Best Things To Do in Halifax with Kids

Halifax is a small, relaxed, gorgeous city and very family-friendly. Here were some of my favorite things to do in Halifax with kids.

1. Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

Located in central Halifax, the kids loved this little trip back in time where people were walking around in old-fashioned clothes and the barracks of this strategic hilltop fort were left as they were 150 years ago. There were bagpipes playing and a noon day gun shooting (which you may want to avoid if your child dislikes loud noises), as well as guided tours you can join.

2. Halifax Waterfront

We loved the Halifax waterfront, where there are so many fun things to do with kids. Check out the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, where you can immerse yourself in Nova Scotia’s rich maritime history (and get in FREE on Tuesday nights!). Our kids loved the covered play area outside that had plenty of water fun for them on a hot June day. Not far from there is the Submarine Playground and plenty of restaurants on the boardwalk serving international food.

3. Halifax Public Gardens

The Halifax Public Gardens are FREE and such a pretty, urban park for your family to explore. It's one of the best family-friendly activities in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Day Trips with Kids

4. Peggy’s Cove

About an hour from Halifax is this tiny, picturesque fishing village, famous for its iconic lighthouse. This adorable town has cafes and plenty of boutiques to visit. It is quite popular so expect it to be busy, but there is a parking lot with a visitor center and bathrooms.

5. Lunenburg

This historic waterfront fishing village with colorful buildings and a cool pier to explore is also about an hour from Halifax. If you're hungry, check out Sushi by the Cove on Montague Street. Right next door is the most delicious French-style bakery, Anniej.

6. Carter’s Beach

Nicknamed the Caribbean of Canada, this is a gorgeous spot with white-sand beaches and turquoise water. There are two parking areas. One is quite close to the beach, and if that smaller one is full, there is a second one about a quarter-mile from the beach. Both have bathrooms.

7. Kejimkujik National Park

This exceptional national park is about two hours from Halifax, but if the weather is good, I would suggest camping and spending the night! Kejimkujik is a dark sky preserve, which means it is perfect for stargazing! The rangers also run night hikes, campfires, and other fun nighttime programming in the summers. Our favorite hike was the Hemlock and Hardwoods Loop (an easy three miles), which takes you through an old-growth Hemlock forest featuring a very impressive 400-year-old tree!

Walking around Burntcoat Head Park at low tide is an adventure!

Best Attractions for Kids in Nova Scotia Around the Bay of Fundy

8. Burntcoat Head Park

This is home to the highest recorded tidal difference (53 feet!) and man, it was an experience! Being a marine scientist I took this pretty seriously, so we started out at Burntcoat Head Park at low tide and walked around the seafloor. Our kids LOVED the tide pools filled with critters, caves, and giant rocks protruding from the water.

Watch the tidal bore roll in at Dawson Dowell Park not far from Burntcoat (about a 30-minute drive), then drive five minutes down the road and catch the tidal bore again at Fundy Interpretive Center (which also has a few hikes). Finally, we drove back to Burntcoat Head Park to see the bay at high tide, and that was AMAZING! The seafloor was completely covered and the giant cliffs were now islands in the sea. Make sure you check the tides on the day you visit so you can fully appreciate the change in tides.

9. Whale Watching in Digby

The Bay of Fundy in the Digby area is one of the best places in North America for whale watching! The best time to go is July through September, and you can expect to see porpoises and seals along with humpback whales, fin whales, and minke whales. We even got to see an ocean sunfish up close and personal! We went whale watching with Petite Passage Whale Watch tours and were very happy with our tour (and their café was very tasty and convenient), but it seemed like most of the companies got great reviews.

10. Balancing Rock

This 20-foot column of volcanic rock precariously balanced on the ledge of another rock is a geologic phenomenon and is crazy cool! We combined this hike (about two miles, but there are quite a few stairs) with our whale-watching expedition. You do need to take a short ferry ride to this trail that is FREE and scenic, but beware of the ferry times.

Outdoor Adventures in Nova Scotia for Kids in Cape Breton

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is known for its breathtaking cliffs that meet the ocean, and it's the only spot in Nova Scotia where you can find moose! It is quite a trip from Halifax (about four hours including a free scenic ferry ride), so plan on staying a few days.

11. Uisge Bàn Falls Trail

On the way to Cape Breton, we broke up the drive with this gorgeous waterfall hike near Baddeck. The easy, moss-covered path led us to an impressive, five-story waterfall.

12. Ingonish Beach

Once inside the park, check out this picturesque beach, but note that the water is SO cold! Maybe just plan on letting the kiddos play in the sand while you enjoy the scenery.

13. Longer Cape Breton Hikes for Kids

Franey Mountain was our accidental 10-mile hike. It is written up as being just under five miles, so I knew it was going to be tough with our crew, but it turned out they were doing some work on the path and the detour made it twice as long! Everyone along the way encouraged us to keep going, telling us how spectacular the view is, and it really was worth it! Skyline Trail is another longer hike (about four miles) with stunning views, but not difficult like Franey. I would suggest only attempting these two hikes with older children.

14. Easy Hikes for Kids in Cape Breton

For an easier hike with younger kids, check out the stroller-friendly Bog Trail. It's under half a mile and you can see pitcher plants, frogs, and even moose! Another good trail for moose sightings is Benjie’s Lake Trail, about two miles out and back.

You can feed and pet the bunnies at White Point Beach Resort. 

Family-Friendly Nova Scotia Hotels

15. White Point Beach Resort

Our kids LOVED this resort, mostly because of the BUNNIES! Yes, bunnies wandered the grounds, and you could get food from the front desk to feed and pet them. In addition, there was kayaking, a beach, an indoor and outdoor pool, a restaurant, a kids room, and even a game room with ping-pong and pool. This resort is located near Kejimkujik National Park and Carter’s Beach.

16. Annapolis Royal Inn & Suites

This is a cute, economical motel with easy access to the highway. It is close to Digby so we stayed here before whale watching. It has a great breakfast, and our kids loved the little pool!

17. Coastal Inn Antigonish

We stayed here on the long drive over to Cape Breton, and it was just supposed to be a roadside motel to sleep at on the side of the highway. But boy, were we delighted by the breakfast, the staff, the cleanliness, and the size of the room!

18. Castle Rock Country Inn

This bed and breakfast in Cape Breton was delightful. We loved the charm of the inn, the delicious breakfast, and the view from the back deck. Our kids also loved running around the grounds. Just a note that our room was on the small side.

19. Cameo Hotel & Suites

I really liked this hotel; it was in a good location and it was clean. We had two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a family room, and it was still one of the most economical options for our family in the city. Other perks were paid parking nearby and free laundry. However, depending on what room you get, there are bars below and they party like it is 1999 on the weekends (like, loud until 2am). I would still stay there again, but I could see this being someone’s worst nightmare. It's best for families with older kids and teens.

Know Before You Go to Nova Scotia with Children

Language

English is the main language spoken in Nova Scotia, so you'll have no problem communicating with the locals.

Prices

We felt that food and gas were pricier in Nova Scotia than in the other territories we visited, so be prepared for that.

Visiting National Parks and Historic Sites

We were lucky enough to visit when all national parks and historical sites were free for the summer, but that is not the norm. Consider buying a Discovery Pass if you are going to visit multiple national parks and historical sites while in Canada. Also note that the national parks have the Junior Canadian Ranger Program, similar to the American one, through which kids can fill out a booklet from the ranger station and get a badge.

All photos by the author

Read More: Toronto with Kids: 25 Best Things To Do in Toronto, Canada

Disclosure: We may earn a small commission if you click through our link and make a purchase. This revenue helps us maintain this site, so thank you for supporting us.