Take a stroll along Burntcoat Head on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, Canada, and one can’t help but be overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the surroundings.

Chipmunks and rabbits scurry about throughout the rugged trails that cut through the Acadian Forest, mostly spruces and balsam firs, before giving way to spectacular views of rock formations looking out to the bay.

After a roughly one-hour bus ride from Halifax, our guides advised us to be prepared for mud as our group, hosted by Destination Halifax, climbed down some rocks to continue our journey on the ocean floor. Yes, the ocean floor.

Welcome to the home of the world’s highest tides. While we make our way out into the bay, we learn that where we are standing will be about 55 feet underwater when the tide rolls in a bit later in the day. That land formation we walk around will be an island by the evening.

Now, anyone interested in dinner?

Unfortunately, on this rainy day, “Dining on the Ocean Floor” has to be scraped. But for those looking for a unique event experience, Burntcoat Head is the place, thanks to the Flying Apron Inn & Cookery in nearby Summerville, which can handle group events on the ocean floor.

Our group heads over to the Flying Apron, where chef Chris Velden unveiled a sampling of what he would have served on the ocean floor: a selection of Nova Scotia cheeses and hand-made charcuterie served with pickles and artisanal crackers. Next up was a cut of local, pasture-raised beef, butter poached Nova Scotia lobster tail and succotash with organic vegetables, topped with foraged greens.

Velden and his team are committed to local and quaint, especially local farmers, fishers and producers. He incorporates local beer and wines with his meals.

His cottage shop features a post office, secondhand bookstore, a small retail shop and a popular cookery school, where Velden holds court for food aficionados of all ages eager to learn his secrets.

While we were not able to eat on the ocean floor, having had the opportunity to walk on the ocean was enough to give us a sense of the magnitude of the setting. The 2017 season is about to begin for Velden and we just might have to make a return visit.

Dining on the ocean floor is just part of the unique opportunities for meetings and events in the Halifax area. Meeting and convention spend in Halifax represents nearly 13 percent of the overall overnight spend compared to the Canadian average of 5 percent, says Jeff Ransome, chair of the board for Destination Halifax.

“With an economic value of the Halifax tourism industry estimated at approximately $1 billion, this translates to an increased value of approximately $22 million in the first half of 2016 alone,” he says. “This is also the third consecutive year of growth, with the industry being up 10.4 percent since 2013.”

While tourism in the Halifax region has seen significant growth in the last three years, meetings and events could get a big boost with the opening of the Halifax Convention Centre.

“From Destination Halifax to the Halifax Convention Centre, the Port, Stanfield International, tourism operators, hotels, shops and restaurants, we are all part of Team Halifax,” says Halifax Mayor Mike Savage. “Together, this team is making Halifax a growing destination of choice for visitors throughout the Atlantic region, across Canada, the U.S. and points well beyond.”