This little provincial park is a beautiful little island just a short water taxi ride away. And oh…read moreboy is it worth having to call the water taxi! The island is stuffed full of history, and it's a beautiful spot to spend a day or a weekend hiking. There are two retired British forts on the island - Fort McNab and Fort Ives. There's also a lighthouse, plenty of beaches and boarded up homes that used to belong to the McNabs family (I think?). But better than the history is how serene it is. The Friends of McNabs Island do tours if you want the official low-down on the history and all that, but it's such a nice spot to escape to for a day. You can camp there as well, though I haven't. It's absolutely beautiful, ad I can't wait to spend some more time there this summer.

McNabs Island is a gem of a place to visit. It's less than a 5 minute boat trip from Fishermen's…read moreCove and is a great day activity when the weather is nice. You can visit two old British forts - Fort Ives and Fort McNab. There is also Hangman's Beach which the British apparently used to hang deserters. If cemeteries are your thing, there is a cemetery of the McNab family and there is another one of some cholera victims. Mostly though, the island is a quiet place to hike and enjoy the scenery and have a picnic. I wasn't sure what the lighthouse was that I saw from Point Pleasant Park but it's Mauger's Beach Lighthouse. Hurricane Juan split the beach in two so you would have to wade through some water to get to the lighthouse now. There are a few summer houses on the island that are private property but it's mostly open space on the island. There are a few campsites you can reserve through the park website if you are so inclined.

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.

Bathrooms are nasty. No windows just cinderblock holes to let bugs in to bite you. Of 3 shower…read morestalls only 1 had hooks, none had shelf for toiletries. Rust and spiderwebs everywhere. Camp site picnic table was partially rotten.

Had a great time with the family. Sites were well kept and washrooms / showers were well…read moremaintained.

Hard to believe no one else has reviewed this little gem of a park. Nestled smack dab in the middle…read moreof the what I like to call "Halifax Heaven", this park may be small in size but it is big in potential for lazily watching the world go by for hours and hours on end. You won't find any playground here (unless you count the mounds of leaves during the fall or the opportunity to build the perfect snowman during the winter) but you will find ample room to lay down a blanket, bring a few good books and spend some quality time with your little ones. Don't have any little ones in tow? Bring the one you love and snuggle up under the shade of a tree during the summer while sharing a few slices of Salvatore's pizza or an iced drink from Julien's or Starbucks. Every winter there is a Christmas tree lightening festival that is pretty awesome. On the hottest of days you might find me under the shade of a tree with laptop in tow watching a movie, picnic on hand, watching the people come and go... It doesn't get any better than that my friends.

A nice little park in the North End Hydrostone neighbourhood. One of my favourite things to do in…read morethe Summer is hop on my bike and explore the city. Usually followed by a coffee break and a bit of park relaxation. When my travels take me to this part of the city I park the bike and relax in this little park. Perfect for people watching, grabbing some shade and enjoying the Hydrostone. There are lots of shops near by, plus a bakery and two coffeeshops, so take some time and explore the neighbourhood followed by a nice break in the sun.

This "campground" is barely big enough to contain all of the bullshit your in store for should you…read moreenter it's grounds (all 50 feet of them). I know what your thinking however, I bet the compensate by having a wonderful staff and a variety of park like activities (as this closely resembles a park with a fixation on dictatorship) but this is not the case, in particular this old lady had me fearing for my own life and those of the small children jammed into this grounds. While closely resembling the features of a gargoyle, her communication skills mirror her image. She is also quite liberal with assigning blame, and punishment... which of course is a hefty fine. Should you happen to find yourself in this area please prepare yourself by simply turning around and not endangering your wallet or pride. Truly the worst experience I've had camping, please don't share in my mistake

A beautiful place for a stroll on a summer evening. Well kept grass and clean walkways. It was busy…read morewhile we were there but did not seem crowded. There seems to be a canteen there but strangely it wasn't open at such a peak time. I wasn't brave enough to venture to the top of the tower, maybe next time!

The Dingle Tower is a difficult landmark to miss. The tower juts straight up from its hilltop…read moreperch, where it overlooks the waters of the Northwest Arm. There's a small beach here, where once-upon-a-time you could swim, and where, hopefully Haligonians will once again be able to swim after the city's sad history with sewage treatment is resolved. Built by "the Father of Standard Time," Sir Sandford Fleming, in the early 1900s, this park features some meandering walking trails, and a small playground. It's a nice spot for an evening walk, or an afternoon picnic, and dog-walkers can enjoy the wooded and waterside trails (on-leash only).

In the fall I spotted a poster on the community board at MEC (which I have never looked at before),…read moreadvertising a "fall colours" hike on McNab's Island. I was new in town, so I was feeling that particular type of adventurousness that leads you to follow up on these things, and marked the date on my calendar. A few months later the date arrived and at the last minute I managed to convince a friend to go with me. I unfortunately convinced her to do this while we were out for drinks the night before, which meant we were both still foggy when we got to the waterfront early the next morning. I was so tired that I seriously considered not going, but what luck that I did. We joined a growing group of strangers on the dock, paid $6 for our tickets, and got on the boat. Friends of McNab organize this day-hike every year and it's definitely worth checking out. For a nearly free ticket we were ferried across the harbour to McNab island, about which I now know all sorts of fun facts, and led on walks but people who knew all about the history, ecology and, for those interested, literary history of the place. Such a deal and such a great way to spend an afternoon. I will be watching for posters again next year.

Arrived into Halifax, NS this summer and was so happy to discover Kattuk Expeditions was opening an…read moreAdventure Base for Sea Kayak Tours and bicycle rentals WITHIN metro Halifax in beautiful Fisherman's Cove! It is fantastic to now be able to experience a mid-morning or early evening sunset kayak tour in a pristine wilderness setting and not have to rent a car to get there from downtown Halifax! I've taken either ferry across the harbour with my bicycle for a cost of only $2.50 and then rode the bike trails/streets or I've asked for a free transfer for bus #60 to Fisherman's Cove. If you are a tourist with a car, or local, the drive is only 15-20 minutes and there is lots of free parking. I highly recommend Fred and his company and have thoroughly enjoyed this 'hidden gem' of Halifax : )

From the owner: We specialize in corporate team building events,day adventure camps for schools, wilderness…read moreeducation.

Every summer this is my go to place Saturday and Sunday mornings. Free canoeing for an hour ! And…read moreyou can usually get an hour and a half / 2 hours if you go two hours before close! All you need to do is assign a waiver and give them your ID and when you come back they will return everything to you. They are absolutely kind hearted and lovely people and willing to help out if you've never done it. Even if you have canoed before, they are super helpful with wind tips! They also have paddle boarding, paddle nights and a slew of other activities (kayaking is a different day and there is a small fee). I'd recommend this to anyone, I've seen young children on paddle boards and siblings canoeing alone - unless you're acting a fool it's definitely a safe environment! The view is absolute stunning - a great way to relax!

St. Mary's Boat Club is a little-known recreational facitlity in the heart of Halifax, where…read moreHaligonians can take part in canoeing, kayaking and sailing, regardless of their level of experience. I just discovered the weekly Wednesday evening paddle, where, for just $10, anyone can enjoy an evening exploring the waters of the Northwest Arm. The program only runs until the end of September, but will start again in spring when - hopefully - the troublesome pollution issues in the harbour will be resolved. The kayaking staff are really friendly, knowledgeable, and safety-conscious and offer beginners a full instruction session before letting them loose on the water! St. Mary's also has three asphalt tennis courts and a lawn-bowling facitlity, in addition to the clubhouse itself, which can be rented for banquets, receptions and other events.