Things to do in Dartmouth

1. Go swimming at one of beautiful lake beaches. I recommend Birch Cove (life-guarded) or Bell lake (not lifeguarded, open your eyes underwater for the beautiful crazy-green-blue water)

2. Rent a canoe/kayak and paddle the extensive lake and lock system. Rent from Graham’s Grove park (it used to be dragon fly rentals). A couple of hours will allow you to explore Lake Banook and Lake Mic Mac. You can actually paddle all the way from the Halifax harbor to Truro NS (an hour’s drive away) though the water is often low by mid-summer, and there are a couple of portage sites where city development or the Shubie Lock system necessitate getting out and carrying. Graham's grove park in Dartmouth

3. Quaker house – oldest house in the area, from the 1750’s. Survived the Halifax explosion.
Quaker house

4. Visit Shubie park. Have a bar-b-que, swim at the lake, walk amongst the wilderness or along the interpretive trail, and visit the interpretation center where they tell of the local flora/fauna and of the native history in the area.
Shubie park wiki info

Here is the map to get from the Hotel to Shubie park:

View Larger Map

5. Have a round of golf at Brightwood golf course (site of the wedding reception)
Brightwood golf course

6. Shopping – box store shopping abounds at Dartmouth Crossing, on the way in from the Airport. Also, Mic Mac Mall is the largest mall East of Montreal. It’s all pretty similar to what you would find in Ontario.

7. Great fine dining at La Perla restaurant or MacAskill’s restaurant, both near the waterfront.