February 19, 2021

Adventures for Spring in the Maritimes

Spring has almost sprung here in the Maritimes, and there are all kinds of adventures waiting for you to explore.

Sure, there might be snow on the ground right now, but it won’t be long before the grass is a little greener, the weather’s a little warmer, and the sky’s a little sunnier. That’s right, spring is right around the corner! Spring is a time for new beginnings and the perfect season to try something for the first time. So if you’re looking for some new spring activities, you’ve come to the right place! Here are a few ideas that “spring” to mind when we think of fun spring activities here in the Maritimes.

Enjoy a Maple Syrup Sojourn

When spring rolls around, the maple syrup starts flowing! And in Nova Scotia, nothing beats a springtime trip to Sugar Moon Farm to get up close and personal with the maple syrup-making process. Around these parts, springtime is known as “sugar season”. This is when the sugar maple trees begin waking up after winter, and the sweet sap starts streaming. It’s a special time of year, and one everyone in the Maritimes should experience. At Sugar Moon Farm, you can spend your day exploring over 30kms of hiking and wilderness trails. You can even rent snowshoes! And if you work up an appetite, don’t worry! You can pre-order maple-inspired food from the Sugar Moon Farm restaurant to take with you on your hike or to satisfy your hunger when you return — it’s up to you! No doubt about it, a trip to Sugar Moon Farm in the spring can be summed up with one word — sweet!

Walk on the Wild Side at the Wildlife Park

If you’re an animal lover in the Maritimes, a trip to the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park should be at the top of your spring to-do list. For nearly 70 years, this sanctuary has been providing care for animals in need. The animals here have come from locations worldwide, with the ultimate goal of rehabilitation and re-release into the wild. Unfortunately, it would not be possible for some of these animals to survive in the wild, even if they are perfectly healthy otherwise. In these cases, the animals are given plenty of space and everything they need to live out their days here in the park.

In the early spring, the Wildlife Park is open on weekends, weather permitting. This is an awesome opportunity to get outside with loved ones to get some fresh air, exercise, and catch a glimpse of how wildlife spend their snowy spring days. Be sure to bring your binoculars!

Take a Hike in Fundy National Park

This is the season when nature really springs to life — literally! And there’s no better place to get out and explore the Maritimes’ beauty than New Brunswick’s Fundy National Park. This park is home to more than 25 waterfalls and over 100kms of hiking trails, so there’s always something new to see and discover. And throughout early spring, there are opportunities to go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Bird lovers will also find plenty of returning feathered friends to spot as they make their way through the park.

Spring in Fundy National Park is also a fantastic time to go camping. The park has several different accommodations to choose from — including everything from yurts to rustic cabins. And, of course, you can also bring your own tent.

Rock Out at Rockwood Park

If you still want to explore nature this spring, but don’t want to stray too far from Saint John, make your way to Rockwood Park. There are more than 55 trails and footpaths throughout the park, and taking a stroll is the perfect way to experience its wonderful charms. As you make your way around, you’ll find cool caves, unique rock formations, and even waterfalls! In fact, Rockwood is so impressive, it’s home to the Stonehammer Geopark site! What’s a Geopark? Great question! It’s an area recognized by UNESCO for its remarkable geological heritage.

With its cool views and close proximity to Fundy Rose, Rockwood Park is a perfect place to spend a spring day!

Take a PEI Lighthouse Tour

PEI sure packs a lot into a small space! Even though it’s Canada’s smallest province, there’s still all kinds to do here, especially in the spring. Around this time of year, nothing beats hopping in your car and driving along PEI’s red shores in search of lighthouses. PEI is home to dozens of lighthouses, many of which are still operational! From East Point to the North Cape and back again, each of these distinct lighthouses has a story to tell and is home to a wealth of history. And, with lovely weather and fewer people, spring is the perfect time to explore them all! Tourism PEI has a great map of lighthouse locations for you to check out and start planning your very own springtime lighthouse tour!

Lobster Love

Late spring on Prince Edward Island is synonymous with a few things: longer evenings, warmer weather, and lobster! Starting in May, it’s easy to find fresh lobster just about anywhere on the Island, and you definitely owe it to yourself to give it a try! Whether you’re ordering take-out, dining at a restaurant, or buying fresh lobster for a cookout of your very own, a delicious lobster dinner is a tradition you’ll definitely want to take part in!

A Spring of Seasonal Inspiration Awaits

There’s only one thing we’re looking forward to more than spring — that’s seeing you aboard the Fundy Rose, mv Holiday Island, and mv Confederation again soon! What are your favourite things to do during the springtime in the Maritimes? We’d love to hear about them. Share your best spring activities with us over on Facebook.