Staying put this March Break? That doesn't mean it can't be an adventure! One of my favourite parts of being a REALTOR® is exploring neighbourhoods across the province, so here are my top picks for family-friendly March Break activities in Nova Scotia. 

Did you know there are over 20 Murals located in Downtown Halifax? A self-guided tour of these murals and other public art pieces can be found on the Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s website.

I recommend starting your exploration at 5151 South Street where you can pick up one of Rousseau Chocolatier’s famous house hot chocolates before heading North to the downtown core. Make sure you have your camera ready! ​

Cabot Shores
​Make the most of winter on the Cabot Trail! Snowshoe by day, then curl up by the fire and watch the stars in a spectacular dome skylight. Cabot Shores has packages that include meals, snowshoe rentals, yurt or chalet accommodations, outdoor hot tub access, and a morning meditation or Qi-Gong session. 

The Prince George Hotel
​Treat your whole family (Dogs included - they have pet-friendly suites available) to a bit of luxury at The Prince George Hotel. Pretend you’re someplace sunnier and take your staycation poolside (indoors.)

Obladee 
Obladee ​Holiday Gift Boxes make the perfect gift for friends, family or colleagues to enjoy. This year, Obladee has two options to choose from.

The cheese box includes four Nova Scotia cheeses (with product notes for each), a jar of their house-made festive preserves, special dark chocolate goat's milk fudge, locally-made Sea Coast Crisps, and a local beeswax candle.

Their wine and cheese box includes all of the above, plus a bottle of Sommelier-selected wine (your choice of Sparkling, White or Red) or upgrade your wine to a special Cellar Selection for $25 more!

The wine and cheese box is one of my family’s favourite gifts to give and receive. Order yours here by December 22nd at 12:00 noon to receive it on the 23rd. 

Benjamin Bridge 
Nothing says celebration more than sparkling wine and Benjamin Bridge makes internationally recognized sparkling wine right here in Nova Scotia.

Pick up a bottle of their Brut to toast before dinner, a box of Nova 7 cans to give as stocking stuffers, or even an annual subscription for your favourite wine-lover.

The winery is located in the Gaspereau Valley but for those in the Halifax Metro, they offer contactless free delivery, right up until Dec 21, or pick up as late as December 23. 

Lightfoot and Wolfville 
​Lightfoot & Wolfville is owned and operated by the Lightfoot family who has been farming in the Annapolis Valley for eight generations. This year I've been enjoying their gift boxes since it takes a lot of guesswork out of delighting my friends and loved ones.

Gift boxes range in price from $50 - $100 and include a bottle of their fantastic wine and some Lightfoot & Wolfville merchandise. Their soy wine bottle candle in Chardonnay, Lemongrass and Tea Tree is one of my favourite housewarming gifts.

Lightfoot & Wolfville are offering free, contactless delivery in HRM, the Valley and South Shore. Order by midnight on Tuesday, December 21 for deliveries to arrive on December 23. 

Good Robot 
​Have someone in your life who isn’t a wine lover? Good Robot Brewing Co. offers gift-wrapped holiday boxes with a handwritten card.

Choose from a huge selection of beers and fermented seltzers, or allow the experts to select a variety based on your loved one’s individual tastes.

Order up until December 23rd for guaranteed delivery within 2 hours in Halifax.

In A Box Gifts (1468 Dresden Row, Halifax) 
​In a Box Gifts is a locally owned boutique that features one-of-a-kind clothing, accessories, home goods, and unique giftware. 

Pop in as late as December 24 at 5:00 to pick up a gift you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

Top pick: Their gorgeous wool throws would make the perfect gift to tuck under the Christmas tree.

Trainyard General Store (137 Portland Street, Dartmouth)
​Trainyard General Store offers handcrafted whimsical & practical gifts from Canadian small businesses, holiday gifts, cards and stationery, accessories, kids toys and books, even gifts for your pets.

Best of all, they’re open until 3:00 on the 24th. 

Top pick: Trainyard General is one of six local retailers where you can pick up Brad Hartman’s Pop-Up Halifax. 

Kept Gifts & Housewares (75 King St, Dartmouth)
​Kept Gifts & Housewares offers a balance of locally sourced goods and fine gifts & home decor. They offer an extensive variety of cards, ornaments and holiday decor; there is truly something for everyone!

And, even if you’re down to the wire at 5:00 pm on the 24, they’ve got you covered. 

Top pick: Paper Hearts East Coast Ornaments are the perfect addition to any holiday tree. Choose from one of eight local landmarks, such as the Bluenose, Sullivan’s Pond Geese, the Ferry or Woody the Talking Xmas Tree 

​If you’ve been in Halifax for long, you probably know of a business that makes our city an exciting and vibrant place to live. A patio that you enjoy in the summer, a boutique you can’t walk by without stopping in—places that Halifax wouldn’t be the same without. 

During the third wave of COVID-19, a number of these small businesses have had to pivot their operations or close completely as we work together to flatten the curve. Here’s a list of ways you can support your favourite local businesses during the current restrictions:

​The third wave has seen a resurgence in the walk-up coffee window. So if you are out and about and in need of a caffeine fix, skip the large coffee chain drive-through in favour of an alfresco coffee pick-up. 

And while you're there, grab some beans to go! If there is anything I can guarantee, it’s that you’ll need that coffee for the next few weeks. (Especially if you’re working from home with your kiddos there!) 

Consider paying it forward with an act of kindness by paying for the order behind you. Now’s the perfect time to bring a smile to someone else’s face. 

​Feel like kicking back and skipping the dishes for the night? Call your favourite local restaurant directly to order meals to-go rather than using apps to order where possible. Restaurants lose up to 30% of your order when you order using an app instead of calling for curbside pickup. 

Bonus Tip: Add a gift card to your order to use on take-out or to save for later when dine-in is available. 

​Order a six-pack to enjoy at home. 

Stock up on different wines or beers and plan to do a mini tasting at home as a “date night in.” If you’ve ever eyed a cool mug or t-shirt at the pub before, now’s the time to buy merchandise to help your favourite local businesses. Picking up a set of matching tasting glasses will bring  an authentic feel to your home tasting event. 

​Many shops are still open for curbside pickup and have worked hard to make sure their full selection is available online. Many have their current hours, ordering procedure and pickup times available on their website and social media accounts. 

You can also buy gift cards online and gift to your friends for birthdays/special occasions, or save them to use around the holidays to make Christmas shopping easier.

Nothing breaks up the boredom of being at home like taking a short trip out within your community to do a curbside pickup.  

​Miss going out for coffee and baked goods? Order ahead and pick up goodies for the whole family to enjoy at home, or while taking a walk through a park or trail in your community. 

Bring a smile to friends and neighbours by picking up some extra goodies and slipping them into mailboxes for a surprise. (Making sure to text them in case they already checked the mail!) 

Need a large order? Be sure to call ahead so they have plenty of time to get your order right. 

​You never know what your neighbours might need unless you ask. Find out if they need help picking up an online grocery order or need someone to help arrange appointments for testing and vaccines online. Maybe they just need someone to chat with safely from your respective yards. 

Or buy some extra canned goods and drop them off at a shelter/food bank or look into other local programs that help at-risk populations.

You can still support your favourite small businesses by:

• Sharing their posts
• Tagging your friends
• Liking their Facebook page
• Follow their Instagram
• Helping them promote their specials
• Commenting on their posts
• Cheering them on
• Taking the time to write them a review on Yelp, Facebook and Google

It's March again and this year's March Break is stacking up to be a #Staycation instead of a vacation off in sunnier locals. That doesn't mean it can't be an adventure! One of my favourite parts of being a Realtor is exploring neighbourhoods across Nova Scotia, so here are my top picks for family-friendly March Break activities around the HRM. 

Did you know that there are over 20 murals located in Downtown Halifax? A self-guided tour of these murals and other public art pieces can be found on the Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s website:
Downtown Halifax Art Walk

Because it's outside, this activity would make for a good chance to join up with close family friends for a walk downtown in the warming temperatures. 

​I recommend starting your exploration at 5151 South Street where you can pick up one of Rousseau Chocolatier's house hot chocolates before heading to the core of downtown. Make sure to have your camera ready! 

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia will be open for extended hours —March 11-21, consecutively— over March Break. You can explore their current collections including Gigante's Mechanical Eye: Views Of 19th Century Naples which is running from February 1st to May 9th alongside their extensive regular exhibitions.  
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Looking to make a day of it? Take the Ferry to Downtown Dartmouth where you can grab a Humble Pie to refuel, before checking out the 15 public art pieces on the Downtown Dartmouth Art & Selfie Walk. 
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​Enjoy a skate time at the Emera Oval. Over March Break, The Oval will be offering 6 one-hour skates per day. Skaters can register up to 48 hours in advance of their desired skate time, meaning if you hope to skate at noon on Wednesday you can book as early as noon on Monday.

You can book online here or by calling 902 490 6666 between 8:30 am- 4:30 pm daily.
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Explore over 40,000 sq ft of fun, hands-on learning experiences or check out their latest feature exhibit, JoyLab!, and discover how your surroundings can spark joy. The Discovery Centre may just be the #1 Stay-cation March Break Destination

Tickets for March Break, March 13-21, can be reserved on a 72-hour rolling schedule. Meaning you can book up to 72 hours in advance of your desired visit date. Tickets will start selling on March 10th at 8:30 am for visits on March 13th and will continue on a rolling basis for the duration of March Break. ​