per person. That tour's season ends on October 17, 2026, which is tomorrow.
If you want to start the day in the city, Chain Yard Urban Cidery is at 2606 Agricola Street in Halifax. It's a handy place to begin a cider-focused day, and the valley's cideries and farms are a natural next stop once you're out past Windsor.
Whichever way you go, the valley is an easy day trip this time of year. Pick your stops, leave some room for a slow drive, and enjoy the colours while the season lasts.
Published Date
16 October 2026
