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11 Things to Do in Nova Scotia in the Winter

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Nova Scotia in the winter offers a lot of activities to do. In the winter, Nova Scotia becomes like a winter wonderland – with fewer crowds and gorgeous scenery you can enjoy all to yourself! Below are 11 activities that you can do (both indoor and outdoor) in Nova Scotia in the winter.

1. Sugar Moon Farm

Located 1.5 hours north of Halifax (and 30 minutes from Truro!) and open on the weekends.

Sugar Moon Farm has so many activities that can be done year-round. Try maple syrup, eat in their restaurant, go snow shoeing on multiple trails (or hiking if there’s no snow).

2. Soak in the warm waters at Sensea Nordic Spa in Chester, Nova Scotia

45 minutes south of Halifax and open 5 days a week.

Great for anytime of the year, the Sensea Spa has an outdoor Scandinavian water circuit, massages, and saunas. The spa has a stunning location – nestled in the forest, and along the lake. There are also outdoor heated hammocks, firepits, and soon-to-be overnight accommodations.

3. Bundle up and go to a beach

Nova Scotia is called “Canada’s Ocean Playground”, there are SO many gorgeous beaches! The best part is that they won’t be busy in the winter, so you can enjoy the scenery and have the beach all to yourself!

Carter’s Beach in Port Mouton, Nova Scotia is one of the best beaches to visit in the winter. Located 2 hours South of Halifax.

In the summer, Carter’s beach is extremely busy and the parking is horrendous. It is lovingly nicknamed “Bake Beach” since the water is body-numbing, artic cold all year round so it’s very difficult to cool down and swim. You just sit and bake on the beach! In the winter, it’s too cold to go swimming so it is the best time to visit since you won’t want to go swimming anyway. And the best part? No one is around so you get the entire gorgeous beach all to yourself!

Drone photo of Carter’s beach.
This was taken in the winter and no one is around!

4. Hit the slopes and ski down a mountain

While Nova Scotia doesn’t have the huge mountains that other provinces have (like Banff!), it does have a few mountains that you can enjoy skiing down.

Halifax

  • Martock: Located in Windsor, about 1 hour from Halifax. Martock is 183m (600ft) high and has 5 intermediate trails, and 4 easy trails (including the bunny hills), a terrain park, and 11km of cross-country trails.
  • Ski Wentworth: Located in Wentworth, about 1.5 hours from Halifax. This mountain is larger than Martock at 248m (815ft) and has 20 trails from easy to black diamond, and multiple terrain parks. There are also over 10km of cross-country trails.

Cape Breton

  • Ski Cape Smokey. Located on the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, and 1 hour and 45 minutes from Sydney. It is 305m (1000ft) high, and 2 easy and 4 moderate trails. There is also a Gondola which can be accessed year round to see the views from the top!
  • Ski Ben Eoin: Located about 25 minutes from Sydney in Cape Breton. It is 153m (500ft) There are 3 easy, 5 intermediate, and 3 black diamond trails, 1 terrain park, and 2 cross-country trails.

5. Go snow-shoeing

There are so many places to snow shoe around Nova Scotia in the winter! For most places in Nova Scotia, you can rent them and explore a nearby trail.

Sugar Moon Farm mentioned earlier in this post also offers Snow Shoe Rentals!

For a complete list of where to find snow shoes, check out the Hike Nova Scotia Website.

6. Sleigh Ride

What better way to enjoy the snow than by being pulled in a horse drawn sleigh? (Or wagon, if there’s no snow). To REALLY get yourself in the spirit, listen to the Christmas song “Sleigh Ride” on your way there – “it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you!”

Below are a few places that offer sleigh rides in the winter in Nova Scotia:

  • Hamilton Sleigh & Wagon Rides: Located in Lower Onslow (about 1 hour from Halifax, towards the Bay of Fundy). Offering wagon or sleigh rides depending if there is snow or not. Suitable for large groups as well.
  • Hatfield Farm: Located only a few minutes from Halifax! They also have a petting zoo.
  • New Ross Farm: About 1 hour from Halifax. New Ross Farm is a heritage farm where you can experience what life was like back in the olden days. They also have animals, demonstrations, and wagon and sleigh rides when it snows.
  • Shelby Ranch: About 1.5 hours north of Halifax in Scotsburn. There’s so much to do here in the winter! Go Axe-throwing, check out the animals on site, and of course go on a sleigh or wagon ride.

7. Skating

There are lots of places to go skating inside and outside when the weather is TOO cold.

  • The Emera Oval in Halifax. It is a big oval loop – and it’s FREE! If you don’t have skates, they can be rented. This is located outdoors
  • Pine Grove Outdoor Play Park. This is an outdoor rink, there is also a trail nearby to walk along.

For skating indoors, in each town the local arena will normally offer indoor skating. The BMO Centre and the Halifax Forum are a couple of the many options for indoor skating in Nova Scotia.

8. Go on a hike

The trails can be extra beautiful when the trees are covered in snow – and even when they aren’t. Check out my favourite trails that are unique and have great views here.

9. Visit a museum

If it’s too cold to be outside, then explore Nova Scotia from the warmth of a museum. There are SO many that Nova Scotia has to offer.

Before you visit a museum: check the hours of a Museum you are interested in to make sure they are open in the winter (for example, the Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg, and the Citadel Hill in Halifax both are closed for the winter!)

  • Natural History Museum has exhibits that rotate about Nova Scotia’s land and sea, so there is always something new to see.
  • Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. This museum is also located along the Halifax Boardwalk, and features exhibits about the Titanic, and the Halifax Explosion.
  • Ross Farm Museum. About 1 hour from Halifax. Go back in time at the Ross Farm Museum. Learn about skills like candle and barrel making, and making butter. There are also farm animals! In the winter there are also sleigh rides offered if there’s enough snow (mentioned earlier in this post!).

10. Tour a Distillery

Lunenburg: things to do in Nova Scotia in the winter
The town of Lunenburg in the winter

11. Watch a Hockey game

Nothing screams Canada more than a hockey game. And if you love sports, then Nova Scotia has you covered! Nova Scotia is home to the Halifax Mooseheads hockey team. Their schedule can be found here: https://halifaxmooseheads.ca/

Tips for visiting Nova Scotia in the winter

  • Check to see what is open before you go. So many places close down for the winter season. Lunenburg becomes practically a ghost town (although still worth to visit, even if it’s just to walk around admiring the streets and have a warm coffee)! If there is a restaurant or place you want to visit check out their website to see if they are open.
  • Hunting Season: The late fall and winter months are typically when hunting season begins. Hunting isn’t allowed in towns are close to houses, but if you are going on a hike or snow shoeing down a trail that goes deep into the forest then wear orange to make yourself visible.
  • Don’t forget your sunscreen! The winter sun reflects off of the snow and can still give you a sunburn.
  • Have winter tires on your car, and drive carefully – black ice is invisible and very dangerous. So make sure you have winter tires on, and don’t speed.
  • Speaking of driving, always have extra windshield wiper fluid. The salt on the roads can accumulate on your windshield quickly, making it difficult to see if you don’t have wiper fluid to wash it away!

Do you need to rent a car while in Nova Scotia in the winter? Here are 4 options near the Halifax Airport:

things to do in nova scotia in the winter. the 3 churches in Mahone bay
The 3 churches in Mahone Bay in the winter

How Cold is Nova Scotia in the Winter?

Nova Scotia’s temperatures can vary over the winter (it was once 16 degrees celcius in December!), but here is a general idea of what to expect.

  • December: Celsius: 2 high /-5 low, Fahrenheit: 35.6 high/ 23 low
  • January: Celsius: -2 high/-13 low, Fahrenheit: 28.4 high/8.6 low
  • February: Celsius: -1 high /-12 low, Fahrenheit: 30.2 high/10.4 low
  • March: Celsius: 1 high /-7 low, Fahrenheit: 33.8 high/19.4 low

What should you wear in Nova Scotia in the winter? To prepare for the colder temperatures, check the temperature before you leave. It is best to dress in layers (t-shirt, sweater, down coat, hat, scarf and mittens).

Have you visited Nova Scotia in the winter? What was your favourite activity to do? If you are planning to go, what are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below!

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2 Days in Toronto: An Itinerary for the 13 Best Places to See

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Toronto is one of Canada’s major cities that is worth visiting at least once. I mean, you see the CN tower and instantly you will know it is Toronto. 2 days in Toronto will scratch the surface of what to do, but will still give you plenty of time to see all of the major sites. Below is a guide for what to do during 2 days in Toronto.

Where to Stay

The majority of these activities in this list are in downtown Toronto, so choosing a hotel that is in the area will save you from traveling back and forth if you are on the outskirts. If you stay in downtown Toronto you are able to walk to all of these activities.

I stayed at the One King West Hotel, which was downtown and within walking distance to the majority of attractions. There are SO many others near-by to choose from.

How to get to Toronto from the airport

Toronto Pearson Airport

The easiest way to get downtown from Pearson Airport is to take the UP Express train to Union Station. It’s really easy, I promise. Just follow the signs in the airport.

You can buy your ticket online before you go, or with a credit card using one of the Kiosks (just keep your eyes peeled for the Kiosks as you are following the signs). The train is very comfy. Union Station is located in downtown Toronto and within walking distances to a lot of hotels (The One King West Hotel as well!)

Billy Bishop Airport

If you arrive at Billy Bishop Airport, there are FREE shuttles you can take to downtown Toronto (can you track where the shuttles are too!).

Billy Bishop is also so close that you can literally walk to downtown Toronto from the airport. It’s quite a pleasant walk along the waterfront – this is what we did since the Shuttle was delayed by an hour, and the hotel was a 35 minute walk away). I wouldn’t recommend doing this if you are a solo female at night, though (during the day would be fine). I don’t recommend walking anywhere at night when alone, but that’s just me. The streets were busy at 11pm when we arrived. It felt very safe. During the day it would be a great way to see Toronto.

Uber is another option of course. Billy Bishop is a very small airport, so it’s very easy to find the shuttle stop and Uber pick-up spots. They are outside the airport door when you arrive.

A view of the CN while we were walking to the hotel from Billy Bishop.

How to get around Toronto

The majority of sites listed below can be walked to if you are staying in downtown Toronto. Renting a car is not recommended. Below are a few options if you don’t want to walk everywhere, or if you are seeing an attraction that is further away from downtown and need a ride:

  • Uber or Lyft are apps that can be used for getting a car.
  • Public Transportation is also an option: Subway, Streetcars and Buses. I recommend using The Citymapper App to navigate your way around the public transportation system. You can pay as you go (exact cash required), or buying a PRESTO card at the Airport or at a Subway stop.
  • Using a Hop-on-Hop-off service. Since the majority of attractions listed below are on the hop-on-hop-off route, then why not make it extra exciting on one of these Sightseeing buses.

What to Do During 2 Days in Toronto

The map below shows the location for the activities listed in this post. Purple are day 1 activities, blue are day 2 activities, and yellow is optional if you have more time!

Suggested Reading: 13 travel mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Day 1 in Toronto

1. St. Lawrence Market

Start off your morning with a trip to St. Lawrence Market. It is an indoor market that has a combination of produce and meat, prepared food like meat pies, pastries, cakes, and coffee. There are a couple of ATMs on site if you don’t have cash on you (a few places accepted credit card, but most were cash). There are also a few spots to sit and eat both inside and outside of the market.

st lawrence market - 2 days in toronto
The entrance to St. Lawrence Market

2. Berczy Dog Park

This won’t take up a lot of time, but it’s worth stopping by since it’s a couple of blocks away from St. Lawrence Market. It is a huge water fountain with tons of dog statues trying to get a bone at the top. Try and find the cat statue amongst all of the dogs, and see what the cat is looking at! (I’ll give you a hint: it’s little bird sculptures).

2 days in Toronto - dog park

3. Toronto Islands

You could spend an entire day on Toronto Island! There is SO much to do here. Toronto Island has 3 Islands: Centre Island, Ward Island, and Hanlan’s Point. They are connected by bridges and walkways so you can walk from one end to the other. The views of the Toronto skyline and CN tower are also incredible from here.

To get to the Toronto Islands you will need to take a Ferry. Tickets for the Ferry can be purchased online before you travel to Toronto, or in person before you get on the ferry.

There are 3 ferry routes to Toronto Island. Centre Island Ferry is the busiest ferry since that is where the majority of the action is. The other ferries aren’t as busy so it’s faster to board, and also to get a good seat to see the view as you cruise along.. Once you are on Toronto Island it is about a 35 minute walk between each Ferry Terminal.

Good to know: Leaving Centre Island can take a LONG time during peak summer season! There is a line to the ferry which can sometimes take hours. You don’t need to buy a ticket to get off of the Island. BUT, if you don’t want to wait for a really long time you can pay extra money to take a water taxi OR walk about 35 minutes to another less-popular ferry on Ward Island or Hanlan’s Point.

CN tower with a ferry going to Toronto Islands - 2 days in Toronto
A view of the ferry that departs from Centre Island

4. Nathan Phillips Square

To see the iconic Toronto sign, then head on over to Nathan Phillips Square. There are a few nice and older buildings surrounding the area as well.

sign of toronto
The Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square – this lights up at night

5. Watch a play

If you love Harry Potter, then watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play is definitely recommended. There are LOTS of other plays, concerts, and shows to watch while in Toronto as well if they’re scheduled for the evening.

The Ed Mirvish Theatre is around the Eaton Centre area of Toronto which strongly reminded me of Times Square in New York. So if you are interested in that, then check out that area before the play.

Eaton centre area.
The hustle and bustle around the Eaton Centre .
reminds me of Times Square.

Day 2 in Toronto

6. Breakfast at KOST

Start your day by eating breakfast with an EPIC view of the CN tower. Try and get there early (at like 8:30 or 9am) when it isn’t as busy. First of all, KOST is a rooftop restaurant located within a hotel. Walk through reception to get to the elevators. The restaurant has lots of indoor seating as well, and is at least 45 stories high. There is a rooftop pool that’s about knee-deep, lounge chairs, and normal tables for eating. At night, I bet it is such a vibe.

But can we talk about those VIEWS?! I mean, first of all the CN Tower is right there. And why eat IN the CN Tower when you can eat LOOKING at the CN Tower? You can see all of Toronto Island from there, which is fun to look at after you’ve walked all around it the previous day. It also has incredible views of the city as well from 3 sides.

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. Don’t even think about showing up without one! I just happened to be lucky and they gave us a table. You don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to dine there, but you DO need a table reservation to eat there.

a view from KOST restuarant
The view from my table at KOST. LOOK.AT.THAT.VIEW!

7. Ripley’s Aquarium

After breakfast, make your way over to the CN tower to visit the Aquarium! I went with a fish lover so I had originally allocated 4 hours there. But we were actually there for 2.5 hours. The Aquarium is SO fun for all ages. Entrance is a bit expensive, but it is 100% worth it.

A shark casually swimming by

8. Go up the CN Tower

I have done this before, but I didn’t do it on this trip. I personally wouldn’t recommend it if you’ve already seen the views from KOST. It is expensive and there are usually lines to get in.

BUT there is a glass floor which is thrilling to walk on, the elevator ride up is fast and fun, and you do see a 360 view of Toronto from VERY high up. It’s also the CN Tower, an iconic landmark in Toronto! So if you haven’t been before, then go for a ride up to the top!

At the CN Tower, there’s also activities like actually walk and hang off of it for those who seek adrenaline, and a rotating 360 restaurant!

view of the cn tower - 2 days in toronto
close up of the CN tower (taken from KOST)

9. Casa Loma

Casa Loma is a castle about an hour from downtown Toronto, so you will need to either walk the entire hour, take a 15 minute Uber ride, OR go on a Hop-On-Hop-Off Sightseeing tour and get off at the Casa Loma stop.

If you had to choose between going up the CN Tower or going to Casa Loma, then I would choose Casa Loma. The grounds surrounding the castle are stunning, the rooms are so elegant, and there are beautiful views of the city (and CN tower!) from the Castle.

If you love Harry Potter (or just castles in general), then this is a perfect activity to add to your itinerary!

casa loma - 2 days in Toronto

10. Distillery District

The Distillery District is a neighbourhood closer to St. Lawrence Market and the activities that are done on day 1. So if you have extra time on Day 1 then it can be visited on Day 1. But, no worries if you didn’t visit on day 1, this is why it’s mentioned for what to do in Toronto on Day 2 (in the evening)!

The Distillery District has such a cool atmosphere with brick buildings, artwork, and places to eat. It is pedestrian only, and has a fun nightlife. Walking tours are also available to get an in-depth tour!

2 days in toronto - distillery district

If you have extra time in Toronto

11. Watch a Blue Jays Game

The Toronto Blue Jays are Toronto’s baseball team, and they play at Roger’s Centre which is right next to the CN Tower. So, if you have extra time during your 2 days in Toronto and you like baseball, then dress up in blue, put on some sunscreen, and watch a game! See their schedule and buy tickets here.

12. Toronto Zoo

I’m a bit wary of visiting zoos – I always want to make sure they treat their animals right and are ethical. The Toronto Zoo is AZA certified, so if you have extra time during your 2 days in Toronto then it is worth checking out. It is about 30 minutes outside of downtown Toronto and can be accessed by public transportation.

13. Go to Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls are only an hour from Toronto, so if you have an extra day in Toronto then I would highly recommend going! If you don’t have a car in Toronto, then there is an hour long train ride available departing from Union Station. There is also a sightseeing bus that visits Niagara Falls as well.

Have you visited Toronto – what is your favourite thing to do, and what would you recommend during 2 days in Toronto? Let me know in the comments below!

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