Choose Your Own Adventure Family Road Trip

Nova Scotia isn’t called Canada’s Ocean Playground for nothing. Whether you’re hitting the road for a day, a weekend or a week, load up the car and get ready to make memories. Mix and match activities from the list below to create a tailor-made family trip.

Family Hikes and Bikes

These are ideal places to stretch the legs after a long car ride. Get some fresh air, pack a picnic and spend a few hours exploring these easy family walks. All allow bikes, too!

• Point Pleasant Park, 5530 Point Pleasant Drive, Halifax – 39km of easy, wide trails in the South end of Halifax
• Rum Runners Trail, various trail heads Halifax to Lunenburg – 119km multi-use trail along former rail bed
• Harvest Moon Trailway, various trailheads Annapolis Royal to Grand-Pré – 110km multi-use trail on former rail bed
• Le Petit Bois Trail, 1695 Highway 1, Church Point – 5km network of coastal and wooded trails
• Victoria Park, 29 Park Road, Truro (Main Entrance), 627 Young Street, Truro (Railyard Mountain Bike Park) – Climb Jacob’s Ladder, walk through the extensive trail network or hit the Railyard Mountain Bike Park for a little more excitement
• Butter Trail, 24 Station Road, Tatamagouche – 25km multi-use trail on former rail bed
• Celtic Shores Coastal Trail, various trail heads Port Hastings to Inverness – 92km multi-use trail on former rail bed
• Musquodoboit Trailway, 90 Park Road, Musquodoboit Harbour – 15km trail on former rail bed
• Trails in National Parks – Whether you’re camping or day-tripping, explore the trails throughout Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site and Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Both offer a variety of family-friendly trails for all ages.

Urban Adventures

Halifax is ideal for family fun. From museums to boat tours, picnics to playgrounds, hit the city streets and begin exploring.

• Harbour Hopper, 5050 Salter Street – always a favourite, this amphibious vehicle gives a Halifax history lesson driving through the streets, then splashes into the harbour
• Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, 5425 Sackville Street – older kids and teens will appreciate exploring the citadel and the historic role this structure played in protecting the city dating back to the 1700’s. For an evening activity check out ghost tours of the citadel, if you dare!
• Halifax Public Gardens, Spring Garden Road at South Park Street – if you need a timeout head into the Public Gardens for an easy stroll and tranquil reset amongst the beautiful gardens. Young kids love the duck pond and the lush lawns are perfect for a picnic.
• Freak Lunchbox, 1729 Barrington Street – Kids of all ages will love it here. Indulge in candies sparking childhood memories and today’s most popular treats, this colourful shop is always a crowd-pleaser.
• Halifax Harbour Ferry, Halifax & Dartmouth waterfront – for an easy adventure, hop aboard one of Halifax’s harbour ferries. Traversing the harbour between Halifax and Dartmouth throughout the day, city views can’t be beat, and the price is right at just $2.25 for ages 13-17 and 65+, $3.00 for 18-64 and free for children 12 and under. Grab a transfer and you can make it a return trip for that price within 90 minutes.
• Halifax Waterfront – Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, The Salt Yard kiosks for quick eats and shopping, the Waterfront Playground, boat tours, restaurants, shopping, bike rentals, and relax on the orange hammocks.