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...

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.

An amazing experience. There is a lot of natural beauty both filled and emptied. The guides are…read morevery accommodating and detailed. The most impressive part for me was the speed with which the Bay fills. You can watch the change happen and it is impressive! Definitely worth a trip.

This is an amazing park on the Bay of Fundy, which records the highest tides in the world. At low…read moretide you can walk out in the bay floor (watch out for algae and slippery mud - it can be *very* slick! Sturdy shoes and a bit of agility are a must even getting down the short staircase cut into stone at the primary entrance to get to the newly exposed bay floor. The rock formations are incredibly striking, and the tide levels shift so quickly even at this more expansive area of the bay, you need only wait for about 10 minutes to see the level change. (For a more dramatic change or to see the tidal bore, you need to go to South Maitland or Truro). The park is quite isolated and at least 20 mins off the more major roads, so you have to be committed to a visit. But it's an amazing place that has to be seen in person to really appreciate.

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.

Smack on the Bedford Basin, this is great park for all seasons and ages. For families with kids,…read morethe highlight would be the large playground. It has a rubbery artifical surface which means it doesn't get muddy, and softens trips and falls. The worn-out previous wooden ship playstructure was replaced in Fall 2015. There is a bathroom which is clean, heated and open all year round. As a bonus for those in the diaper way it also has change tables- in both bathrooms. There are lots of benches around the playground so it is easy to sit and keep an eye on the kids. In the Summer, the park is close to cool breezes from the Basin. It is fun to spread out a blanket and watch the ships sailing in and out of Bedford yacht squadron. There is a brick walkway that goes along the waterfront that is great for casual strolls and running. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Narrows. It is kept clear in the Winter so you often see people pushing strollers and older people getting some fresh air.

For me, this park was just okay. If you have kids I think you might enjoy it a lot more. It has a…read morehuge playground that you can comfortably watch your kids play. There is basically nothing blocking your view in the park. Which I'm guessing is a plus when you bring kids to the park to play, a pano view of the surroundings. It's basically a big patch of grass between the ocean and the parking lot. Lots of benches, lots of fantastic views of the basin. It was winter when I stopped in to check this park out, but I think there is a paved path/boardwalk that goes pretty far. It's a great place to walk your dog (on leash) or go for a stroll if you're in Bedford and in the market for that kinda thing.

Love this trail! It's a favourite in foot and on my bicycle. It's beautiful and you can ride all…read morethe way to Lawrencetown Beach. Only complaint is dog owners who do not clean up after their dogs!

Went for a 4 mile run in the morning and loved the trail. Clean and beautiful. Nice folks greeted…read moreus along the way. Definitely would love to run again and more.

Beach? Not so much. In my opinion, you need to have sand before you call yourself a beach. I…read morewouldn't suggest swimming here as it's rocky as all get out, and the water has been pretty choppy each time I've been here. I'll tell you what I do like about this place though, lots of parking and it's a great little hike/walk. If you walk to the end of the beach, you'll find a little well worn path that walks you around the tip of the beach. This is the part I enjoyed the most. It looks like people have had some good times out there as there are a couple well-used fire pits. I can dig it. I would not suggest you making the commute here for a day at the beach. It is a nice stop over or a good place to stretch your legs (or your four legged friends legs).

It is a small area and tends to get crowded quickly. Also not a lot of sand which is a must for…read moreanyone wanting to lay down and relax or sunbathe. But it is a beautiful spot with the rocky shoreline and blue waters.

One of Halifax's smaller parks but quite enjoyable…read more What is there to see? It's a good spot to enjoy a beautiful view of the harbour and downtown Halifax. I's at one end of the end of the Dartmouth Harbourwalk Trail (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/dartmouth-harbourwalk-trail-halifax) and right next to the Alderney ferry terminal. So it's a good spot to just relax. Kids are part of your life? There is a playground and lots of grass on which to play. More museum-inclined? The World Peace Pavilion has stones from all around the world. Theoretically, it could be a performance space but I've never seen it as such. It's not big, it's not well-known but it's enjoyable.

After a few days of sunny weather and a few weeks of regular ferry service back in order, the Ferry…read moreTerminal Park has once again become a regular haunt to wait out the fifteen-to-thirty minutes in between pick-ups. No - there's not really all that much to do or see here, but as a spot to sip on a cup from TIBS while catching the best views of Halifax around, it really can't be beat. Grab a seat on the pier, soak in some rays, and recharge before heading back over to the Halifax waterfront.

Located in the North End, this park has been a family favorite of ours every Summer since our first…read morewas born. It has a fence that borders the whole park which is great for keeping the kids safe while letting them run around. There is lots of open spaces and grass perfect for picnics The highlight would probably be the splash pad that is open from end of June until Labour day- bring the swim suits! It is great place to take kids in Summer as there are several trees that you can spread your blanket under for shade. There is also a large sandbox that has a roof over it. There are a bunch of sand toys that are just left there so there is always something to play with if you don't bring any from home. On top of that there are three playgrounds that are suitable for kids from 2 years to about 10. The only thing that would improve it is if there were bathrooms. If you have kids, check this place out!

This is a really fantastic long trail that's great for walking, running or biking! I've only walked…read moresections of the trail, but I've always wanted to do the whole thing. I like walking the start of the trail that begins by the Fairview Shoppers Drugmart down into Armdale. This part of the trail starts parallel to Joseph Howe Drive, goes past the golf course and a big pond, then through residential areas behind people's homes. There's an interesting penny-farthing statue when you reach Armdale! If you're doing this section you could park in the Superstore or Shoppers parking lots or park at the start of the golf course's driveway. I also regularly walked the trail between Chain Link Dr. and Lakeside Industrial Park. It's really nice to see Bayer's Lake. Before I started walking that trail, I didn't realize that the shopping district was named for an actual lake! There is also a little trail (Bayers Lake Trail) through the woods that runs alongside the other side of the lake (compared to the CoLT) if you want to be in a more wooded section, though it's quite short. For this section I usually parked either at the Gracenote or Top Gun parking lots.