Halifax's Favourite Park: Point Pleasant

 It really needs no introduction; most people know Halifax's Point Pleasant Park. It is located in the south end of the Halifax peninsula and is a common place for many dog walkers, picnickers, trail runners, and families. Point Pleasant is an easy hike/walk for families. The trails are wide, well-groomed, and there is not a lot of elevation. Perfect for strollers or babywearing. Point Pleasant is great for lots of activities, and if you are a family used to trails that are a bit more challenging or are looking to see more of the backcountry then here are some things you might love to do at Point Pleasant:

1. Awesome spot close to home (for Haligonians) to try out your gear! First time using your hiking kid carrier? Try it out here! First time trying to feed a family on a small camp stove? Try a picnic!

2. Snowshoeing in the winter! Yes, Point Pleasant is great year-round! And in winter after a nice snowfall, grab your snowshoes (or hit up MEC to rent them for cheap), and hit the trails. Snow can be really hard to plan for these days with such unpredictable winters, and it can be even more challenging to find an escape to play in the snow with a family, so Point Pleasant is a great close-to-home winter adventure!

3. Make us of the "dog paths". These are side trails to the main street-width trails that are narrower and are often spots where dogs can run off their leashes. They are especially nice to give toddlers a chance to get their first feel for what hitting the trails is like!

4. Get more nature time in your day-to-day! It is so close to many people's homes or work. It is an awesome stop to get some nature in without having to pack up and prepare a lot. Whether it is going for some "mama/papa-only time" on your lunch break to walk/run or taking your wee one to see the duckies before heading to daycare, this can be a nice way to break up the daily grind! 

[Review] Stella & Roy Go Camping children's book

 Stella and Roy Go Camping by Ashley Wolff is a brilliant camping story for kids! It is a 32-page story about a mom who takes her son and daughter backpacking in Yosemite on Lone Pine Lake trail. The story follows their journey while focusing on bear safety through the eyes of young Roy who thinks he spots bear tracks everywhere he turns. His sister, Stella, checks her animal tracks guide to teach him all the different tracks. At the end of the story, there is a 2-page animal track guide and a 1-page bird guide about animals in the story. Amazon.ca ranges this book from preschooler to grade 2 level.

Our daughter (2 years old) loves the book and begs us to read it! She now has added words such as "bear barrels" and "coyote" to her vocabulary! The photos are beautiful! And it is an enjoyable read for parents too! This will for sure be one to keep reading over the winter to remember our favourite days of the year gone camping. 

A Quiet Hike Perfect for Babywearing: Long Lake Provincial Park, Halifax

For me, hiking often takes on almost a form of meditation. It is my quiet time submersed with nothing but nature, allowing me to block out all of the day-to-day minutia (texts, emails, advertisements, traffic...). Some hikes are quieter than others, and I find Long Lake to usually be quite peaceful, especially in the autumn.

The park is located just past the rotary (see Google Maps or Trails of HRM book) for details. It is a big park! Really your hike is a matter of how much you want to see and how much you care to veer off the beaten path. The park will almost certainly have some dog walkers on its main trails. The trails are rougher than say Frog Pond Trail or Point Pleasant Park. They are definitely best for babywearing and not stroller pushing, which would result in lots of lifting your stroller over large roots and rocks in certain areas the path. But what's more, you will probably want to deviate from the paths to walk by the lake and other beautiful areas of the park, which are definitely not stroller-friendly.

TIP: If deviating from the main trail with your wee one in a backpack carrier, always use caution that branches don't poke them in the face! Use your sun hood on the carrier (if you have one) for extra protection, and carry a mirror so you can look back to see how baby is doing!

Mirrors also double as entertainment for the wee ones!

The lake, the rocks, the trees, the moss, the ducks, the peacefulness... it is beautiful! I highly recommend you check it out!

Five Tips for Preparing a Toddler for Padding

Sorry for the hiatus; we have been sick with colds and resting up as much as possible to be in good health to go camping again as soon as possible!

1. Familiarize your kiddo with water as much as possible (weeks in advance of paddling)!

We put H in swimming lessons as of her 2nd birthday, and I think it was one of the best uses of money for our daughter thus far! She learned so much and had the confidence of trying new things as she saw her peers in the class also jumping, floating, etc. In addition to this just being an important thing to do for your kids, this will help you as a parent also have more confidence around the water with the family.

2. Let them play with their PFD/life vest (days/weeks in advance of paddling).

Some kids hate the bulkiness of PFDs. A great way to get them excited for water time is to teach them to feel comfortable in their vests. We took H's out at playtime or around the yard and let her try to put it on herself. This gave her great confidence in wearing it!

3. Give them a task to help with while getting ready to paddle (on the day of).

I know; it is easier for you to do everything, but they need to feel engaged! We've let H carry the paddle or sit in the boat while still ashore while we vested up ourselves. She loves this!

4. Give them landmarks/goals to reach while staying sitting still (while paddling).

Squirming is the biggest challenge in my opinion. I do not want a wrong squirm to flip the canoe! What we do is preoccupy her with seeing the scenery, and when the wiggles begin, we talk her through it by saying things such as "See that buoy ahead; do you want to go see it? Okay well let's sit still so we can go see it!"

5. Have fun (while paddling)!

Seriously, if parents are not calm, babies will not be calm. Take a deep breath, be excited, and model the safe and fun behaviour that you want to see in your child.

Please share in the comments if you have any great tips for paddling with your kiddos!