Perched at the eastern end of Canada in Nova Scotia, Halifax is a bustling Atlantic sea port. Dating back to the middle of the 18th century, the original Halifax Town was the main entrance point for migrants to Canada and today the waterfront here features a number of heritage sites. The surrounding coastline is dramatic and craggy in places, while in other spots it has turned to soft, sandy beach.
Much of the attractions in this Atlantic coast city revolve around the waterfront and harbor. Visitors are able to see the harbor from the water on a tourist amphibious vehicle or from the comfort of dry land where there are numerous restaurants, the popular Theodore tugboat and a ship from WWII. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a must for Titanic buffs and also features detailed information on the notorious 1917 explosion when a munitions ship collided with another vessel in the harbor causing a devastating blast.
The Halifax Citadel is one of the most popular tourist sites in the city, an old fort overlooking the harbor. Away from the water, beer lovers can take a guided tour of the Alexander Keith Brewery and then keep going in Halifax’s main entertainment area around Granville street and Spring Garden road.
Highlights
Halifax Citadel: is an old fort that looks out across the waterfront featuring a museum. Very crowded on Canada Day on July 1.
Pier 21: is the former immigration terminal for settlers crossing the Atlantic and exhibitions here at the small museum retrace the historic significance of the site.
Alexander Keith Brewery: a great place to get a taste of Canadian beer brewing with samples included afterwards.
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic: a fascinating look at the sinking of the Titanic and the 1917 explosion that rocked Halifax and left 2,000 dead and even more homeless.
Point Pleasure Park: ravaged in the past by tropical storms and deforestation, this park nevertheless remains idyllic and a perfect place to view the harbor and Atlantic Ocean.
Peggy’s Cove: a little way outside the city, here you will find dramatic granite coastal cliffs flanked by an old lighthouse.