This outdoor pool run by HRM is only open July and August so if you blink you can miss it. Very…read morefamily friendly, it is actually two pools: a shallow kiddie pool that is only a few inches deep in places and a 9 foot deep pool where bigger kids can dive and cannon ball. There is a beautiful view of the Basin and you can see all the way up the narrows. They have several different swims throughout the day so even if you have very little babies you can take then without worrying about being splashed or bowled over by bigger kids. There is also a little playground just down from the pool. The lifeguards are pretty on point; not just working on their tans. We basically lived here the Summer my son was born. Swim times are anywhere from an hour to hour and a half. Just take something to cover up with after the swim; since the pool is right on the Basin and there is no cover from the water little ones can get chilly on the breezy pool deck. At $8 for a family it is a cheap fun way for cooling off the whole brood!

Great little spot, fun for small kids. Also a separate section for adult swim and lane swims. Clean…read moreand affordable, would recommend.

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.

I am completely biased on this review. The Uniacke House was one of my favourite places to visit as…read morea child. I lived close enough that I could ride my bike there. I explored most of the nooks and crannies of the actual museum. As I got older, kids used to go swimming in Uniacke Lake and explore the forest. Or pick delicious wild blueberries. Since then, the site has greatly expanded. There are now extensive groomed walking trails. There are both long and short trails available all year long (though not maintained in the off season). Feeling a bit peckish? There's a tea room to enjoy. Or pack a picnic and enjoy one of the picnic tables by the water. The forest is green and beautiful and reminds me of all that I love about Nova Scotia.

Capt. Mike Tilley has a small boat you can charter to take you to McNab's Island or Devil's Island…read more It's only $15 roundtrip to McNab's and around $25 to Devil's Island. You call him ahead of time to arrange a time and he is flexible with meeting your schedule. He allowed me to take my 2 dogs on the boat to McNab's Island which made me quite happy! McNab's is a great place to hike around and see old British forts and to experience some true nature close to Halifax. You meet the boat in Fishermen's Cove around the Eastern Passage area. Make sure to allow at least 4 hours to explore the island. Capt. Mike will give you a map but no roads are labelled on the island so it's a bit of adventure!

Mike took a group of 8 of us out to McNabs this June. He was such a great guide. He is so…read morepassionate about the island and full of great tips. We had such a fun time!

Dollar Lake is a great spot to head for one of those planned and packed sort of camp trips. A fair…read moredistance out of the city, its a pretty, clean spot to get out of the city and have a little adventure without traveling too far. Its geared towards families and friendly folks who are looking to embrace the wilderness and have a good time. Because its a provincial park, there is a low tolerance for shananigans, so night hawks on the booze train may want to pitch tents elsewhere. Located right on the lake, its the full experience, and there is a nice flow to the campground's layout. Washrooms and showers seem decent, and it seems like the rest is up to you to bring. Its a safe bet for families and chill folk wanting some time in the woods.

Dollar Lake is located about 20 klms past the Halifax Airport, so if going from Halifax about 1 hr…read moreoutside. Take the the 102 and branch off to the 212. We have gone here a few times through the summer, it is close and you can camp here as it is one of the Provincial Parks. I like that because they have lifeguards and sections for families. There accommodations are nice and the lake is beautiful. You can grab a campground site and make it a fun weekend. They have showers and washrooms. Because this is a Provincial Park, there is no alcohol allowed, so it would not be for the spirited individuals. All Provincial campgrounds are Alcohol Free. If you are looking for that you need to go to a private campground. We always have fun here!

The Greenway is easily one of the best parts of downtown Dartmouth. The trail starts at Sullivan's…read morePond and continues into Shubie Park. It also connects to a pathway on the other side of Lake Banook. It's a great multi-use trail so whether you're bicycling, running or walking, there's room for you. Admittedly, in windy and/or cold weather, the trail isn't always the most hospitable. There are also a few unofficial swimming spots along the way but for the most part, this is simply a great trail for getting out and getting active.

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 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.