3 ways to beat the heat for FREE in HRM

This has been quite the summer, I'm not complaining, but I feel like we have been under a heat warning since Canada Day. It's made me very grateful for the outdoor pool so close by and for the numerous beaches that we are lucky to live and camp around. However, sometimes with two little kids I just don't have pool and beach visits in me. Sure there are lots of museums, indoor playgrounds, and stores we could hang out in, but those could add up quickly financially. So when we want to beat the heat for free, without getting wet or full of sand, here's our top three places.
1- Cow Bay & Eastern Passage

It's not a far drive, but you are almost always guaranteed to drop a couple degrees before arriving there and usually you get a beautiful breeze off the water. Our go to places here are the boardwalk in Eastern Passage or the Moose in Cow Bay. Now the boardwalk does have cute shops close by and it does wind around some sandy beaches, so beware, you could end up spending money and bringing home a small pile of sand. The Cow Bay moose is a highlight for my kids. They love running around it and seeing how much closer to the belly of the moose they get each year. It has a spectacular view of the ocean and if you're lucky, you can sit and enjoy a snack on the picnic tables and watch surfers do their thing!
2- Public Libraries

HRM is filled with multiple libraries and all of the ones we have been in have air conditioning! They also have children's areas with free toys to play with or activities for them to do. Most of the play areas are big enough that my kids can easily be entertained for an hour or two. Then I let them pick a couple books to borrow and they are thrilled with their adventure for the day. Be sure to check out their program offerings throughout the summer.
3- Peggy's Cove

Now this one is a bit further away, but always a must visit spot on our summer list. We try to avoid high tourist times, but aren't always successful with that. It always seems cooler here and again you get a refreshing ocean breeze most of the time, not to mention the drive here is beautiful if you take the old highway. This year the kids were content sitting on the big rocks for a bit and watching the tour boats and kayak groups in the water and all the tourists meandering over the rocks. When they are older, I envision more stressful trips as they want to explore and navigate the rocks themselves.
I am sure there are more free things to do around HRM to beat the heat, but these have been our old faithful ones the last couple years. I would love to add more to our arsenal, leave a comment below with any you think we should check out.

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