A Blog About Adventures in Nova Scotia (& Beyond)
My mission: to inspire locals and visitors alike to experience Nova Scotia in a way that helps promote living fully, connection with nature, physical activity, respect for the environment, and appreciation for the greater world.
I grew up in Nova Scotia, but it’s only in the last 5 years (or so) that I’ve begun to realize what a treasure it is to live here. Spending time in nature has become my ultimate outlet—and if you live in Nova Scotia, provided you’re willing to plan around the weather, incredible natural discoveries are quite literally around every corner of the province. We’re so fortunate to have access to unspoiled nature here—and experiencing it through hiking, camping, paddling, and exploring in general—has been life changing. My hope is by sharing my adventures in Nova Scotia, I can inspire other locals (and visitors) to experience what this incredible place has to offer and live more fully in the process.
While the contents of this blog will focus primarily on exploring Nova Scotia, I’ll also share my experiences and advice about adventures beyond in the hope it can help anyone planning their travels. While there’s no place like home, there’s also a big, beautiful world to discover beyond this little corner.
About Me
I’m Laura Hawkins and I live in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where I’ve built a life with my partner of 10+ years, Brett. We experience nearly (if not) all of the adventures I write about together, so when I accidentally write “we”/”our”—you know why. Yeah, we’re one of those couples…
Professionally, I’m Director of Digital Marketing at an agency called Kula Partners—and while I’m passionate about digital (it is what I do for a living, after all, and I enjoy sharing my experiences online), I think it’s never been more important to strike a balance between our digital lives and savouring the fundamental parts of our human experience. Spending time outside. Revelling in nature. Taking pleasure in food and drink. Moving our bodies. Connecting with one another. Laughing. Having fun. This blog is my ode to all of those things.
As Seen On…
Occasionally, I work with other publications and brands to share more of what I love. You can read about places I’m published here, and brands I’ve collaborated with here.
My Blogging History: 2013 to Now
I started this blog in 2013 with the intention of sharing my experiences with nutrition and fitness. While eating well and active living are still part of my life, I’ve learned a lot since then when it comes to balance and, quite simply, my priorities.
As a result, much of what I originally published here no longer serves me or reflects my worldview, so I let this platform go stagnant (a bit more about that here, with emphasis on point #5). I’ve even decided to unpublish a lot of what I originally wrote about here. What hasn’t changed is that I still love to share my experiences—and lust for life—with others. Instagram has been a fun outlet for doing that over the past few years, but I’m excited to continue making this space a resource for those of you who share the same interests.
Now, you’ll find a growing library of:
- Recommendations for how to enjoy the profound natural beauty of Atlantic Canada (with a focus on Nova Scotia) via hiking, camping, and road trips.
- Experiences and recommendations from my travels, because seeing the world and visiting other places is life-changing and offers such important perspectives.
- Reviews on food and drink, because eating and drinking well is one of life’s greatest pleasures. I also believe balance is attainable and that striving toward a positive (or even neutral) relationship with food and our bodies is something worth working toward.
- Other musings and reflections about what it means to live fully.
I’m always open to hearing what you’d like to read more of, so be sure to let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading and sharing in the adventure.
The information contained on this blog is not intended to replace professional advice of any kind. Follow any recommendations based on your own discretion. Read the full disclaimer for more information.