Truro, Nova Scotia, is going through a huge revitalization. The downtown core has been seriously upgraded of late, and there are a host of new restaurants, boutiques and businesses supporting the growth of this town of just over 12,000 people. There’s never been a better time to check my adopted hometown out, and there are plenty of fun things to do in Truro through fall and early winter.

Exploring Downtown Truro

Thanks to a bunch of young business owners moving in, historic Inglis Street has become home to some trendy boutiques and stores. I start too many mornings with a perfect latte and decadent gooey square at Jimolly’s Bakery and Café.

You can make your way down Inglis checking out everything from cool duds at HAF Footwear Apparel Lifestyle to earth-friendly parenting products at Enchanted Forest and some superb clothing and shoe stores too.

Just off Inglis is My HOME Apparel, locally famous for its Nova Scotia themed t-shirts and hoodies, but also has lots of fun locally made giftware and home items.

Walk around the corner to Prince Street and you’ll see our gorgeous new library, with our also new Civic Square in front of it – by early December that’ll be turned into a free skating oval (this was a huge hit with locals last year when it ran for the first time).

Continue on past the excellent Truro Farmers Market (open year round) to reach a strip of cafes and restaurants that have opened in the past five years. This includes the lovely NovelTea Coffeehouse & Cafe, the Nook and Cranny Brewpub, The Nook Next Door, and Salty Dog Brewing Company. New restaurant Ella’s Jamaican Food serves up awesome jerk chicken and the best fishcakes in town (not exactly a Jamaican specialty, but one of the most popular items on her otherwise authentic Caribbean menu).

Victoria Park’s Natural Appeal

We are seriously lucky to have the 1,000-acre Victoria Park right in the middle of Truro. It is glorious, with walking trails through magnificent natural woods that lead you to spectacular waterfalls, and many kilometers of hiking trails (some 20k become groomed cross-country ski trails when whether permits). There’s an excellent freshly renovated playground to enjoy, and if you love a challenge then climbing the 175 steps of Jacob’s Ladder may appeal (it is a popular spot for boot-camps and the like).

Hiking in Truro

Just outside of Truro there are some fantastic places to hike and explore. Drive 30 minutes to South Maitland where you can observe the world’s highest recorded tides, or carry on another 20 minutes to the other-worldly Burntcoat Head Park where you can walk among red-rock formations on the ocean floor when the tide is out.

Hikers love the challenging 6.2k Rogart Mountain Trail that’s just 30 minutes north of Truro, and takes you deep into the Nova Scotian countryside past falls, brooks, and along old stone walls. Handily, the trail starts in the parking lot of Sugar Moon Farm, which serves up amazing pancake breakfasts that are just perfect for fueling up before you tackle the hike. While you’re there, you can also tour the farm to learn how maple syrup is made, and pick up maple syrup goodies of all varieties.

Truro, Nova Scotia, is a town that hasn’t exactly been considered cool in the past – if you saw the This Hour Has 22 Minutes skit on Truro and had visited before all this good stuff started happening here, I can understand why you may find my claims a stretch – but I promise Truro is awesome. And, as the housing in Halifax becomes less attainable, more young families are moving here to create a great life for their families. That’s what happened to me, and now I’m singing the praises of Truro, and for good reason.