Halifax 
Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scoia
Lawrencetown is a small town on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. It is a short drive from Halifax, which makes it a popular location for both locals and travelers. The area is a known for its beautiful beach, but there are many other activities and places for you to visit. Lawrencetown is a great town to visit no matter the time of year.
1. Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park
Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park is a must visit when you are in the area. It is a sand and cobble beach that is popular with surfers due to the strong tides and currents. There are supervised swimming areas during July and August. Take some time to walk along the boardwalk.
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2. Enjoy Lunch with a View at Heron’s Nest Tea Room
The best way to enjoy a delicious homemade meal is with a view of the beautiful Lawrencetown Beach. The Heron’s Nest Tea Room is a local favorite, which has amazing daily specials. It is a very popular location for those going to or leaving the beach. On the weekends and holidays, it is recommended that you make reservations.
3. Porters Lake Provincial Park
Porters Lake Provincial Park is a perfect place to escape the city, without having to travel hours away from Halifax. You can relax lakeside or hike the trails around the park. You can also stay in the park at one of the 80 partially wooded overnight camping sites. There are boat launches, so you can canoe and fish on the lake.
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4. Salt Marsh Trail
The Salt Marsh Trail is one of the most popular, well maintained multi-use trails on the Eastern Shore. The trail was a former railway track and is 9km long. During a hike, you can spot up to 90 bird species, 12 animal species and 6 reptile species. Along the trail, there are a number of beaches that are great places for you to take a break or have a picnic.
5. Fisherman’s Reserve
Just east of Lawrencetown is a small active fishing village. Fisherman’s Reserve is filled with fisherman and their boats during the summer. If you are looking for the catch of the day, head down to the board walk and you can find fresh herring and lobster when the fisherman come back.
6. Eat at the Rose & Rooster Bakery
Just a 15-minute drive from Lawrencetown is the lovely Rose & Rooster Bakery. It is a local favorite for both breakfast and lunch. If you visit on a weekend, you should make sure to try their incredible brunch special. They serve NS roasted coffees and espresso that pair great with their fresh sweet treats that you can enjoy on the front or back patio on a sunny day.
7. Learn to Surf with East Coast Surf School
Between June and October, you can learn how to surf with the East Coast Surf School. The surf school makes use of the amazing waves that occur at the Lawrencetown Beach. A surf lesson comes with a full wetsuit and surfboard and the certified surf instructor will teach you the proper techniques of how to paddle, stand up and surf.
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8. Hope for Wildlife
Hope for Wildlife is different from a zoo because it is a rehabilitation facility that cares for injured and orphaned wildlife. You can meet the education animals in the Wildlife Gardens and the Learning Centre. The centre opened in 1997, and has cared for and released over 40,000 wild animals over the past 20 years.
9. Fancy Lucky Seaside Shop
The Fancy Lucky Seaside Shop is located in the historic MacDonald House and overlooks the beautiful Lawrencetown Beach. You can find vintage clothing, locally made crafts and Nova Scotian artwork at this unique seaside shop.
10. Conrad’s Beach
Conrad’s Beach may be Lawrencetown’s best kept secret, so it is a great option if you are looking to get away from the crowds at the Lawrencetown Beach. The beach is smaller than others nearby, but it has a boardwalk that is a part of the Nova Scotia Coastal Heritage Park System. Near the beach, you can spot Piping Plovers and their chicks.
11. Learn to Kitesurf
Kitesurfing has become an extremely popular beach sport because it looks so cool. Halifax Kitesurfing offers lessons that will teach you how to kitesurf safely, without the huge cost of buying all the equipment you will need before knowing if you love the sport. The Zero2Hero course will teach you everything that you need to know about kitesurfing in just 8 hours.
12. Crowbar Lake Hiking Trails
Connect with nature at the Crowbar Lake Hiking Trails. The trails are 16.5km of wilderness and there are a number of loops that you can choose to take, which allow you to enjoy the unspoiled waterways, lakes, and forests. These trails are rugged and can be a demanding challenge at times. It is easy to spend as little as an hour or up to a full day hiking the trails.
13. Atlantic View Trail – East Lawrencetown
The Atlantic View Trail will take you through woodlands, salt marshes, and near beaches. The trail was originally a Trans-Canada railway that gives visitors a glimpse of the old Acadian dykes and previous modifications to the land. The trail is 10km long and is an easy trail to hike or bike that has great views of the gorgeous coastline.
14. Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park
Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park has a large sand and cobble beach that has supervised swimming in July and August. So, you can relax on the beach, take a dip in the water or walk along the boardwalk. Rainbow Haven Beach also has a lake/wetlands area populated by a wide variety of bird life, so it is a nice place to walk and enjoy nature.
15. Get Pizza from El-Centro Pizza
This local family owned business is known as a hidden gem for pizza, wings and fish and chips, while treating their customers like family. El-Centro Pizza is a local favorite and serves up unique pizza with piles of toppings. You can take the family to visit the shop and eat in, or you can have your order delivered to you.
16. Go Glamping with East Coast Glamping
Camping does not mean that you need to rough it. East Coast Glamping makes camping fun and easy because they offer a camping package that is only a 20-minute drive from Lawrencetown Beach. So, you can spend a relaxing weekend, glamping with the family at the Shubie Park Campground.
17. Atlantic Dutch Shop
You can find internationally and locally made products like Delft giftware from Holland, along with foods like specialty cheeses, cookies, cakes, soups, and Conimex at this amazing shop. You can also try the Dutch confectionery and become a kid in a candy shop. While you are in the area, you should take some time to explore the Atlantic Dutch Shop.
18. Cole Harbour-Lawrencetown Coastal Heritage Park
The Cole Harbour-Lawrencetown Coastal Heritage Park is a large park located between Cole Harbour and Lawrencetown. There are supervised beaches where you can go swimming or you can spend a relaxing day on the gorgeous sandy beaches. You can also explore the well-marked trails, which will take you to salt marshes, wetlands, and through the forests.
19. Seabreeze Paintball
Get ready to get messy and head outside for a game of paintball with your friends and family. Seabreeze Paintball makes paintballing fun for all ages and offers full rental packages to get you started. They have the best woodsballs field in Nova Scotia. You can bring your family or some friends and see who the best paintball player is.
20. Visit Nova Scotia Organics
Nova Scotia Organics is the producer of the only complete line of vitamins, minerals, supplements and snacks that are USDA Certified Organic anywhere. Their main store in Lawrencetown has been open for over 20 years. Visiting the shop is a great way of learning about supplements, organic foods, and why Nova Scotians are proud of what they make.
21. Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum
Visit a rural oasis hidden in a modern suburban area, and meet friendly farm animals. You can see both grown and young animals including goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens at this farm. The Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum has ten buildings that allow you to experience what farm life was like from the 1780’s to the 1930’s. If you get hungry, you should be sure to visit the Rose & Kettle Tea Room which serves dishes and desserts made from the produce grown at the farm.
22. Fisherman’s Life Museum
Spend a day learning what it was like to be a fisherman at the Fisherman’s Life Museum. The museum is a traditional fisherman’s home from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. There is so much to see and do at the museum, and they host monthly events that make visits more special.
23. Get Ice Cream or Enjoy a Meal at Seaforth Philly’s Snack & Tack
Seaforth Philly’s Snack & Tack is a unique shop and restaurant that is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Here you will find equine supplies on the shelves alongside everyday grocery essentials. Along with shopping for groceries, you can enjoy a meal at the restaurant or cool off with a huge scoop of delicious Chapmans ice cream.
24. Memory Lane Heritage Village
Travel back in time at the Memory Lane Heritage Village in Lake Charlotte. The village is made up of 16 buildings from the 1940’s, so you can explore the icehouse, church, cookhouse, and schoolhouse. You can also try your hand at rural industries. The costumed guides are available for tours, traditional skill demonstrates and to answer questions. In the cookhouse, you can enjoy authentic 1940’s meals.
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25. Kannon Beach Wind and Surf
Visit the largest surf shop in Eastern Canada, and get ready to catch the waves at Lawrencetown Beach. Along with being able to pick up everything that you need to go surfing, you can also sign up for lessons if you are a beginner at surfing, windsurfing or stand-up paddleboarding at Kannon Beach Wind and Surf.
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