Excursion 1 : Par-en-Bas (Argyle)

Dennis Point Wharf
Dennis Point wharf is the home to a multimillion dollar fishing fleet, sheltered in the harbour where the West Pubnico arm juts into the sea.  The Dennis Point Wharf is the largest commercial fishing wharf in Atlantic Canada. Over 1000 fishermen and women make their living at the wharf, and fish for a variety of ground fish and shell fish, most notably lobster. Visitors are welcome at the wharf to walk amongst the boats and experience a dynamic fishing area. In fact, a fisherman might be there waiting for you to share his stories of the sea and to teach you some hands on basic fishing skills.

Pubnico Point Wind Farm
Explore the rocky shoreline on the tip of West Pubnico, watching boats fish for both shellfish and ground fish. Nearby, on 5.2km of access roads, 17 windmills produce enough green energy to supply about 13,000 average Canadian homes. This hiking experience is both interesting and educational.

Le Village acadien historique de la Nouvelle-Écosse: An historic village featuring the colourful culture of the Acadians of Nova Scotia. The Village invites you to step back in time and discover the heart, life and work of the Acadians in the early 1900s. This site also features houses, fish sheds, an old Acadian cemetery, lighthouse and a blacksmith shop dating to late 1800s.

The Argyle Township Court House & Gaol
Canada’s oldest standing courthouse, built in the village of Tusket, Nova Scotia in 1805. It operated as a working courthouse and jail until 1944. In 2005 the building was declared a National Historic Site. The Court House Museum’s ground floor houses the Jailer's Quarters, the Prisoners’ Cellblock, as well as "The Cell" gift shop where you can find many locally crafted souvenirs. The second floor houses the Court Room and the Judge's Chambers.  Is it really haunted? You’ll have to see (and feel!) for yourself!

Excursion 2: Yarmouth

Sandford Drawbridge
The smallest wooden drawbridge in the world is located at the Sandford wharf. The drawbridge allows fishermen and visitors to cross from one side of the harbour to the other without having to go all the way around the inner harbour via the road. When the boats are not engaged in fishing activities, they sail in from the ocean through a narrow channel to the inner harbour. The drawbridge allows the boats to pass through to where they will be moored until the next time they go out fishing.

A local fisherman will be waiting at this busy wharf to share his stories of the sea and to teach you some hands on basic fishing skills. He is part of the local program called “Living Wharves” which strives to make that fishery more accessible to our visitors. Sample skills demonstrations include banding lobsters, splicing rope and more.

Cape Forchu Light Station
This stunning lighthouse sits atop a 17 acre park. Within the lightkeeper’s house are a museum, gift shop and the Mug Up Tea Room, which serves traditional, authentic local fare prepared from scratch, such as homemade bread pudding, steamed lobster and their signature cold lobster sandwich. This is Nova Scotia’s second most photographed lighthouse and is the Beacon to Canada. < /p>

Excursion 3: Municipality of Clare: Acadian, Green Savvy and Proud

Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne is the only French-language post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia with its main campus located in the seaside village of Pointe-de-l'Église (Church Point). The institution has recently implemented three highly visible renewable energy technologies providing electricity and heat to the campus. A woodchip fuelled hot water boiler and associated fuel storage and handling equipment replaces an old fuel oil-fired heating plant. A Veissmann solar thermal system made up of 118 panels, the largest installation in Nova Scotia, supplies domestic hot water. Two small AOC wind turbines installed by Seaforth Energy reduce reliance on purchased electricity. After one year of operation, GHG emissions from these technologies have been reduced by 72 percent against a 2008 baseline with energy cost savings of $200,000 or 50% for the year.

Rendez-vous de la Baie - Cultural & Interpretive centre
The Rendez-vous de la Baie Cultural and Interpretive Centre, located on the campus of Université Sainte-Anne in Church Point, is a vibrant hub of activity where residents, students and visitors meet. The Centre houses an artist run gallery, a visitor information centre, a souvenir boutique, a theatre, e-cinema programs, and an internet café where various events are regularly held. Officially opened on August 13, 2010, the new Acadian Interpretive Centre introduces visitors to the culture of Acadians in Clare through their history, language, music and much more.

A.F. Theriault Shipyard
A. F. Theriault & Son Ltd. is one of the largest, privately owned shipyards in Canada's Atlantic region. This family business was founded in 1938 by Augustin Theriault in an era where wooden 3-masted sailing ships ruled the seas. Today, state of the art fishing boats, pleasure yachts and catamarans, combining old techniques with the latest trends and technologies, are built of steel, aluminum, fibreglass and composites.

Meteghan Wharf
The Meteghan wharf is home to scallop draggers, trawlers, herring seiners, ground fish and lobster boats. Nearby fish plants and lobster pounds provide employment for many workers. An active fishermen is waiting there to share his stories and to teach you some hands-on basic fishing skills. Go ahead, it`s much harder than it looks, and a lot of fun to try!