Explore Nova Scotia’s North Shore with a guided tour

Nova Scotia tour company reveals rural hotspots

By Heather Fegan

Whether you’re into craft beers or local distilleries, hand-rolled truffles or checking into the rich Maritime culture of antique corner, discovering That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm or the beautiful Fundy Coast to enjoy a picnic by the lighthouse, there are incredible experiences to be found on Nova Scotia’s North Shore.

These are the lesser known places, where the locals know to go but aren’t necessarily as publicized as some other popular destinations across the province.

Re-invented tour company Secret Nova Scotia is revealing the hidden experiences in Canada’s ocean playground.

Secret Nova Scotia tours reveal hidden experiences in Canada’s ocean playground. Discover rural hot spots on the north shore. #exploring #guidedtours #novascotia

Different flavours

“These tours specifically cater to the North Shore of Nova Scotia,” says Secret Nova Scotia’s owner and operator Alicia Simms, who took over the company formerly known as Out of Bounds in 2020. “Our sister company Truro Buzz is all about promoting Colchester County. What it’s like to live, work, and play in this area of the province. The tourism we tend to see focuses on the southern part of the province, in HRM, the valley wineries, and Cape Breton which are all totally different experiences. There wasn’t a lot of focus in this part of the province.”

The North Shore of Nova Scotia has its own unique culture and scenery. There’s the Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin off the shores of Maitland, Economy and Great Village. There’s Tatamagouche, and Brule. “And we have different flavours here,” says Simms. “Mostly in the south of the province they have seafood and wine, where here we have maple and blueberry.”

Read Secret Nova Scotia owner and operator Alicia’s Simms story on finding home away from home

Secret Nova Scotia owner Alicia Simms is a local entrepreneur and media personality in Truro, N.S. A tattooer by trade, she runs a private studio, Rolling Sea Tattooery. She also owns a social media marketing and promotions company called Truro Buzz. #truro #trurobuzz #exploring #novascotia

Off the beaten track

Secret Nova Scotia tailors four experiences that are very specific to the area. “We wanted to do experiential adventures so you're incorporating some of the local flavours, the local scenery, the makers we have here,” says Simms. So you really get a personal experience as if you were a local, versus getting on a bus to tour with 50 other people. We’re focused on the smaller ‘tour like the locals do’ aspect, finding the local hotspots in rural Nova Scotia, as opposed to the busier more well-known areas.”

What to expect

The meeting point is the Hampton Inn and Suites in Millbrook, where all the tours start and stop. The hotel is also a tour partner, offering guests a special rate should anyone want to stay in the area overnight. Transportation is taken care of with an energetic local host, embarking in whichever direction the tour is going.

“The day trips are a very all-inclusive experience,” says Simms. “If you want to have your entire day planned and not have to worry about where you’re going for lunch and where you’re going next and what else is out in this area, we’ve got you covered. Just book online, we’ll pick you up at our launch spot and take care of the rest. You have not a worry in the world.”

Go play in the mud

Simms says the most requested tour last season was the mud sliding tour on the Shubenacadie River. “It’s amazing to see people just let go and reconnect with their inner child, get dirty, play with the kids,” says Simms.

She recommends wearing clothing you’re comfortable with getting dirty. “We do provide shirts with that tour, so you’re welcome to wear the white mud sliding shirt that we bring. They can get dirty, and you don’t have to worry about your own clothes.”

You’ll also taste locally-made treats and spirits exclusive to this Secret Nova Scotia tour, enjoy locally made ice cream at the older general store in Canada and experience some of the highest tides in the world

Simms says the most requested tour last season was the mud sliding tour on the Shubenacadie River. #exploring #novascotia #guidedtour

Tour by boat

An exclusive private boat tour along the beautiful Brule coastline, this is the only boat tour servicing the North Shore of Nova Scotia on the Northumberland Strait. Savour craft beers, swim in the warmest waters on the shores of Nova Scotia, and enjoy a gourmet BBQ onboard while you learn the little known yet fascinating nautical history of the area.

Enjoy a private boat tour on the warm waters of the northumberland strait. #exploring #novascotia #boattour

Discover Tastes and treasures

The theme of the Tasty Treasure Hunting tour is true to its name, uncovering hidden treasures—antique shops, secret cafes, lighthouse and a cheese farm, all while enjoying locally made sweet and savoury delicacies and culinary favourites in the area.

Simms says an incredible selling point for the Taste of Tatamagouche tour is the fact that pretty much everything experienced is handcrafted by the people and makers you’re going to visit, from artisan chocolates to ice cream, craft beer, and sprits.

On the Taste of Tatamagouche and the Tasty Treasure Hunting tours, there is a cooler in the back of the vehicle for any purchases made throughout the day. “You don’t have to worry about anything getting warm in the car,” says Simms.

The tour company provides water, and every tour has some form of food and drink provided on it.

every tour with secret Nova Scotia has some form of food and drink. #exploring #novascotia #secretnovascotia #northshore

“These are fantastic experiences whether it’s a day trip for your family to get the kids out of the house and do something different, or if you’re older and looking for something to do for the day, or if you have people visiting the area who have never been and you want to take them around to really experience rural Nova Scotia,” says Simms. “We have something for every age group.”

Discover more about Secret Nova Scotia