Enjoying the winter beauty of Nova Scotia is as easy as going outside some days…or finding a fun place to hang out inside. There are plenty of places to enjoy a winter’s day quite close to Halifax. If you’re looking for an exercise filled day, an adventure to break up the monotony, a place to enjoy the winter beauty, or a place to shake off the winter blues, you’ll find what you’re looking for in and around the HRM.
1. Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary
With the fall migrations over, you might think that bird watching in winter could be boring. Not so! Visiting Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary in the winter allows you to spot birds that brave out the winter here. The trails are kept in reasonable condition, and you can always bring your snowshoes to make things more interesting. Bring a camera and some snacks—for you and your new feathered friends! Details
Address: Southampton Road off Highway 104 exit #3
2. Crystal Crescent Beach
I’ve waxed poetic about the beauty of Crystal Crescent in other articles, but the fact is it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the HRM, and I’d argue in Nova Scotia (yes, I’m biased). While swimming is highly not recommended (unless you have a wetsuit), the boardwalk of the beach provides a nice place to walk on winter days. You can also explore the beaches themselves, since there are three attached to each other, and get inspired by the ocean in the winter. Details
Address: 223 Sambro Creek Road
3. Eagle Watch
This premise has a beautiful simplicity to it. You come and watch eagles getting fed first thing in the morning, and you have a splendid time. But there’s so much more on offer for humans to eat and enjoy too. From pancakes to apple cider, you can get a fantastic breakfast supplied by local and fair-trade vendors. There’s also live music and local artists have their art for sale, while kiddos can make their own crafts upstairs. Details
Address: Corner of Middle Dyke Road and Bains Road, Sheffield Mills
4. Flying Apron Inn and Cookery
Food and winter have an interesting relationship—on one hand, you want comforting, hearty, warm dishes; on the other hand, you yearn for a taste of summertime every once in a while. Whatever whets your appetite, you’ll find it in cooking classes at the Flying Apron Inn and Cookery. This one tends to be for grownups, and includes instruction, drinks, and of course you get to eat what you make. If you want to turn your day trip into a multi-day trip, you can stay at the Inn and enjoy a cozy rest before you get up and make even more food. Details
AddressL 6 Summerville Wharf Road, Summerville
1-902-633-2300 or 1-844-633-2300
5. Hamilton Sleigh & Wagon Rides
The best part about having both sleigh and wagon rides is that it doesn’t matter if there’s snow or not (which sometimes there is not). A thirty-year-old tradition, you can hop on a sleigh ride and enjoy a winter activity so old I can think of at least 5 winter songs that reference it, including one that haunts me in my dreams because the clarinet part SUCKS!
…
Anyways, dry or snow, day or night, make a new family tradition and sleigh the snow! Details
Location: Lower Onslow (close to Truro)
902-897-7480
6. Hatfield Farm
Hatfield Farm is so close to Halifax it’s kind of unbelievable how in-the-country it feels. There’s plenty to do here, even in the winter. From the activities at Fort Clayton (reachable by wagon or sleigh ride) to pony rides and the petting zoo, it’s easy to have fun on the farm. There are a few amenities currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, but keep an eye out as the winter goes on; if all goes well, they might just pop up again! Details
Address: 1840 Hammond Plains Road
902-835-5676 or 1-877-835-5676
7. Ice Fishing
Ice fishing—fishing in the ice. It’s a classic Canadian image, combining an outdoor activity with the cold snowy temperatures that seem to make people think we live in igloos. There are quite a few places that are regularly open for ice fishing that would make a great day trip, but as of right now the government hasn’t announced which lakes exactly will be open this winter (they tend to rotate). The announcement is likely coming soon though, so keep an eye on the link below, and once the list is announced grab your gear and go find some fresh-almost-frozen fish! Details
8. Kejimkujik
Kejimkujik gets a lot of traffic in the spring, summer, and fall, but not as much in the winter. Let’s change that! You can snowshoe or cross-country ski the trails, learn how to winter hike, observe animals and birds in the winter, or just build a forest full of snowmen. If you’re feeling particularly brave, you can always turn a day trip into a night trip and enjoy a frosty starry sky. Details
Address: 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway
902-682-2772
9. Frog Pond
Getting exercise is important in the winter, especially getting outside and breathing fresh air. However, it gets really cold in Nova Scotia, and not everyone’s a fan (totally fair). If you’re going stir-crazy though, Frog Pond is a good compromise. The trail is quite short (about 1.2 km if you go around the entire pond, and it’s close to the road, so it’s easy to beat a retreat to acquire some heat. Bring some hot drinks and walk to beat the cabin fever—and why not try to make a tiny snow frog? Details
Address: 2..2 km after the intersections of Herring Cove Road and Purcell’s Cove Road, Spryfield
10. Get Air!
This is certainly one of the indoor activity options, but I stand by this: if you don’t like the cold, and you only do outdoor winter activities, you’re gonna start hating winter. Winter is pretty long in this province, and I don’t want anyone to be miserable the whole time. Get Air! Is a trampoline park for people of all ages to enjoy. You can slackline, jump in the foam pit, learn how to be a ninja, play dodgeball, and more! There’s a separate area for kiddos, so you don’t have to worry about launching any little ones to the moon, and you can get plenty of exercise and still stay warm! Details
Address: 612 Windmill Road, Dartmouth
902-702-8790
11. Keppoch Mountain
This requires quite a drive, but Keppoch Mountain is worth it. Overlooking Antigonish, Keppoch is ready to welcome you for all kinds of winter fun. There are trails for both downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as snowshoeing all over the mountain. Some of them are groomed and some not, so you can choose your level of difficulty. The town of Antigonish is also gorgeous, with lots of great places to eat and explore once you’re ready to come out of the cold. Details
Address: 193 Keppoch Road, Beaver Meadow
12. Lawrencetown Beach
Another beautiful beach to explore in the winter, Lawrencetown Beach is well known for its surfing. And why should a bit of cold deter you? If you’ve got a great wetsuit, a good board, and a plucky attitude, the waves are wonderful in the winter. The Lawrencetown Surf School even occasionally holds courses during the winter, so if you want a real challenge, learn to surf in the snow! Details
Address: 4348 Lawrencetown Road, East Lawrencetown
13. Lunenburg
Lunenburg is a classically beautiful little Nova Scotian town. Rich with history, its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site makes it a spectacular visit any time of year. Eat, drink, shop, explore, and visit local museums and galleries. They have so many different things to explore, you might even have to take a few day trips down here. Details
14. Maplewood Farm
If you need a Christmas tree, maple syrup, or both, you should visit Maplewood Farm. You can get candy and spreads as well, perfect for a Canadian winter breakfast. And if you’re in the area in December, you can pick out your very own tree. Just an hour outside of Halifax, you’ll enjoy a beautiful drive with a sweet treat at the end.
Address: 2819 Barss Corner Road, Maplewood
902-644-3358
15. Miner’s Marsh
Hills, beaches, lakes, forests…these are all familiar terrains in a Nova Scotian wintertime. But how about a marsh? The Miner’s Marsh is open year round for people to explore. Owned by Ducks Unlimited to protect the wetlands, there’s an awesome trail around the marsh with viewing platforms and tables to sit and enjoy the surroundings. And make sure to bring your camera, because there’s lots of wildlife to spot, even in the dead of winter. Details
Address: Barklay Street, Kentville
View this post on Instagram
16. The Oval
So this is technically not a day trip outside of Halifax, but it counts because you might live in another part of the HRM, and you can spend a day here, so it counts! The Oval is great to enjoy all year round, but its original purpose was a skating rink, so naturally it’s at its best in winter. You can rent all the gear you could need for skating (including the mandatory helmets), and as long as it’s cold enough for ice, you can spend cheerful hours skating around the Oval. There are lessons available for beginners or returning skaters, and if you get peckish there’s a Beavertails truck parked right beside the ‘putting-on-your-skates area’, perfect for Beavertails and hot chocolate. Details
Address: 5816 Cogswell Street
902-490-2347
17. Otis & Clementines
This used bookstore is an absolute delight for several reasons. In the first place, everything’s organized really well and laid out in a logical manner, so while they don’t have the inventory of a place like J.W.D. Used Books in Dartmouth (which I also recommend), you can easily find your area of interest and set up camp there. Secondly, they have tea, cookies, and pastries available to purchase, so you can get a book and a treat. Finally, Otis & Clementines also fosters kittens, helping to socialize them so they can be adopted. These kittens change frequently, but there’s always at least two scurrying around. Details
Address: 5209 St. Margaret’s Bay Road
902-826-1823
18. Peggy’s Cove
The beauty of Peggy’s Cove covered in snow is well worth the short drive. Make sure you wear a warm coat, because the winds can be pretty nuts, but the cold is worth it. In the wilds of winter you can fully appreciate the need for the famous lighthouse, and chowder tastes fantastic on a cold day. Explore the village, walk the trails, and enjoy a snowy day by the sea. Details
19. Ross Farm
Ross Farm is a place held frozen in time; it’s a heritage farm and museum, which means that you can see how a Nova Scotian farm operated in the late 1800s. Book a trip to tour the 19th century buildings, observe the working heritage animals, and purchase homemade souvenirs. With all our modern creature comforts in the winter, it’s worth a step back to see how those who came before dealt with the cold and snow. Details
Address: 4568 Highway #12, New Ross
902-689-2210
20. Shubenacadie Wildlife Park
Shubenacadie Wildlife Park is a haven for seeing animals native to Nova Scotia (and a few who are visitors), and there are plenty of educational displays. You can see the park even in the winter, with most of the animals out and about (except the ones that hibernate). There’s also an area for snowshoeing, so it’s easy to get in some exercise and enjoy the animals that live outside the park too!
The park is also home to Shubenacadie Sam, one of the most famous of Canadian groundhogs. Shubenacadie Sam is such a phenomenon that Shubenacadie Wildlife Park has instituted the “Sam Cam”, a webcam which monitors Shubenacadie Sam, so that no matter where you are in Canada, you can get the forecast for an early spring (or not). Details
Address: 149 Creighton Road, Shubenacadie
902-758-2040
21. Ski Martock or Wentworth
Okay, I’m putting both hills because while the debate isn’t as heated as the Smokes or Willy’s poutine debate in Halifax, I don’t want to show favoritism. I’ve skied both, and Wentworth certainly has a larger variety of trails, but Martock is closer to Halifax and is a good introduction for beginners or kids. Get out your gear or get rentals there, and spend a day on the slopes. Whichever place you choose, you’ll find good food and company at the lodge, great trails, and a chance to go even faster than a speeding sled!
Address: 370 Ski Martock Road, Windsor Forks
902-798-9501 (Website)
Address: 14595 Route #4, Wentworth Valley
902-548-2089 (Website)
Sledding (various)
Speaking of sledding, that’s another great thing to do around the HRM and beyond. All you need is a hill, a sled of some kind, and snow. The first two are easy to find, the second depends on the weather, but there will certainly be a few sledding days to enjoy in each winter month! There are so many places to sled that making a full list is impossible, but the link shows some places to start. Make a day of it with friends and swap your favourite places to sled; you might just find a new favourite! Details
Sugar Moon Farm
Ah, Sugar Moon Farm, a favourite field trip spot and a great winter outing for people of all ages. Sugar Moon Farm is a maple syrup farm that offers tours of the whole process, from tree to boiling (and occasionally samples of fresh sap and syrup). They also have a breakfast/lunch restaurant where you can get all kind of maple-inspired food. There’s pancakes with syrup of course, but you’ll also find maple mac and cheese, a breakfast sandwich, and more.
Address: 221 Alex MacDonald Road
902-657-3348 or 866-816-2753
Winter Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s Markets have a special magic in the winter. There may be fewer varieties of fresh produce (it’s all still delicious), but you’ll find awesome preserves, homemade crafts and goods, and more, some of it holiday-themed. Like sledding (see above), there are several winter Farmer’s markets, but the link below is one that is definitely open this winter, so it’s a good place to start! Details
Address: 441 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal
By: Adrienne Colborne