With 13,000km of coastline, what better way to spend this hot Nova Scotia summer than by visiting one of our many beautiful beaches.
Here are just a handful and their fun (and some not so fun) quirks to remember before packing your beach bag.
Google Map
Conrad’s Beach
Just a few minutes outside of Dartmouth, this dogwalker hotspot is a beautiful hidden gem right before the Lawrencetown area.
While many Nova Scotia Beach lists will state that there is parking and wheelchair access, be warned that parking is roadside and can lead to quite the hike on a busy day and there is no wheelchair access to the beach itself.
Aside from this, Conrad beach is in a great location close to the city with all of the beautiful sites that the outer Cole Harbour area has to offer.
Google Map
Crescent Beach
Only 20 minutes outside of Bridgewater in the Lunenberg County rests Crescent Beach — the scenic strip that connects mainland Nova Scotia to the LaHave islands.
This beach appeals to the motorist masses by being one of the few Nova Scotia beaches you can drive on, making it slightly more accessible than the average East Coast embankment.
Google Map
Martinique Beach
Located just South of Musquodoboit in Eastern Shore, this Halifax favourite boasts the longest beach in the province with a whopping 5km of sandy beachfront.
Taylor’s Head Provincial Park Beach
Beautiful White sands, gorgeous turquoise crystal-clear waters — this almost sounds like something someone might say about Caribbean beaches but this is what is being said about the beaches at Taylor’s Head Provincial Park.
The Taylor’s Head trail system takes you on a hike through your choice of difficulty level in the bluffs where you can see the plethora of East Coast Wildlife, enjoy the canopy rest stops, or hike along the beautiful beach reminiscent of South American isles.
The only downside to this sandy wonder is that the water is freezing cold year round. A perfect place for lounging on the beach, hiking the trails and scoping out the wildlife however, maybe we’ll leave the waters for the cold-plungers.
Crystal Crescent Beach
Another Nova Scotian beach reminiscent of the bright sands and clear waters of the Caribbean is this beautifully sheltered wonder.
Nestled in the Sambro area outside of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Crystal Crescent is home to three separate beaches. Hikers be warned, the third and furthest beach is a “naturist” beach — which means bathing suits and covering up are optional — but if letting it all out doesn’t abstain you from a refreshing dip, this is a beautiful place to be.
Rainbow Haven Beach
A tourist favorite located just East of Cow Bay, this wide, sandy beach lays right under the bright sun past a nearly fully-equipped rest and change pavilion — that is when the shower taps are present.
Refresh yourself with a sweet snack from the Juice Guy, just be sure to bring cash with you.
Despite the fact that the shower taps have been “permanently borrowed”, Rainbow Haven remains a favourite among families and young beachgoers.
Clam Harbour Provincial Park
Home to Eastern Shore’s iconic Sand Castle competition, Clam Harbour is a fan favourite for many reasons.
First up, the rolling tides that only expose more of the endless sand, filling the banks with warm tide pools provide an enjoyable swimming experience for all.
Next would be the annual Sand Castle Competition, this popular event is free for all to attend, including free shuttle buses so you don’t have to fret about full parking lots. It is also free for children and youth to participate and only $10 for adults!
Finally, the best part of this beach is the accessibility. White the sand may provide somewhat of a barrier, Clam Harbour rolls out the wheelchair-friendly MobiMat so that everyone can enjoy this beautiful beach.
Lawrencetown Beach
This rocky strip is a favourite among surfers of all ages.
While it’s not quite as sandy as many of the other beaches on this list, as well as having riptides and currents that aren’t exactly safe enough to make this a family-favourite, the scenic boardwalk trails and the tubular waves make this hotspot a hang-ten haven.
Queensland Beach
This city-slicker hot spot is a great place to lounge on the sand just minutes outisde of the central City of Halifax. The beach itself may be limited in square footage but what really helps make this list is the Little Ice Cream Shoppe just up the road near Black Point.
The entire stretch is home to plenty of sandy strips and the vegan-centric ma and pa type ice cream shop. There are real dairy options but most of the soft serve flavours are dairy-free meaning sundaes, milkshakes and many other menu items can be as well!
Bonus: locally-owned free-roaming chickens and a “Velociraptor Crossing” sign.
Carter’s Beach
How did a beach that is a full two hour drive from Halifax make the list? Well it’s just that good. Another tropical-esque stretch of fine white sand makes this beach worthy of your Instagram aesthetic.
Carter’s Beach is located in Port Mouton, NS on the South Shore and thanks to the distance, it is not usually crowded. Known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Nova Scotia, this destination is well worth the roadtrip.
