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.

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!

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.

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...

100% worth the drive to come for the view EVEN on a super cold day!…read more There are a few benches to sit at and enjoy a sunrise or sunset! Maybe even a picnic on a warm day. https://parks.novascotia.ca/content/blomidon-lookoff

A little pull off spot on the side of the road, it host fantastic views of the valley below. I gave…read morethis spot 5 stars because of its instant payoff, you pull off the road with lots of space to park, get out of your car and bam! You have arrived. Point and click away. There are bathrooms here as well, if you're brave enough and a little souvenir/ice cream/café across the street that I guess also doubles as a camp ground office (there is a camp ground across the street as well). We stopped to enjoy the view here on the way to Cape Split, a great stopping spot for views, leg stretching and ice cream!

If you are ever looking for a playground to take your children to this is the one. First one the…read morethe HRM that is handicap accessible with a cushion floor. Remember when you were little and you used to go to the playground and you fell on the cement well not any more. This ground surrounding one of the larges jungle gyms is almost like sponge. As well in the summer time there are sprinklers that turn on so that the kids can cool down from the Summer heat. From slides to swing to baby swings to monkey bars to a field that you can enjoy playing soccer or just run wild. Tennis courts are there as well and are normally busy in the summer months. Basket ball nets are located by the schools as well. See you there in the Summer trust me the kids will love you for it.

Great playground. Love the foam floor and ramps.great for my 2 yo to runs around and not make a…read moremess!

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.

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.

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.

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!