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.

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.

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.

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.

Broad, long, beautiful beach. Great for a nice walk. If it's busy, there is always a quieter spot…read morearound the bend.

If you're looking for a little break from the city without having to go far, Rainbow Haven is one…read moreof the easiest beaches to get to. It's a mere half hour drive from the centre of Halifax, and it is definitely worth the drive! The sand is some of the finest grained sand I've ever had the pleasure to sink my toes into. It's like walking on a little piece of heaven. It's so soft! There's tons of space on the beach for lounging, playing or wandering so even at its busiest I doubt you would have a problem finding somewhere to put a towel down. I love the scenery, whether you're looking out into the ocean or looking out over the expanse of vegetation, it's a pretty special spot. That being said there are sand flies. Lots of them. I got quite a few bites - eek! If you can get past the creepy crawlies, it's really really lovely. The water is a pretty nice temperature too. It's not freezing, but it's certainly not warm. Just watch for rip tides!

THE DARTMOUTH COMMON IS BEAUTIFUL! Everything is in full bloom right now. The trees are lush and…read moreimpressive, the flowers are splashy and fragrant, while the lawns are soft and perfect for stretching out. Biking into the common a couple of days ago, and up the relatively steep hillside brought me back to memories of Italy, traversing lofty hill sides in the Riviera. The plant life is so lush and perfumy, with birds chirping and bees buzzing, that I couldn't believe such a treasure exists that I'd scarcely been to in this city that I know so well. The park was quiet, with the odd pedestrian walking through, so Andrew and I sat on a bench and marveled at the magnificent view of the harbour and downtown Halifax. The sky was rich azure, the wind balmy and the company perfect. We sat for about an hour and chatted, while we enjoyed the gorgeous scenery, accompanied by a sweet little gazebo. I implore you to go and picnic in this wonderful Dartmouth park! It's about 300 acres of hillside, open to the public since the 1700s. Go enjoy Dartmouth's flourishing downtown scene, and walk through this lush garden park while you're at it.

Beautiful beautiful park. I've never been to a park on a massive hill. The big gates surrounding…read morethe park and so regal and beautiful. There's one particular part of the park by a gazebo where you can see a beautiful view of the harbour. Dogs can be off leash which is nice but just a heads up if you don't like dogs. It's only in a certain part.

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.

Victoria Park is highly underrated in my opinion. It's integrated so beautifully with the street…read more(though don't get me started on the fenced off fountain that Halifax loves so much...) that I often walk through it on my way home from class. In the summer the canopy of leaves creates beautiful shade throughout the park, and the frequent benches are perfect for dog watching. It's a very popular one for dog walkers! And events - there have been pop up farmers markets, petting zoos, children's festivals...it's a great little community hub! And right across from (my favourite park ever) the Public Gardens, and right in the middle of the peninsula. Why not take a break and mosey on through? You deserve to relax and enjoy some sunshine.

I don't understand. Whenever I tell someone an event is being held at Victoria Park, they never…read moreknow where it is. How can you live in Halifax and not know where this is!? It's right across from the Public Gardens, it's just off Spring Garden Road and is the huge strip of green running along South Park. Why do I love it? Despite it's small size, it can do almost anything. Looking to hold a public rally? Done. Use the SGR end. Looking to laze in the shade? Done. Use the grassy stretch. Looking to host a car show? Done. use the area behind Robby Burns. Looking to practice your tight-rope walking? Done. Tie your rope between two trees. How do people not know where this is?! I don't understand.