If you don't have a car, it's hard to get to the beach. Thankfully, Birch Cove Beach is here! It's…read morenot the largest beach in the world but the warm waters of Lake Banook invite you in. The parking lot and beach front have recently been renovated so there's lots of parking. A newly installed dock allows you to jump right in. The grass is a great place for a picnic during your fun. Not a fan of the water? There's a small park to explore as well.

Birch Cove is just a short walk from my house and is really one of the best spots in the city for…read morelake swimming. Due to the world canoe chamionships taking place here a few summers ago, the entire grounds, parking, etc. have been renovated and are top notch. There is a life guarded area, but I usually opt to plant myself on the grassy area a little farther down where it is a bit quieter. Great swimming that's clean and refreshing on lake Banook. It doesn't get much better than this.

The cutest little park in Dartmouth that you've never heard of…read more Graham's Grove is barely noticeable; you've probably driven by it dozens of times completely unaware of its presence. Sitting just across from the Braemar Superstore, this little park has quite a lot going for it - y'know, other than size. It has a swimmable beach and a dock; both are popular points for kayakers and canoers to put their boats into the water. It has a few open clearings facing Lake Banook - great spots for picnics. There are some benches and picnic tables also littered throughout the space. It's also conveniently located on a multi-use trail that connects between Sullivan's Pond and Shubie Park. To paraphrase Vinyl Cafe, "It may not be big, but it's small."

This is a fantastic find! A small park, but nice trails, a big field, and it's very clean and…read morequiet. Easy to get to with lots of free parking. The only thing you need to watch out for are off leash dogs. Not everyone follows the "on leash" law. Otherwise, perfect.

Dartmouth is known for a lot of things (haters to the left...) but many forget that it's the City…read moreof Lakes. Sure, you've got the more known Lake Banook and Mic Mac, but even the 'burbs are stacked with prime outdoor action that's well-maintained, picturesque, and perfect for getting away from the terrifying Stepford drivers. Cranberry Lake is a calm, motor-free waterbed bridging Dartmouth and Cole Harbour. The paved path runs along the water, through the well-groomed trees making it completely accessible for just about anyone. Plus no motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail. Despite that one time I was nearly run over by an idiot on a dirtbike, the rule seems to be pretty well adhered to. It's a pretty quick walk if you jump off the trail at Gregory Drive and circle back on Wildwood, but it can be much longer if you keep following the trails as they continue pretty far in between Flying Cloud Drive (baaahahahaha care bears) and Circassion Drive. Frankly if you know your way around, you can customize your route to be anything from fifteen minutes to several hours! One gripe? It's not an off-leash park. That's fine and makes a tremendous amount of sense since you're never far from civilization and the cars that come with it. But dog owners - follow the rules, would ya? First of all, it's not worth the stress of losing your pooch in a maze of houses and streets that all look the same. Second, in a split second your dog could end up out in the middle of the road. Third, the rest of us have ours on leash...just do the same. C'mon...

Beautiful park with lots of history, every time we go we find trails we haven't seen before!read more

This park really has something for everyone on your list, including your dog if you have one. There…read moreare a few ways to get into this large park set along the Shubie Canal system. You can bike there from Downtown Dartmouth in about 15 minutes either going down Waverly Road or entering just past Mic Mac Mall. This is my usual route, but it is also very accessible by car with lots of parking at both main entrances. When you get there you are greeted by well-maintained trails, lovely lakes and paths that take you off into the woods and along the old Shubie Canal system. There are lots of animals in the park and they are very tame and well fed. They might just follow you around a bit which can be a bit strange but just go with it. There is also a great off-lease dog park that is very popular, maybe a bit too popular at times but if you have a dog that likes to go off lease you will enjoy it. The best part of this park is that it is big enough that even though it can get busy it is very easy to vanish into the wood and explore.

A little oasis in the middle of the busy city. I love the contrast of urban and nature. A beautiful…read morespot to watch the sunset and birdwatching. Peaceful, tranquil and serene.

Although the arm lacks in cleanliness, being a large toilet bowl and all, the green space on the…read moreperiphery of this body of water can still be quite lovely. You may see the odd "beach whistle" or garbage floater, but if you set your gaze to the sky, you'll be tricked into believing you're at the edge of some glorious lake or ocean. This little green patch sticks out into the water; small and simple, it's perfect for lounging with a book or bringing a yoga mat down to do your practice. The space is close enough to the road that the hum of vehicles zipping past remains present, but even closer to the water so that the lap of waves is mainly what you'll hear. If you live in the Quinpool area, this little trove is a perfect knoll to visit with a picnic (and perhaps a bottle of wine) during an early summer evening. It's close enough that it's not a huge venture, but far enough that you get to indulge in a nice stroll and the gorgeous scenery care of the arm.

I think that there are a few key things to keep in mind when heading to Chocolate Lake. First of…read moreall, is there an alternative within walking/biking distance. Depending on where you live, there might be! Second of all, be aware that Chocolate Lake has a pretty high chlorine level. You will smell it on yourself after swimming. Third, avoid weekends in summer at all costs. Too busy. Overall though, a beautiful setting, especially if you're looking to cool down midweek in summer.

Overall not a bad little spot to catch some rays or enjoy a swim in an attempt to beat the summer…read moreheat. It is a bit on the small side and does get fairly crowded during the day, admittedly, which is why I tend to go in the in the late afternoon or early evening. This seems to solve the problem. If you're not able to make it to a larger beach, consider gathering some friends and giving this one a try. Size aside, it's still a pretty spot, especially at non-peak times, when there's space enough to enjoy it!

Sullivan's Pond is a little park near downtown Dartmouth. It's known for hosting a variety of…read moreevents, such as the Dartmouth tree lighting. The pond itself is home to a wide variety of ducks and geese. While you are, of course, discouraged from feeding the fowl, lots of people do. Danger! Danger! The path closes to the water in the summer? There are lots and lots of birds. And not much of a clean-up crew. Make of that what you will. The park also hosts workout groups, the occasional live music performance and there is a field where you can play a great game of Frisbee with a good friend.

Having lived in downtown Dartmouth before it was cool to do so - meaning, before Two if by Sea…read morecroissants - I was a Sullivan's Pond regular. I'd see the same senior power-walkers every day, I'd have the same conversation with the same cray-cray person every morning as she walked off whatever she was on the night before, and I'd tell myself every day how silly it is that people shuttle in to Point Pleasant when they could be enjoying Sullivan's Pond and Lake Banook's boardwalk. Yep - every day I'd lug my poor confused miniature dachshund puppy out to Sullivan's Pond in hopes of TODAY BEING THE DAY that he'd 'get' what I expected of him when that leash went on. For weeks and weeks we repeated the routine up until he would do the full 5km ish route around the pond, Lake Banook, and Creighton Park. What all this means is I spent about a year strolling through this area, enjoying the flowers and foliage, smiling at happy young, urban families playing with their kids, and picking my jaw up off the ground when the area was invaded by an army of Abercrombie and Fitch models with no modesty for the world rowing championships. We go back every now and then in the summer to relive the memories but all he seems to want to do is scream at the geese. But hey - at least now I can enjoy a latté and a pastry while he does it.

Beautiful and picturesque trail along the lake with couple of view points to enjoy. We also found…read moresome wild blueberry bushes on our way and stopped to take photos of them. There's also a canoe rental place that you can rent a canoe and paddle in the lake. Strongly recommended to anyone enjoying the nature.

A very well groomed beautiful trail suitable for baby strollers, walkers, and runners. Lots of…read morewildlife and beautiful scenes.

Sandy Lake Park is a great place to go even in the winter if you want to hike through some woods…read moreoff the beaten path. Even though the lake freezes over, there are some unfrozen spots which my dog enjoyed swimming in. In the summer, you can utilize some of the picnic tables overlooking the lake. There is a trail that is a circular loop but it's not exactly marked so I recommend coming early enough so you can find your way out. To get there, just take the 102 N to exit 3B - take a right on Smith Rd and drive to the end and there is a parking area.

Poorly marked trails in the off leash dog area, can't get to the beach as it suddenly became no…read moredogs allowed (even on a leash).