Quote:
Originally Posted by HPLovecraft
Never really understood why people went to the maritimes to visit Halifax (and I've lived there). Sure, it's a pretty big town for the maritimes, but if you wanted to go see a big city, you wouldn't go to the maritimes in the first place.
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Ouch, a tad harsh!
Sure Halifax is big for the Maritimes but by no means does it qualify for seeing a big city when you travel. Halifax still kind of has a small town feel to it.
I agree traveling the Cabot Trail through Cape Breton is spectacular and a must for vacationers, but I think if you come all this way and no doubt land in the Halifax airport why wouldn't you at least visit the city?
Here is a quick reference for visitors that my wife and I made up when we moved back home from Ontario.
Halifax:
Things to do:
-Harbour Hopper – nice tour of Halifax on an amphibious vehicle. You first take a driving tour then drive into the harbor for a quick water tour.
-Halifax Citadel Historic Site – if you are going to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site in Cape Breton then you can skip this spot.
-Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
-Pier 21 – the place where many immigrants came into Canada
-Walk along the Halifax boardwalk – Theodore Tugboat is there for tours, a tall ship the Mar II also does tours. A good spots for ice cream including a Cow’s Ice Cream outlet and a fish & chips shack.
Restaurants:
-Salty’s, Murphy's Restaurant, Waterfront Warehouse, Five Fisherman, Bish, Economy Shoe Shop, Mexico Lindo
-There are pubs everywhere downtown with great food. You must visit the Lower Deck Pub one night, it is a great NS experience. Other good ones include The Spilt Crow, The Old Triangle, Pógue Fadó, Your Father’s Moustache, Bubba Rays.
-Eat a donair – a unique beef, sweet sauce, pita bread thing, that was invented here. King of Donair is probably the most popular but they are available at any pizza place.
Lighthouse Route:
-Peggy’s Cove – famous lighthouse (about 30 mins from Halifax)- the Swiss air plane crash monument is there, good place to eat right beside the lighthouse.
-Take a drive along the south shore from Halifax to Chester – get off the highway in Chester and drive along the shore road to Lunenburg – it’s a beautiful drive. The towns of Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg are so picturesque – Lunenburg is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are some beautiful inns and B&Bs there. The Bluenose II is docked here most of the year, but is out and about in the summer time. Here’s a link to it’s website for it’s sailing schedule -
http://www.schoonerbluenose2.ca/
Evangeline Route:
A drive to Digby/Annapolis Royal is also beautiful, a good place to go whale watching. The Minas basin along this route is where you can see the world’s highest/lowest tides. Back towards Truro there are spots that offer river rafting of the tidal bore. Apparently it’s lots of fun.
Cape Breton: – keep an eye on the water for whales as you drive along the roads
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Drive the Cabot Trail –this would be the most important things to do in NS. There are many walking trails – however the best and it’s short is the Skyline Trail, don’t walk the whole loop, but walk to the view of the water and return the way you came in otherwise it’s a long walk back.
-Also along the Cabot Trail:
- Baddeck you will find the Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site. Baddeck also has an awesome restaurant called Bell Buoy, it is know to have some of the best seafood chowder around.
- Margaree River – famous fly fishing river – there some places there that equipment can be rented.
- Cheticamp – an Acadian village just before you enter the national park on the Cabot Trail, it is famous for its hooked rugs and this is a great place to go whale watching.
- Ingonish – stay at the Keltic Lodge – very beautiful and a nice beach
-Other things in Cape Breton:
- Glenora Distillery, in Glenville – the only place that makes single-malt whiskey, can do tours.
Beaches
Boogie Boarding (about $15-20) on waves is a lot of fun.
A couple of beaches to mention
- Ingonish beach on the Cabot Trail,
- Various beaches along the Northumberland Strait - including Melmerby beach in Pictou County.
- Lawrencetown Beach & Martinique Beach near Dartmouth are known for surfing