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Family-Friendly Road Trips In Annapolis Valley
Family-Friendly Road Trips In Annapolis Valley
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with the content provided to provide you with information of some great things to do this summer!
Comprising beautiful countryside, pristine coastline, natural attractions, and historical sites, there’s no shortage of things to do and see in Annapolis Valley. It’s also the perfect area for fun road trips the whole family can enjoy. Wolfville, Digby and Noel Shore, in particular, are some of the best locations to explore by car for the day.
Drive To Wolfville
Wolfville is a beautiful town in the Annapolis Valley. Once you arrive in Wolfville, head to the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens to explore the beautiful gardens filled with native plants. Noggins Corner Farm Market is also a must-visit attraction; there’s a bakery, apple picking, and a corn maze the kids will love.
Visit Digby
Roughly a 50-minute drive from Annapolis Valley, Digby is a fun town in the Bay of Fundy.
Before embarking on the journey, be sure to pack snacks, drinks, and games to keep children entertained on the road. It’s also important your car is in good condition. If you’re in the market for a new car, look at expert vehicle reviews to find a good fit for your needs. Your chosen vehicle should be fuel-efficient and reliable on long drives.
Take your time driving along Digby Neck, where you can enjoy a spot of whale watching. In fact, this area is an important feeding location for 15 different species of whales, as well as other amazing marine life like seals and seabirds. Boat tours are available to see these beautiful creatures up close. Digby is also world-famous for its delicious scallops, which you can sample at many of the town’s restaurants. Interesting shops, family-friendly museums, and a vibrant waterfront make Digby an unmissable road trip destination.
Head To Noel Shore
Noel Shore is a great place to visit for the day; it’s roughly a two-hour drive from Annapolis Valley with plenty of opportunities to get a bite to eat along the way. Once you arrive in Noel Shore, walk around the beautiful Burntcoat Head Park — it holds the world record for highest recorded tides. The whole family will also love tidal bore rafting (children should be at least eight years old). An expert guide can take you through the invigorating rapids on the Shubenacadie River.
There’s plenty to see and do around the Annapolis Valley area. Embark on one of these road trips on your next family day out, and you’ll be sure to have a fun and memorable time together.
Canaan Heights Trails
Canaan Heights Trails
Tucked away in New Minas/Canaan, up above the Big Stop, at the back of the new subdivision, Canaan Heights, is a wonderful park and walking trail!
The Park
The park itself is a great place for families to visit. It includes a playground, swings, outdoor gym equipment and a basketball court. There are lots of picnic tables. There are no washroom facilities.
The Walking Trail
When you enter the park, head towards the playground and swing set. The star of the walking trail is right there.
There is a short version that veers off to your immediate left. This will take you behind the basketball net.
Or, keep going straight, and the trail loops around, and joins with the other, at the basketball net.
The “larger” of the two loops took us less than 5 minutes to walk.
It is crushed gravel and wide, making it perfect for toddlers, strollers, those with mobility challenges, and wheelchairs.
Bonus Hiking Trails
When we walked the loop the first time, we noticed two offshoots to the left. So, we decided to explore.
The first offshoot to the right is listed on the map at the front, and leads to where more houses will be developed. You could go through here, and loop back through the roads back to your car.
The second offshoot to the right is a path through the woods marked with pink tape.
Being the adventurers we are, we decided to follow it to see where it went!
After about 5-10 minutes of going through this trail (it is well marked and well-worn!) it ended at a T-junction. Going left to right was an old abandoned road. Maybe it is an old logging road?
We followed this trail to the left.
I have a good sense of direction so knew we were generally heading in the direction of Highbury School Road or the White Rock Road.
We walked for about 15 minutes on this road but did not reach its end, so we decided to retrace our steps.
Please note: Off in the distance we heard gunshots. At first we were a bit worried, until I remembered this land runs near the Annapolis Valley Shooting Sports Club! We were no where close or in a danger area, but be aware!
This is an area we would definitely like to explore again, perhaps heading in the opposite direction the next time!
How to Get There
The Canaan Heights walking trail and bonus trail begin at the end of Falcon Drive in the Canaan Heights subdivision.
Hike at your own risk. Valley Family Fun is not responsible for the information provided.
Warren’s Chiropractic Cafe of Life: A First-hand Experience in Healing
Warren’s Chiropractic Cafe of Life: A First-hand Experience in Healing
Disclosure: To write this post about Warren’s Chiropractic Cafe of Life, I received a complimentary assessment and initial adjustment, so I could fully understand the process. All opinions are my own.
When I think of the word chiropractor, I think I still have the old notion in my head, of when I was little and my dad went to see one when his back was sore. I can honestly say, that I didn’t know much more than that!
So, when Dr. Keltie Warren suggested I come in to learn more, I jumped at the chance!
I have always been interested in stress and the body, having a degree in psychology, and studied stress and coping in university. I managed a research centre at Acadia on occupational health and stress. I know, from experience, the damage stress can do to our bodies.
What Does a Chiropractor do?
According to their Facebook page, Warren’s Chiropractic Cafe for Life
Our primary purpose is to improve the overall function of your spine and nervous system thus helping you live YOUR best life.
After years in practice, and seeing hundreds of individuals get amazing results, it has become crystal clear that symptoms like pain, headaches, indigestion and lowered immune function are collateral damage, i.e. not the primary issue affecting people’s health.
In the initial assessment, Dr. Keltie explained to me the general philosophy and guiding chiropractic principals. It all comes down to the nervous system.
In essence, our brain is the message centre for the body. It comes down to how well the brain can communicate with the rest of the body, and if it can properly send out messages or not.
When we have physical, chemical or emotional stress, when we go beyond the threshold for these, we can experience problems in our bodies.
Pain is an emotion. We don’t directly treat the pain.
But, the good thing is, the body can heal itself.
We are not like traditional chiropractors. Our non-traditional approach is one of looking at the over-all health and function of your spine and nervous system because at Warren’s Chiropractic Cafe of Life we are experts in Spinal & Neurological Health.
The Atmosphere
When you walk into the Warren’s Chiropractic Cafe of Life, it is bright and colourful, open and cheerful. All the staff are so friendly, and you are immediately put at ease.
The Assessment
I met with Dr. Keltie’s assistant, Alisha, who took about an hour to do a full assessment with me. This was so fascinating, and Alisha was so great to answer all my questions.
We did a series of tasks from touching toes to balance postures and marching activities. She wanted what my body was currently presenting.
She placed dots all over my body, to highlight key areas. These were then later matched up with some alignment charts to see how my posture wracked up. I’m definitely off centred!
Then, Alisha used a few pieces of equipment to do some tests on my spine, including determining temperature, and discovering areas where the muscles were not balanced on each side.
Our in-depth initial assessment is focused on identifying core problems that are affecting you in ways you may notice or feel, but more importantly in ways that you likely have no idea about.
The Adjustment
After my assessment, I went back to the main clinic space, where Dr. Keltie ran her hands up my spine, indicating what sections she could feel a problem.
Each area of concern is associated with a different part of the body, and ways it may manifest issues in your body.
Dr. Keltie had me stand up against the wall, flat. I felt like I was tipping forward, and my toes were clenching the floor to maintain balance.
I then laid back on the bench, and she asked if it was ok to do an adjustment starting with my neck.
Working at a desk most of the day, I often get headaches stemming from my neck, so it was no surprise that this was a problem area.
She gently took my head, warning me that the sound would be loud.
I took a deep breath, as she adjusted my neck, and there was a loud cavitation (a phenomenon in which rapid changes of pressure in a liquid lead to the formation of small vapor-filled cavities in places where the pressure is relatively low).
As this was my first time, I didn’t know what to expect! The next time, I will be even more ready!
But then, all of a sudden, I could feel the blood rushing to my brain and my face turned hot, and got flushed, just as she had said it would! The blood flow was returning! I felt light headed with the rush!
Then, we did the against-the-wall test once more, and this time, instead of feeling like I was falling forward, my centre was going backwards into the wall. No more toe gripping, feeling like I was going to land on my face.
The effect was immediate.
My neck was tender for a day or so afterwards, as with any major adjustment. However, I was the most relaxed I had been for the following few days!
Dr. Keltie explained it was taking my body out of the “fight or flight” syndrome and allowing it to fully relax, like it hadn’t before.
Follow-Up Visit
After the assessment is complete, you return a few days later for the follow-up appointment where everything is explained, and a care plan is laid out.
Your Report visit is one of the most important visits you will have in this office. We will be going over all of your results and letting you know what your custom corrective care plan will be. This will take approximately 25-30 minutes depending on the number of questions that you have.
Dr. Keltie showed me the results of all my tests, indicating where my problem areas lay. She showed me with photos, and the results of the scans, how my posture was misaligned, and I was pulling to one side.
This completely makes sense for me, as I have pain and problems in the areas she mentioned. I keep myself at a high level of stress or energy, and don’t fully relax or let that go. Anyone who knows me, knows how true this is!
The next step is to book appointment for care.
And, when you book your care appointments, your family members are entitled to a discount, too!
Chiropractic Care and Kids
Dr. Keltie says you are never too young for chiropractic care. In fact, when I went for my follow up appointment, there was a baby there being treated.
She says it’s great to start checking infants and children to make sure problems don’t develop and arise, and to help keep everyone at their optimal health.
I love my chiropractic care and could go every day!
My care was gradual, because it’s not so much about the snap crackle pop with her. It’s more of healing from the inside out. I was my own worst enemy when it came to not eating and exercising properly well, not eating properly for sure, but my lack of exercise was definitely not helpful, so I can only imagine how much better it would be if I did those things as well. ~ A happy client
Not Just for People
These adjustments are not just for people from babies to adults! Dr. Keltie works on dogs, cats, horses, and has even treated a bird!
While I was at the clinic, a dog owner happened to be there to have both her pets adjusted.
The first, an older dog, came in, with some back end mobility issues. With the owner, Dr. Keltie lifted the dog onto the platform, and began from the head down. working down her spine.
By the time she was finished, in less than 10 minutes, the dog jumped off the platform, with much more vigour and joie de vivre! The results were obvious, helping to relieve pain for this pooch!
Other Services
COVID-19 Set Up
Warren’s Chiropractic Cafe of Life is operating under the health protocols for COVID. When you arrive, a tent is set up outside, and you check in through the window, waiting outside until your appointment time.
It is a comfortable and safe place amidst the pandemic, with lots of sanitizing, social distancing, and masks.
Location
Warren’s Chiropractic Cafe of Life is located at 6530 Route 1 in Coldbrook.
For More Information
For more information, visit
Call or Text: 902-365-3555
Have you figured out if your symptoms are the REAL problem or are they simply collateral damage from something else?
It’s time to book your free consultation today!
Indian Falls Lunenburg County
Indian Falls Lunenburg County
Indian Falls was a place my friend often took her boys as it is so close to her cottage at Sherbrooke Lake! When we were driving back from the South Shore, we made sure to stop and check it out!
Indian Falls is a great swimming hole. The river is shallow in many places, but deep in others, making it a great family place to go and swim.
You can jump into the water from the rock cliff on the left.
From the car, it is less than a 5 minute walk down a wooded path and a set of steps to the base of the falls.
There are several picnic tables at the park, but no bathrooms.
How to Get There
From Highway 103 take exit 11, then turn right onto route 324 towards Newburne. In Newburne, you will drive past several churches and a community hall. On the left there will be a sign indicating the falls.
Drive down this road until you come to a three way intersection, take the left unless the gate is closed. then park on the right and walk in on the left.
It says that there are hiking trails here, but we did not see any indication of them. This is something to explore for next time!
A great place to explore, especially for teens! We will be back!
Indian Path Common Hiking Trail in Lunenburg County
Indian Path Common Hiking Trail in Lunenburg County
It was one of those things where you are looking for something, which leads you to something else! I was trying to find a beach on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, and found a green spot, indicating nature place, so I did some research and discovered that there were nature trails here, so we decided to go check them out!
According to their Facebook page, Indian Path Common Hiking Trails is a beautiful single-track trail located on Fish Peddler road in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.
The Trails
The great thing about Indian Path Common trails is that it is a bit like choose-your-own-adventure. There are a variety of trails to pick and choose from, giving you a different habitat and place to explore with each path.
Our Hike
Our intention was to hike the outer loop of all the trails going from Green-Blue-Pink-Green-Yellow-Green.
However, when we got to the end of the blue line, we were really hot, so decided to cut off the pink trail, and just do the yellow trail back to the start.
This was 4.5km and took us 1hr 15 minutes.
The Scenery
The boys loved the blue trail the best, as it led us through woodlands out to a bog.
My husband and I loved the yellow path, as it took us to a great look out of the LaHave River and down by a stream.
The answer is that there is no wrong choice! Every path has a different landscape and habitat to explore. We saw a mini snake, a deer and lots of bull frogs!
The Terrain
The trails are incredibly well maintained. They are extremely well signposted with coloured markers along the way, and maps at each junction.
It is impossible to get lost, and easy to readjust your hike, like we did, as you go along.
There are a lot of roots, so sturdy shoes are recommended.
The yellow path was easier to walk, with fewer roots, so might be a better one to try with smaller children.
Amenities
There are no amenities at the trail. No picnic tables or washrooms. There is a large parking lot.
How to Get There
Civic address is 375 (or 365) Fish Peddler Rd, Municipality of Lunenburg.
Nearby Attractions
Less than 5 minutes away from these trails is Sand Dollar Beach. This is a great place to find the odd sand Dollar.
There is also a large sandbar, making the water shallow and warm, and a great place to go swimming!
There are no amenities here – no picnic tables or bathrooms.
