Where will you go?  What will you see?

The best days are those with no plans and with nowhere to be.  There is something about just jumping in the car with the kids and exploring new roads.

  Guessing where they lead is often the most fun.  Many of our greatest moments as a family were finding a road, turning left and ending up at the start of a sandy trail, where only your feet can take you down to the water’s edge.  Here are a few gems under an hour’s drive.

Who doesn’t love to play spy?  York Redoubt is the perfect place for that.  It is an old fortification overlooking the Halifax Harbour. The kids will enjoy exploring the tunnel and underground staircase lead through the exterior wall to the lower grounds outside the fort.  There are walking trails, lots of large cannons, and a lookout station.  Once at The Armdale Rotary, head up the Herring Cove Rd to the Purcell’s Cove Rd, past Sir Sanford Flemming Park and past Purcell’s Cove.  Turn left on Fergusons Cove Road and right into the fortress parking lot.

Is the city feeling hot and humid?   Take a drive out to Long Beach.  Off the beaten path, is not advertised and is not a high traffic beach destination.  It is a hidden gem of a beach with a wonderfully sandy and wide edge.  It is found in East Chezzetcook by driving out Highway #107 past Lake Echo and Porter’s Lake.  Take the next exit to East Chezzetcook, following the road by the same name south to a small gravel parking lot at the very end of this road.

Right in the heart of Bedford you can take the family for a hike to the top of a ridge overlooking the Halifax Harbour.  Its name is Admiral’s Cove and it is about a 30 minute walk straight up, probably longer when you stop at the look-offs on the way to the top.  Eagle Rock is at the top with the real prize being the view of the Halifax Harbour from the top.  How to get there?  Turn onto Eaglewood Drive from the Dartmouth Road, then left on Admiral Cove Road to the end.  Once there, turn left on Shore Dr. and follow this road until you reach the Admiral’s Cove Park sign on the left of the road.  Jump out and follow the path that leads up and to the left.  You’re on the way to adventure!

Want to do a scavenger hunt? Blue Beach is a great place to explore and find treasures along with way.  It is known for plant, sea animal, even footprint fossils and they can be found many places along this piece of coast.  There is even a Fossil Museum.  Take a left down the beach and if you walk far enough, you will find a beautiful waterfall almost coming over the cliffs.  If you walk far enough, you might find a lighthouse.  To get to this hidden gem, follow Bluff Road coming from either Hansport or Avonsport, until you reach Blue Beach Road Head NE on Blue Beach Road.  Parking is at the end of this road.

So where will you go this weekend?

Visit O’Regan’s Kia Dartmouth at 402 Windmill Rd, Dartmouth or oreganskiadartmouth.com for all your family’s automotive needs. Amanda Morvan, General Manager, is mother to 2 school age children, and partner to her husband who attends college full time.