Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice: Fall Weekend in Halifax

About This Experience

Tuck a wooly scarf around your neck and grab something pumpkin-spiced while you warm yourself up with a full weekend of fun fall activities in Halifax!

The Plan:

DAY ONE

• Head to Hatfield Farm for an autumn wagon ride
• Choose your favourite pumpkins and grab up some Nova Scotian apples at Farmer Clem’s
• Pick up lunch and some pumpkin-spiced baked goods at Edible Matters
• Head to Uniacke Estate Museum Park for an afternoon stroll

DAY TWO

• Wake up early to grab breakfast at Reid’s Restaurant & Bakery in Musquodoboit Valley
• Paddle the Musquodoboit River, or take your kids to check out a natural playground in the heart of the Musquodoboit Valley
• Take the 45 minute detour to Onslow to visit Riverbreeze Corn Maze

Day 1

Get up and giddy up!

Head out to Hatfield Farm in Hammonds Plains for a wagon ride through the brightly-coloured fall leaves, to Fort Clayton, Hatfield Farm’s “fun central”, right in the heart of the forest. All-you-can-eat hot dogs and hot drinks included!

Farm-to-table-fare

Venture up the road to Farmer Clem’s market to check out their fresh selection of local Nova Scotian apples and pumpkins! Stock up on some of your favourites – you may even find some fall foliage for your doorstep!

Fun fact: While we think of apples as a quintessentially Nova Scotian fruit, they actually originated in Kazakhstan, in Central Asia. They spread to Europe along the Silk Road, and finally were brought to North America in the 1600s.

Pumpkin spice everything!

No visit to Hammonds Plains is complete without stopping into Edible Matters for some baked goods – made with seasonal, locally sourced products, like pumpkin!

And, if you haven’t filled up on hot dogs, it’s also a delicious place to grab brunch!

TIP: We recommend the Lovewich – a very tasty smoked salmon breakfast bagel.

Step back in time to see autumn as it was in the 1800’s 

Head to Uniacke Estate Museum Park for the afternoon to explore their eight historic walking trails, or take a self-guided history tour of the Lake Martha Loop Trail.

Uniacke Estate Museum Park is a rare example of an early 1800s house and landscape that have changed little since they were developed. Outdoor exhibits on the trails around the house tell the story of historic landscape.

Walks range from easy to challenging, and trails offer a glimpse into Nova Scotia rich natural heritage in every season.

Day 2

Freshly-baked breakfast

Wake up early and head to Musquodoboit Valley for the morning, stopping first at Reid’s Restaurant & Bakery for some of their delicious baked-goods for breakfast. This local favourite will fuel you up for your day of adventure!

Play or paddle away the crisp fall day

As one of the best places to take in the fall leaves, Musquodoboit Valley offers lots of outdoor activities. Here are two of our favourites:

1. Paddle the Musqudoboit River: This calm, beginner-friendly river offers a wildlife escape as you peacefully paddle your canoe through woodlands and farmlands of the Musquodoboit Valley. In the fall the leaves are brilliantly coloured adding to the magic of the experience. Meagher’s Grant Canoe Rentals will rent you a canoe and provide transportation too the drop-off point where you’ll get in and simply paddle back to your car!

2. Take your kids to a natural outdoor playground: The Nature Learning Playspace in Upper Musquodoboit is a playground built using trees, plants, water and rocks instead of plastics, which creates a place where kids can enjoy healthy activity and learn to appreciate their environment. The play space is open seven days a week, from 8:00 am to dusk, and is free of charge.

Detour to a corn maze

Before you return to Halifax, take a 45 minute detour and head north to Onslow, NS. There, you can check out the River Breeze Farm corn maze (and many other fun activities!). If you’re adventurous and feeling brave, you can even visit in the evening to experience their Fear Farm!

Where to stay

The Doubletree by Hilton, Halifax-Dartmouth is centrally-located between Hammonds Plains and Musqudoboit Valley, making it a great home base for your autumn adventures – plus the cozy rooms and harbour views are perfect for a fall adventure!

Pack & Prep

• Want to know how to cook your pumpkin or apple haul? Nova Scotia Museum’s #NovaScotiaFamilyCookbook challenge has lots of recipes and tips.
• Seasonal activities like the corn maze are, well, seasonal – so call ahead for what’s on!
• A hat, gloves, boots and a warm jacket take the chill off fall outings.
• Note: At the Nature Learning Playspace, parents are reminded that the space is not supervised and they are responsible for their children at all times.