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Photo Credit: Burntcoat Head Park
Selling out within minutes in 2019, The Flying Apron Inn & Cookery’s Dining on the Ocean Floor event at Burntcoat Head Park took beach picnicking to a new level. Do not let #FOMA despair you because you can still experience what is like to dine on the ocean floor (often for free) since many beaches during low tide expose parts of the ocean floor. Make sure to check tide times before heading out onto any beach for a picnic. Check out the list below that has 10 places where you can go picnicking or walking on the ocean floor across 3 provinces in Canada.
Burntcoat Head Park
Credit: Burntcoat Head Park
Even though the popular Ocean Floor event sold out in just minutes, Burntcoat Head is still a place where you can take a picnic and dine on the ocean floor during low tide with your family and friends. Be sure to check the tidal schedule before heading to the park and wear proper footwear and outerwear. After your picnic, spend time walking along the ocean floor discovering the life in the tidal pools and on the mudflats.
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45 Faulkner Lane, Noel, Nova Scotia
Blomidon Provincial Park
Credit: The.Rohit
Explore the floor of the Minas Basin during low tides and dine on the Basin’s floor. The beach is surrounded by cliffs that are as high as 180 metres. During low tide, you can find shells and other gems left by the tides. The beach is unsupervised, so make sure to note the tidal schedule.
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3138 Pereau Road, Canning, Nova Scotia
Five Islands
Credit: Nova Scotia Parks
Five Island Provincial Park is one of Nova Scotia’s premier outdoor destinations. Watch the ocean from 90-metre tall sea cliffs before heading down to the beach for a picnic. The park is also a popular location for clam digging, so bring a bucket with you and try clamming after your picnic.
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618 Bentley Branch Road, Five Island, Nova Scotia
Joggins Fossil Cliffs
Credit: Joggins Fossil Cliffs
Climb down the steps to the rocky beach and cliffs where you could spot million-year-old fossils being uncovered by the powerful Bay of Fundy. During high tides, the water rushes against the cliffs, so the beach is only reachable for a few hours a day. Be sure to note the tidal schedule when you are planning your picnic visit.
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100 Main Street, Joggins, Nova Scotia
Smugglers Cove
Once a prime location for the smuggling of liquor during the 1920’s prohibition, Smugglers Cove is filled with ocean water during high tides. During the low tide, you can climb down the 80-step stairway to reach the ocean floor. The rugged cliff face makes the perfect backdrop for an ocean floor picnic.
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7651 Highway 1, Meteghan, Nova Scotia
Ovens Natural Park
Credit: Ovens Natural Park
On Nova Scotia’s South Shore, Oven Natural Park is home to famous sea caves. Reachable at low tides, you can explore the caves. If you head to Conrad’s Beach be sure to try your hand at gold panning.
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326 Ovens Road, Riverport, Nova Scotia
$10 for a day pass
Hopewell Rocks
Hopewell Rocks can be reached from two beaches, Seawall Beach and Demoiselle Beach, which are located at opposite ends of the park. Walk along the ocean’s floor to reach the flowerpot-like rock formations. Bring your beach blanket and picnic lunch to enjoy a meal with an iconic view.
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131 Discovery Road, Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick
Fundy National Park
Owls Head/Headquarters Campground; Credit: Parks Canada
Bring your rubber boots and picnic gear, especially if you don’t want to get muddy when heading to the ocean floor at Fundy National Park. When the tide heads out, you can walk along the ocean floor and see crustaceans and shells that have been left behind. There are over 250 kilometres of beach to explore to find the perfect picnic spot.
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Alma, New Brunswick
St. Martins Sea Caves
As the tide heads out, the St. Martins Sea Caves and the seafloor becomes visible. There are sea caves, caverns and arches that you can explore after enjoying your picnic on the ocean floor. The tide rises and falls every 6 hours and 13 minutes, which creates new times for high and low tides each day. So, make sure to check the tide times before heading out for a picnic on the ocean floor.
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St. Martins, New Brunswick
Thunder Cove Beach
Tourism PEI : Carrie Gregory
This hidden gem is worth going off the beaten path to find. Home to Tea Cup Rock, sea stacks and caves, Thunder Cove Beach offers a unique landscape to take in while enjoying a picnic lunch. The fine red sand is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and ocean.
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Thunder Cover Road, Lot 18, Prince Edward Island
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