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! 

Awesome Day Hike for Babywearing Mamas & Papas (Hopewell Rocks, NB)

An awesome family hike (and also a visit to a famous tourist destination) is the Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick. It is a fairly easy hike, but not one that allows for strollers as you will be walking on the ocean floor! It is perfect for those using front or back child carriers. We used our Deuter Kid ComfortIII. It was fantastic! The hike in is on a very wide, very well maintained trail. It was beautiful! There were a few steep areas off the main trail that allowed you to look out at various rock formations. At the end of the trail is a very large staircase down to the ocean floor.

What we found ideal was to hike in at high-ish tide and take in the view of the rocks semi-submersed, have a picnic lunch, then when the tide was low head down to walk on the ocean floor! It was perfect! Our wee one was 15 months when we did it, and even at that age, she loved seeing the rocks and water. After hiking from the stairs past Diamond Rock, H was asleep on my back so it was a nice time to take it in and chat with my partner.

All in all, I would say plan a whole day for it; take your time. Have a picnic, play in the play area, enjoy the mystical scenery of the Fundy tides! Not just anywhere can you walk past rocks as tall as buildings with seaweed taller than yourself!