Valley Family Fun: Our Favourite Places to Go in the Winter

Valley Family Fun: Our Favourite Places to Go in the Winter
By Laura Churchill Duke

With winter here, sometimes it’s easy to become a hermit, but I encourage you to get outside, and maybe outside of your comfort zone, this season. Here are our favourite places to go and activities to do in the winter in the Annapolis Valley.

1. Go for a hike

People don’t often think about hiking in the winter, but it is a beautiful time to explore. Check out the frozen waterfalls at the Woodville trails, or enjoy the beauty of the snow on the trees at the Acadia nature trail. Hike one of your favourite trails and notice the differences the winter brings.

2. Go skating outside

It’s one thing to go skating in the arena, but have you tried skating outside, perhaps in the moonlight? I grew up on the Port Williams pond, but most communities have a outdoor skating spot, and a system to let you know if the ice is safe or not.

3. Try a new outdoor winter sport

Most of the recreation departments have free equipment rentals, from snowshoes (like Wolfville and Kentville) to cross-country skis (Woodville). Take advantage of this great service!

4. Build a snowman in a unique place

It’s amazing how a snowman can make someone smile. I noticed one recently on a bench going into Wolfville. Why not build one on a neighbour’s lawn? At a nursing home? At the entrance to town? Let everyone enjoy this winter fun!

5. Curl up and read a book

Take your reading to a new location like a local library, or sit in front of a roaring fire at the Irving Centre on the Acadia campus.

6. Try coasting on a new hill

Don’t always hit the same hills for sledding, explore a new hill! Our favourites are Burgher Hill in Kentville, or the hill behind Port Williams Elementary School.

7. Go on a sleigh ride

There are still a couple of places in the area that offer sleigh rides. Grab your friends and neighbours and some warm blankets and enjoy the sights and sounds of winter.

Directions to hikes, locations of outdoor skating ponds and sledding hills, and contacts for sleigh rides can all be found at ValleyFamilyFun.ca. Need a suggestion? Email info@valleyfamilyfun.ca