NS
80
BY HELEN EARLEY
Halifax by
Land and Sea
HALIFAX TOWN CLOCK AND SKYLINE AT SUNSET • SHUTTERSTOCK/KEN MORRIS
Whether you're kayaking through the mist at
sunset, cycling through historic streets, or
relaxing with a cold glass of wine on a ship's
deck, Halifax, known to the Mi'kmaq as
Kjipuktuk or "The Great Harbour," is the perfect
place for a fun-filled, yet relaxing city break
(www.discoverhalifaxns.com).
THE HALIFAX HARBOURWALK
Spanning just over 4 km (2.5 miles), the
Halifax Harbourwalk is an accessible wooden
boardwalk packed with patios, beer gardens,
museums and year-round festivals such as the
International Busker Festival (www.buskers.ca)
and the TD Jazz Festival (www.halifaxjazz
festival.ca). There is a permanent celebratory
atmosphere here, whether you're exploring on
foot, by bike (www.iheartbikeshfx.com), by
e-scooter (www.hfxescooters.com), or
simply relaxing in one of the Adirondack
chairs or hammocks placed thoughtfully
along the route.
A natural place to begin your stroll is the
same location where nearly a million
immigrants began the North American
chapter of their lives, at the Canadian
Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
(www.pier21.ca). Here, genealogy junkies
can consult the knowledgeable staff at the
Scotiabank Family Centre, who will trace
your family's roots globally, using ships'
records and other genealogical data. At the
same museum, currently on loan from The
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The World of
Yousuf Karsh: A Private Essence, is an exhibit
that celebrates one of the world's most
prominent portrait photographers, Yousuf
Karsh, through his iconic portraits of 20
th
-
century luminaries such as Mother Teresa,
Winston Churchill, and Nelson Mandela.
Further along, the Maritime Museum of
the Atlantic describes Halifax's involvement
in the recovery of the ill-fated Titanic. After
contemplating the artefacts recovered from
the sea on that tragic day, head upstairs to
appreciate the beauty of the Days of Sail
gallery, permeated by the fragrance of rope,
lumber and ships' canvas. Don't forget to say
hello to the museum's sociable mascot,
Merlin the Macaw, or to head outside to
