The farms in Pemberton Valley, an idyllic stretch of countryside 30 minutes north of Whistler, British Columbia, are rarely open to the public--unless you happen to visit on Sunday, August 19, for the Pemberton Valley Slow Food Cycle, a free 31-mile bike ride up and down the valley floor. It's agritourism at its best!

During the daylong event, participants can check out organic farms and meet the folks behind them, as well as visit the valley's natural beef producer, coffee roaster, and small commercial bakery. "There will be 10 stops along the route and each of them will be small farmers' markets," says co-organizer and local farmer, Anna Helmer.

Pemberton's Rotary Club is even running a grocery shuttle for those who want to buy more than they can carry on their bikes. No advance registration is required: All you have to do is show up to get a free map and almanac of the region. Check out a two-minute video of last year's ride along with more information--including links to local B&Bs--on slowfoodcyclesunday.com. --Laura MacNeil, associate editor

Related: More and more farms are opening up. To learn which ones allow visitors to lend a hand, read the magazine article, Farm Tours Where You Can Pitch In.