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!
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.
- The Discovery Centre is along the Halifax Boardwalk and fun for all ages.
- 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: Ironworks Distillery – offers guided tastings with stories
- Chester: If you’re already in Chester for the Sensea Nordic Spa mentioned earlier, then check out the Tipping Point Distillers.
- Annapolis Valley: Barrelling Tide Distillery – Located along the Bay of Fundy, where the highest tides in the world are.
- Yarmouth: Boatskeg Distilling Company. Located about 25 minutes from downtown Yarmouth, enjoy some snacks, mocktails, samples, and gorgeous ocean views.
- Halifax: Compass Distillers. Award winning distillery located in the North-end of Halifax.
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:
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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