14 Perfect Things to Do in Nova Scotia During Winter

While Nova Scotia might not have the ski conditions comparable to the West Coast, it does have some great hills for ski lovers! Check out Ski Martock and Ski Wentworth on the mainland and Ski Ben Eoin and Ski Cape Smokey in Cape Breton.

In the summer, Nova Scotians hike, and in the winter, they snowshoe! Snowshoeing is an enjoyable way to explore Nova Scotia’s backcountry, and you can choose between going on your own or signing up with a local tour group. A number of community centers in the province provide free snowshoe rentals, and Shubenacadie Wildlife Park offers free snowshoeing!

Head to the Annapolis Valley for the annual NS Icewine Festival, which pairs wines from across the provinces with delicious local snacks. The festival only runs for two weekends every year and fills up quickly, so make sure to get your tickets well in advance!

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Relive your childhood with a day of sledding! You can pick up a cheap toboggan or magic carpet at places such as Wal-Mart and hit the hills. Everyone has their favorite hills, so ask for local hot spots.

Go to the beach in the winter? Yes! You might need to swap your bikini for a parka, but a trip to the beach is a lovely way to spend a winter day. Bundle up and enjoy the peaceful beauty of an empty beach. If you’re really brave, grab your dry suit and head to Lawrencetown Beach for some winter surfing.

Partake in a quintessential old-fashioned activity with a cozy sleigh ride. Hatfield Farm Cowboy Adventures and Ross Farm Museum both offer sleigh rides that are fun for the whole family!

Another great way to explore the Nova Scotia’s backcountry is cross-country skiing on one of the province’s 24 official trails. For information on trails and conditions, head to Cross Country Nova Scotia’s website.

What’s better than a day of exploring trails and eating pancakes? Head to Sugar Moon in Earltown to enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, maple tours, all-day maple breakfast, chef nights, and so much more.

Unwind this winter at the wellness-focused, eco-conscious Cabot Shores in Cape Breton. Enjoy a weekend getaway with their Snow Much Fun packages, which include accommodations in either a yurt or the lodge, snowshoeing, infrared sauna sessions, qigong sessions, and so much more.

There are lots of great spots around the province to go skating, but if you’re in Halifax, you need to check out the Emera Oval. Originally built as a temporary rink for the 2011 Canada Games, Haligonian’s loved the rink so much that they voted to make it permanent. Located in the Halifax Commons, the Oval offers free skate and helmet rentals.

January and February are the best months to go eagle-watching in Nova Scotia, and there’s actually an annual event dedicated to it! The Sheffield Mills Eagle Watch takes place every year in the Annapolis Valley and includes eagle exhibits, a pancake breakfast, live music, and, of course, eagle-watching. Head to their site for more details.

What’s more Canadian than a hockey game? Cheer on the Halifax Mooseheads, the city’s QJMHL team, at the Scotiabank Centre and join local fans in “Moose Country.”

Neptune Theatre’s annual holiday productions are a Christmas tradition for many locals. In 2017, the Halifax theater is presenting A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life.

Halifax’s annual songwriter-based music festival is a great place to discover new sounds and celebrate local music. In its 12th year, the festival showcases songwriters from across Canada and the United States. You can find this year’s lineup here.

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