HRM Parent Blog

A relaxing weekend away from home with friends in a cozy cabin = bliss.

Last week was one of those crazy weeks - you know, where it's all go-go-go but nothing seems to get done? Knowing that we'd be enjoying our weekend at a cabin at Milford House kept me going all week, but not any more organized. Friday morning was a frantic packing fest, combined with finishing off the March enewsletter and sending it off about ten minutes before we left for the weekend. But after the 2.5 hour drive, we arrived to this:

and this:

and this:

This was our third visit to Milford House, and definitely not our last. Already we are plotting our return. It was, however, our first winter visit. For those of you not in the know, Milford House has three winterized cabins - the rest of the charming cabins are closed from mid-October to mid-June. And they really are charming - the insides are rustic, but not *too* rustic, and are all situated on a lake, each with a fireplace, a porch and a small dock (perfect at other times of the year for searching for frogs and launching a canoe). The main lodge (not opened in the off-season) has a dining room serving breakfast and dinner, a library, and a small children's play area with games. The winterized cabins are self-catering, but the rest are not. Each one does have a fridge and various dishes though. Most people seem to bring a camping stove for meals, eat at the lodge, or go to a nearby town to find a restaurant. We've done a combination of these and it works quite well. I definitely recommend the cabins farthest away from the lodge as possible, if you are looking for a cabin-in-the-middle-of-nowhere experience without *actually* being in the middle of nowhere.

For our friends it was their first visit to Milford House, but judging by the email I received this morning, I don't think it'll be their last:

We had a wonderful time also, the place was perfect. I just LOVED the fire...it made me realise how long it's been since we sat around a fire and lazed and chatted! The cabin overall was perfect and the surrounds was amazing. It felt like a goodbye to winter and hello to spring!

We really couldn't have asked for better weather. Saturday was sunny but cold enough to still feel like winter - perfect for walks in the woods and fun in the snow:

And Sunday teased us with spring and masked crusaders:



Definitely a wonderful, wonderful weekend.

For more information on Milford House, check out their website. Have you been to Milford House? Or where is your favourite relaxing family getaway? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.

I remember this event from last year and being sad I missed it. And as it goes, this year I won't be able to make it again (O, woe is me, heh), but I hope some of you can get out there and have lots of fun with this year's Parks Day on Saturday!

Canada's Parks Day is a nation-wide event and is an opportunity for us all to enjoy our amazing national, provincial and community parks. Here in the HRM, there are a number of special events taking place. I've listed them below, including events that are within a reasonable driving distance of the HRM. For details of other events, check out the national Parks Day website here.

• Nature - A Learning Experience, 10am-3pm, Sat July 18, Dollar Lake Provincial Park, Eastern Shore. Join us at our booth on the sports field near the boat launch and have your nature questions answered by our members. Come and enjoy the hands-on fly tying and fly casting demonstrations. Map reading, compass, and GPS will be available. A strictly supervised archery range will be set up for the kids. The very popular "I Spy" contest will be conducted again this year for small children. There will be a limited wildlife display at our booth. Sponsored by the Halifax Wildlife Association.
• Art in the Park, 1-3pm, Sat July 18 (rain date Sun July 19), Taylor Head Provincial Park, Eastern Shore. Make art on the beach from found objects mostly from nature or what has come in with the tides. This year, in keeping with the theme of astronomy, we will use constellations to inspire our creations. The art is left for others to enjoy and to disappear back into the landscape. This is an easy and fun event for the whole family.
• Porters Lake Family Fun Day, 1-4pm, Sat July 18 (rain date Sun July 19), Porters Lake Provincial Park, Eastern Shore. Fun and games for the whole family at Porters Lake Provincial Park. There will be face painting, wildlife identification, survival course and, of course, a barbeque and cotton candy! Other events to be determined. Sponsored by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.
• Park Appreciation Day, 2-4pm, Sat July 18 (rain date July 25), Musquodoboit Valley Provincial Park, Eastern Shore. Lots of fun for the entire family. There will be lots of games for the kids, wilderness appreciation tours, games and prizes, as well as a barbeque. Sponsored by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.
• Family Fun Day at Dollar Lake, 2-4pm, Sat July 18 (rain date Say July 25), Dollar Lake Provincial Park, Eastern Shore. Potato sack races, egg races, face painting, a family barbeque, nature scavenger hunt, washer toss, and horse shoes are just a few of the family fun events that will take place at Dollar Lake Provincial Park. Prizes will be awarded. Bring the whole family for a day of fun and excitement at the park. Sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources.
• 9th Annual Sand Castle Competition, 2-4pm, Sat July 18, Rissers Beach, South Shore. Bring the whole family, a group of friends, or the office gang for some fun building in the sand. Open to all ages. There will be prizes awarded. Please register on site and don't forget your building/digging tools! Sponsored by the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Recreation Department.
• Scavenger Hunt, Washer Toss, and Barbeque, 10am-3pm, Sat July 18, The Islands, South Shore. There will be a scavenger hunt for the children followed by a washer tournament for all ages. A barbeque with hot dogs, pop, and ice cream will be held for all participants. Bring the whole family. Sponsored by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.
• Smileys Family Fun Day, 11am-2pm, Sat July 18, Smileys Provincial Park, near Windsor. A day of fun for the whole family at Smileys Provincial Park. Includes a soap slide, scavenger hunt, hay rides, piñatas, face painting, races, displays, arts and crafts, a barbeque and much more! This year's theme will be astronomy. Sponsored by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.

If you go, make sure you have lots of fun for me! :)

In keeping with our embracing winter theme... February brings winter carnival fun, so bundle the little ones up and enjoy snow and ice sculptures, skating, sleigh rides and more! We are venturing *out of the HRM* for this round-up. There's a whole other world out there, people! :)

Pictou Winter Carnival: Sleigh rides, pancake breakfast, skating, coasting and more! Feb 13-14, visit www.townofpictou.com for more information.

Take the Roof Off Winter, Lockeport WinterFest: A week long celebration of winter, including the annual snow sculpture contest, skating party and more. Feb 16-22, visit www.lockeport.ns.ca for more information.

Bridgetown Lions WinterFest: Enjoy winter in the valley with a candlelight parade, bonfire, ice sculpting competition, skating and outdoor winter sports. Feb 20-22, email bill.oneill@ns.sympatico.ca for more information.

Jack Frost Children's WinterFest, Charlottetown: Much fun to be had at the "Snow Kingdom", an interactive snow playground featuring a jungle gym, four lane penguin slide, obstacle course, and igloo village, snow box, and more. Indoor activities too, including a petting zoo and carnival rides. For lots more information, visit walkandseacharlottetown.com/jack-frost.