My wife and I took a detour here while we were staying at the Westin. Probably about a 15 min walk…read morethrough a lovely affluent residential area. The park itself had a very scenic waterfront view and I believe the pictures I posted to Yelp can attest to the serenity and beauty of the park. Well worth the side trip. It is a backdrop to a wonderful city that I am sure to never forget.

Nice park. Nice paths if you have a dog. If you don't have a dog and live off of the park - beware!…read morePeople's big, scary, off leash dogs will bound right at you - standing in front of your back door, on your patio. No owner in sight. More than once I had to run, for what I imagined was my life, as a big, vicious looking dog ran straight to me full speed. I read two 13 year old girls, living off of the park, and the dad were viciously mauled and disfigured, by a dog. Look it up in the old Point Pleasant chat logs and in I Think The Guardian. But, it's nice for occasional walks and they have public restrooms that are open

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.

Bought two nights at the Ovens but left after one night because of the rude actions of the manager…read moreJane who was upset that we bought our firewood outside the camp at the local gas station and it was our mistake that we did not read the rules about fire and we had a fire going in the morning, her employee said nicely that he was going to get water to put it out and we apologized but five minutes after he left to get water she came speeding into our campsite yelling at us! Asking us if we had a bucket to put it out?! We explained that her employee was bringing water she proceeded to yell about fire wood and then speeded off. We packed up and left. I believe that there are better ways to talk to people without hostility especially in front of children!

The Ovens Natural Park is located about 20 minutes from Lunenburg or 1.5 hours from Halifax, Nova…read moreScotia. "The Ovens" are a series of Sea Caves that branch off the Atlantic Ocean carving some beautiful holes into the cliffs of the land. Located on private property, this location is open from May till October. There is a mandatory admission ($10 for adults) to see this place. At very least, you get to hike the 1.5 kms long trail along the ocean to see the caves. If you are wanting to stay longer, they have a campground (tent, camper and cabin) should you wish to stay in the area. They do have size restrictions, so you'll have to leave you larger trailers or RV's at home. We spend 1-2 hours roaming the trails and taking our time reading the information provided about the history of the property and the area's gold rush past. We created a YouTube video of your experience as well which will really help you get a sense of the location. This is a beautiful area and well worth the trip. Perhaps a little on the expensive side, however, being able to see the caves was really quite amazing. If you come, be prepared for the temperature difference compared to inland - it's a bit cooler being on the ocean (even in the summer). For additional information on this location, plus direct access to the YouTube video, please check out our travel guide of this location on our website at www.joshthetravelguy.ca

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!

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.

The kids absolutely love jumping off the rock! It's a nice quiet spot, I wouldn't make a full day…read moreof it as there isn't much room to set up comfortably

Laurie Park is a popular swimming hole and campground located a 30 minute drive from Halifax. It is…read moreknown for being the best place in the surrounding area for rock jumping, a past time that is popular among people of all ages during the summer. The jumping rocks at Laurie park can be accessed by a trail leading from the parking lot through the woods. A fence protects the people who are wary of taking the big leap from getting too close to the edge, and I've used it as a clothes line so that my towels and clothing don't get wet while I'm in the water. The rocks themselves are about as tall as a two story house at the tallest section but there is also a section of smaller rocks that are better for younger kids to swim off of. There isn't a lifeguard on duty at the rocky section of Laurie Park so it's not the best place for children who are really young or are just learning to swim to play. The rocks while fun to jump off of don't provide much entertainment to anyone looking to play it safe. This isn't your typical beachy swimming hole but Laurie park always provides the means for hours of summer fun.

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.

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.

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).

Beautiful off-leash area. Compelling and touching memorials. Beautiful views. Also: bike-friendly!read more

This park is beautiful and tours you through the history of the Halifax Explosion. The main…read moremonument sits atop the hill overlooking the beautiful city of Halifax. There's an awesome natural playground there for the kids and lots of paved walking paths.