THE HALIFAX HARBOURWALK
The Halifax Harbourwalk is an accessible
wooden boardwalk packed with patios, beer
gardens, museums and year-round festivals.
There is a permanent celebratory atmos-
phere 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). Consult the knowledge-
able staff who will trace your family's roots
globally, using ships' records and other
genealogical data.
Further along, the Maritime Museum of
the Atlantic describes Halifax's involvement
in the recovery of the ill-fated Titanic. Head
upstairs to appreciate the beauty of the Days
of Sail gallery (maritimemuseum.nova
scotia.ca).
Nearby, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
holds over 18,000 works of art including the
life-sized Maud Lewis Painted House, an
original "tiny home" of which every imagin-
able surface was painted by the famous folk
artist (www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca).
If you haven't been to Halifax lately, you'll
be totally wowed by the new Queen's Marque
district—a grand residential, shopping, and
restaurant development, located near the
ferry terminal. One of the most stunning
aspects of this district is the magnificent
architectural feature, Rise Again: a pair of
wide stone staircases, one leading to the
water, and the other reaching to the sky.
HALIFAX FROM THE WATER
A maritime city is always best enjoyed from
the water, and Halifax is no exception. Feel
the salt air on your cheeks from the decks of
the graceful Tall Ship Silva or the Mississippi-
style Harbour Queen (www.ambassa
tours.com). Halifax Harbour Tours offers a
peaceful, 60-minute guided tour on the
Violet Mac—a 1930s-style hand-restored all-
electric harbour launch (www.halifax
harbourtours.ca). Adventurous types can
glide through the harbour on a Sunset Kayak
Tour (www.theharbourwatercraft.com),
while thrill-seekers can rent a lightning-
speed Sea-doo (www.seahfx.com).
A new experience from Parks Canada
combines a ticket aboard the Harbour Queen
with a tour of the fort and tunnels at Georges
Island (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/georges).
Pack your own lunch, or pre-order a Parks
Canada Perfect Picnic.
Despite dozens of specialty tours, "take
the ferry!" is the first piece of travel advice
that Haligonians will extend to any visitor.
The Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry is the oldest
saltwater ferry service in North America, and
part of the daily grind for commuters, but for
the tourist, a 15-minute journey on the
open-air deck provides a delightful
introduction to the harbour.
CITADEL HILL AND
THE NORTH END
Physically, Halifax is shaped by a glacial
deposit called a drumlin—an enormous
geological mound that gazes protectively
toward the water. Atop this hill, the star-
shaped Halifax Citadel National Historic Site is
an essential stop (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/
halifaxcitadel). The brand new exhibit,
Fortress Halifax: A City Shaped by Conflict is a
must-see for history buffs and military enthu-
siasts since it describes how the Mi'kmaq,
Acadian, and British cultures merged—and
collided—to create the Halifax of today.
Other Citadel attractions include immersive
experiences such as musket or cannon-
firing, ghost walks, and even rum-tasting!
At the end of a busy day, there is no better
place to rest your sea legs than one of Halifax's
cosy pubs such as The Old Triangle, Durty Nelly's
or The Split Crow. Order the fish and chips and
a local beer ... and wait for the night to begin.
NS
82
BY HELEN EARLEY
Halifax by
Land and Sea
WALKING THE HALIFAX WATERFRONT (LEFT) AND DOWNTOWN HALIFAX (RIGHT) •
TOURISM NS/ACORN ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
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 is the
perfect place for a fun-filled, yet relaxing
city break (www.discoverhalifaxns.com).
