12 THINGS YOU MUST DO WHEN VISITING HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

Halifax, the largest historical and urban area in Atlantic Canada, is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia. Filled with beautiful gardens, art galleries, rouring night clubs, and informational museums. There is plenty to do while visiting Halifax in this post you’ll find some of my top favorites!

ADMIRE A TWO-HUNDRED YEAR OLD CLOCK

Old Town Clock - This beautiful white with green trimming clock tower is located in downtown Halifax on top of Citadel hill. If you walk up the hill you’ll have a beautiful view of the downtown area and you can see straight to the harbor! Fun fact, it was built in the early 1800’s as a gift from Prince Edward, Duke of Kent as a way to help resolve the tardiness of the soldiers that were often late. Prince Edward, also happens to be Queen Elizabeth II’s great-great-great grandfather which is pretty neat to think about. 

VISIT HALIFAX’S FIRST BURIAL GROUND

The Old Burying Ground - Located in downtown Halifax between the intersection of  Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road you’ll find an old cemetery that is both eerie and charming but worth walking by. This cemetery was the town’s first burial ground dating back to the first settlement of 1749 and later closed in the early 19th century. Take a few minutes to respectfully see the numerous grave markers and tombs, there are sidewalks within so you can walk around and view the headstones. They also have a few informational boards surrounding the burial ground. 

WALK THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC GARDENS

The Halifax Public Gardens are the oldest Victorian gardens in North America, located in the center of Halifax. The landscaping throughout the gardens is Victorian formal and expanding for roughly 16 acres. We entered through the iron gates located at the intersection of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street, walking directly north was one of my favorite things about the gardens, the Francis Fitzgerald Bridge. I thought it was a gorgeous beige colored bridge that has a beautiful view of the stream surrounded by large plants and flowers. We spent roughly two hours walking around reading the different types of flowers and plants, admiring the ducks that surrounded Griffin’s Pond, and sat on a bench to people watch in front of the gazebo. Admission to the gardens is free. 

VISIT A FARMER’S MARKET

One of my favorite things to do while visiting a new country is to roam through a farmer’s market for seasonal fruit and veggies, as well as grabbing some goodies to snack on. In general any market that sells local food, artisanal goods, or possibly some locally made art, I’m sold! 

Halifax’s Seaport Farmers Market is held indoors with a large variety of different vendors. Just a small list of things you can expect to find at this market include, fresh produce, local honey and maple syrup, wine and craft beer, delicious baked goods, and local artwork. It was founded in 1750 making it North America’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s market. 

Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy your treats by the waterfront, there's a gorgeous view of the ocean there. We grabbed some coffee, a few pastries and walked along the waterfront until we found a nice place to finish our breakfast. 

ATTEND A FESTIVAL 

Specific event information may change, please confirm dates online before you finalize your plans.  

Halifax Seaport Beerfest | August 

Sample over 300 different craft beers and ciders from all around the world, while trying local food and music. This festival is normally held the second weekend in August. 

General admission is $45.00 - $50.00 depending on what time session you pick. Friday evening and Saturday afternoon are $45.00, Saturday evening is $50.00, for $20.00 more you can opt for the VIP option.*  You can purchase tickets here. 

*VIPs have an additional 60 minutes to talk with breweries while sampling limited quantity beers before the regular session begins. 

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Halifax Pride Festival | July

Join one of the most colorful parades by celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Parade takes place on the first Saturday of the festival, starting at 1pm and leads thousands of people through the main streets of downtown Halifax.  Celebrate with outdoor dancing, educational activities, art, a beverage garden and  food trucks. Make sure to stick around for the fireworks at the end of the night. 

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KitchenFest! | Féis a' Chidsin | June/ July 

This delicious food festival celebrates all things local - music, culture, food, drink. It’s located in various locations in and around Cape Breton, normally held in the mid-summer months of June and July. Partake in fun events and enjoy amazing local food while listening to upbeat concerts. You can find where the festival will be held here. If you’re interested in knowing what local restaurants will be attending the festival you can see their list here. Admission to the festival is $10.00 to $25.00. 

The date for this event have changed to September 4-13, 2020 for this year only. 

ENJOY A NIGHT OUT

The Carleton - This is a great place to grab dinner, drinks and a show! If you’re looking for a more relaxing evening this would be a great option, their happy hour is 4-6pm daily! Plus, they have live concerts at different times throughout the day, catch a show anywhere from 2pm to 1am (depending on the artist). Tickets for live performances vary from $27-$35 (depending on the artist). If you’re interested in upcoming performances click here.

The Split Crow Pub - At the Split Crow you can enjoy some live music while you drink and dine. They have a great selection of appetizers and they have a happy hour of 4:30pm - 7pm Monday through Friday.  Check out their upcoming performances here. 

Fun fact: The Split Crow Pub dates back to 1749 when Governor Cornwallis granted a license to sell beer and liquor to a Mr. John Shippey. This was the first liquor license to be issued in Nova Scotia! 

TRY DELICIOUS DESSERTS AROUND HALIFAX

BeaverTails - These sugary pastries are located everywhere around Canada, but in Halifax you can spot one at the waterfront boardwalk. I would describe these as long and flat churros covered with sweet  toppings. You can also purchase ice cream and hot dogs at these fast-food style food stands. 

The Old Apothecary - Their croissant doughnuts are a must! If you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast I suggest stopping by for some coffee and a sweet pastry before starting your day, they are conveniently located downtown near the waterfront. 

VISIT A HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic - Nova Scotia is rich with maritime heritage and you can learn all about it at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. It also happens to be the largest and oldest maritime museum, and also features exhibits from the sinking of the Titanic. This museum is incredibly informational, it showcases thousands of artifacts and is definitely worth visiting! Admission to the museum is $5.15 November 1 - April 30 and $9.55 May 1 - October 31, and free for children 5 and under. 

Museum of Natural History - Just a 15 minute walk north is another great museum worth adding to your itinerary. The Museum of Natural History includes multiple collections and exhibits as well as artifacts of cultural significance to Nova Scotia. Although small in size it’s packed with information in each exhibit! If you happen to visit in the afternoon you just might spot Gus the 90 year old tortoise roaming the museum. Admission to the museum is $6.30 with the option to include the Egypt exhibit for $2.00 more. Children 5 and under are free. 

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 - Explore a visual understanding of immigration as you go through the museum learning about the experiences immigrants went through to arrive in Canada. The museum goes into great depth to showcase Canada’s culture and way of life as you witness first-hand experiences of immigrants. Pier 21 happens to be a National Historic Site as it was the departure point for 500,000 Canadian military personnel during World War II. Admission to the museum is $12.61, children 5 and under are free. 

WANDER THROUGH THE HALIFAX WATERFRONT BOARDWALK 

The Halifax waterfront boardwalk is roughly 3.8 miles, so you can imagine there is plenty to see and do here! You’ll find some of the most scenic views walking along the boardwalk as well as some of the best restaurants.

Enjoy some tasty treats by visiting their numerous dessert shops such as the Sugah Confectionery & Ice Cream Emporium. If you happen to visit Halifax on a warm summer day, this ice cream emporium is well worth the visit!

Keep an eye out for the different types of food and local art stands that are located at the south end of the boardwalk. If you are looking for some great souvenirs to bring back home to friends and family this is a great place to grabs some gifts, and you don’t even have to go out of your way.

I absolutely loved the mural painted on the sea front of Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, they have such a colorful mural along with a few other photo ops such as a huge red lawn chair and a Canada sculpture. Halifax is full of amazing art all around the city not just limited to the broad walk.

 One of the best places to wander through to see colorful houses are along Agricola Street, located in the North End of Halifax it’s a trendy neighborhood with great restaurants! I personally love browsing through art pieces to add to my gallery wall back home. Keep an eye out for paintings on picnic tables, murals, colorful homes!

TAKE A DAY TRIP TO PEGGY’S COVE 

Just a 45 minute drive from central Halifax is one of Nova Scotia’s most picturesque landmarks, make it a day trip and spend the whole day exploring this quaint fishing village of Peggy’s Cove along the South Shore. 

By Car: Peggy’s Cove is roughly an hour from downtown Halifax, take Highway 333 from Halifax or Highway 103 from Halifax to Exit 5 and then Route 333. 

By Tour: Book a round trip tour to Peggy’s Cove through Ambassatours Gray Line Peggy’s Cove Bus Tour, they have buses that depart from downtown Halifax daily. This is a great option if you don’t have a rental car, its roughly $45 dollars a person but make sure to check their website since they do have special offers at times. Check for their availability here.

I have a whole post about what there is to do in Peggy’s Cove and why it’s worth visiting! Click the link below to check out what Peggy’s Cove has to offer.

That wraps it up for my brief trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Did I miss any of your favorite things to do here? If so, comment below to add to my next visit!

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QUICK STOP IN QUEBEC CITY, CANADA

On our way to Nova Scotia we decided to do a quick pit stop in Quebec City and I’m definitely happy we did! We immediately found a parking spot and started roaming the streets of Old Quebec City. We quickly walked uphill and stopped to admire the architecture of the Monument Mgr. François-De Laval on the corner of the street.

We continued uphill to enter The Fort Museum but since we’re on a time-crunch and it was only 7am, with the museum opening at 10 am we had to continue onward. The Fort Museum is a small little museum and educational exhibit of the city's historic military battles. I thought it would be interesting to visit since they have a diorama that shows Quebec as it looked in the 18th century.

We stopped to take a breather at Place d'Armes and snapped this picture of the beautiful Fountain Monument of Faith. Luckily, the park was full of benches where you can sit and enjoy the fountain.

Next we made our way to Saint Louis Street where we bumped into the Maillou House National Historic Site with it’s beautiful light blue window trimmings. Also, isn’t the copper roof on the Ministère des Finances just gorgeous?

We didn’t have a set list of places we wanted to see so we just walked around admiring the pretty storefronts and charming architecture.

After getting lost through the beautiful streets we came across City Hall Park where we stopped to make sure we didn’t wander off too far from where we parked.

Since it was so early there really wasn’t many stores open so we couldn’t shop for souvenirs but at least I got a few great pics!

Walking around was so peaceful, we got so caught up on trying to get a good view of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac that we had got completely turned around and started walking in the wrong direction of where our car was parked. Just when we realized that we didn’t know where we were going is when it started to rain heavily so we had no choice but to quickly look at google maps and start sprinting in the right direction.

That concludes our trip to Quebec City, for it being our first time I was so impressed on how charming and calm it was. I definitely have plans to return in the near future!

VISITING HOPEWELL ROCKS IN HOPEWELL CAPE, NEW BRUNSWICK CANADA

The Hopewell Cape is located along the Bay of Fundy which is between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The Bay of Fundy happens to have some of the highest tides on earth, and is one of the seven wonders of North America. We started our day by traveling from Halifax, Nova Scotia early in the morning towards Moncton, New Brunswick. Thankfully it’s only a 3 hour drive, once we arrived we had a relaxing lunch in Moncton before making our way towards Hopewell Rocks Park.

We had such a great experience getting to Hopewell Rocks Park, not only was it a quick 35 minute drive but there was absolutely no traffic getting in! Before arriving to the main park we noticed there was a few artisan shops, a couple motels and a handful of restaurants along the way in the small town of Hillsborough.

So we made a few stops to explore, overall it seemed like a cozy small rural town. They had a small little library and a beautiful church, we did a bit of driving around to admire the charming buildings in the little town while keeping a eye out for a place to grab a bite to eat.

On the left side of the road we saw the cutest little cafe and stopped for a cinnamon roll unfortunately they were all sold out, but further down the road there was a few other places to stop to grab a snack.

Once again, on the left side of the road there was a little rest area/ welcome center but it was also oddly closed. There was a few little huts surrounding the welcome center that were open, a BBQ restaurant, a ice cream shop, and a few little huts that sold baked goods.

We noticed that there was a museum right next door, the New Brunswick Railway Museum, later we looked it up and their admission is $6.00 a person but if you’re a fan of trains it would be worth checking out if you have the time.

After a quick break we got back on the road and continued driving, only to see this adorable little veggie stand so of course we stopped for a quick second. One thing is for sure, there is plenty to see and lots to shop around at.

With everything being so eye-appealing, our drive to the park took roughly a hour and forty-five minutes instead of the 35 minutes it was suppose to take but at last we made it!

The park has two large free parking areas, one for cars and another for rvs/campers.

Also, keep in mind that the park doesn’t allow overnight parking. Quick tip, if you do have a camper or rv, if you are looking for a free place to park overnight I highly recommend parking at any 24 hour Irving Oil. There is a few gas stations located across the east coast in Canada and northern US, I have never had a problem staying there and it’s always nice to wake up and have access to a restroom and restaurant. The closest one to Hopewell Rocks Park is on 170 Aulac Rd, Aulac, NB roughly a hour drive, there is plenty of parking space.

At the entrance, right before you pay your admission, there is a sign with the tide schedules when we arrived the high tide began at 2:15 pm and the low tide was at 8:45 pm. Keep in mind for your visit that you are able to access the ocean floor 3 hours before the low tide comes in.

Once you arrive, enjoy the informative exhibits at the visitor center before headed out.

You can view the ocean floor here, with the beach webcam!

Admission rates varies:

Family (2 adults & children 18 years or less) $25.50

Per Adult (19 years and older) $10.00

Seniors & Students: $8.00

Children (5 years to 15 years) $7.25

Children 4 and younger: free

Keep in mind that admission entrance passes are valid for two consecutive days.

Address: 131 Discovery Rd, Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick E4H 4Z5, Canada

Walk the scenic walking trailing along the ocean floor while getting a beautiful view of the rock formations. Keep an eye out for dinosaur fossils along the rocks and cliffs. Overall it was a relaxing and well worth trip! If you ever find yourself in eastern Canada I highly recommend stopping by or even making a weekend of it!

Have you been to the Bay of Fundy or plan to visit? Tell me all about it in the comments below!

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VISITING PEGGY'S COVE, NOVA SCOTIA CANADA

Peggy's Cove is a small rural community located on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay. Only a 50 minute drive from Halifax and is famous for its picturesque East-Coast profile.

If you plan to spend any time in southern Nova Scotia, Peggy’s Cove is a must!

Even though it’s a popular tourist destination it’s not as crowded as you would think, if you’d like to see ahead of time how crowded Peggy’s Cove Village and the lighthouse are, check out their live cam here.

Where to stay in Peggy’s Cove

The Breakwater Inn - You can rent a room in this cozy inn that overlooks the fishing village. Walking distance to all the activities Peggy’s Cove has to offer.

Peggy's Cove Bed & Breakfast - Enjoy a beautiful sunset accompanied with a gorgeous sunrise by book yourself a little cottage at Peggy’s Cove Bed & Breakfast at a very reasonable price! This charming bed and breakfast is a restored fisherman’s home with spectacular view of Peggy's Cove Lighthouse!

Right away when you turn into Peggy’s Point Rd you’ll see there is a parking area, with a great view of D’Aubins Cove.

Parking was quite easy, when we arrived everyone was parking on the side of the road and would take a few pictures and then just leave, so we grabbed a great parking spot next to a few restaurants.

Since it’s a residential area make sure to not park along the private roads or block their driveways.

From the second you set foot inside this charming little village you’ll want to photograph everything! It’s surreal how beautiful and calming it is here, there is something relaxing about the atmosphere.

There is a couple of gift shops and little restaurants you can grab a meal at a fair price.

Bubba Magoos Sweet & Gift Emporium - While exploring if you get a sweet tooth for some fudge, you’re in luck because Bubba Magoos has over 20 flavors of delicious fudge! Eric and I are huge fans of mint chocolate fudge. They have other sweets to satisfy your cravings such as salt water taffy, as well as freshly baked goodies such as cookies and brownies. If you happen to visit in the summer you’ll appreciate that they have ice cream sandwiches!

The Buoy Shop - It’s not everyday you come across a buoy store and they are neat to look at, so why not stop by? Plus, it’s located next to my favorite teal boat.

Where to eat in Peggy’s Cove

Sou’Wester Gift & Restaurant - While hiking around and exploring if you happen to get a craving for some fish & chips, or maybe some salmon head over to Sou’Wester. The fact you are literally on the oceanfront where else are you going to find the freshest fish? They have a awesome breakfast menu as well as a delicious entrees for dinner.

U–Cook Lobster - Grab yourself a lobster roll with lemon pepper dressing at this food truck! This is a great place to grab a meal or make it a snack by splitting a roll. You have the choice between a pound or two pound lobster.

Harbour General Store and Restaurant - This restaurant is a bit down the road but totally worth it! Have you ever had a lobster omelet? Well they make it here! I personally would go for their wild blueberry pancakes or their harbour burger but to each their own.

Get a good view of Peggy’s Point Lighthouse

Now for a spectacular view, head to the ravishing Peggy’s Point Lighthouse on top of the hill and get some beautiful pictures alongside the rocks. Peggy’s Point Lighthouse built in 1915, is one of Nova Scotia’s most well-known lighthouses. You are able to climb to the top of the lighthouse for a spectacular view of the ocean! Spend the day watching the waves and exploring around the rocks below the lighthouse, just be cautious of unpredicted rogue waves.

IMPORTANT: Pay attention to the warning signs! Keep off black rocks as they may be slippery. Sudden high waves can be a drowning hazard.

Explore nature by going on a hike

If you are in search for some adventure, find a parking spot along the left side of the road and hike the Polly Cove Hiking Trail. There is a small parking area at the trailhead, if there isn’t parking just park along the side. While we were there we saw some wildlife, beautiful wild flowers, and a gorgeous view of the water. This is totally a hidden gem, this fantastic hike is roughly a 2.5 mile look along the coast of Peggy’s Cove. Located just 5 minutes from Peggy’s Cove, makes this a nice hike to go on if you are looking for more to do in the surrounding area.

So I know what you may be thinking, so who is Peggy? Some say it was named due to the villages location on St. Margaret’s Bay. But rumors have it that Peggy’s Cove was named after a shipwreck survivor named Margaret nicknamed Peggy who wed a local man and settled in the Eastern Point Harbour. Feel free to stop by Ivan Fraser’s Peggy of the Cove a childhood family home turned museum and gallery for beautiful artwork and history of the cove.

Admission to the museum is free.

Sun-Thursday 9:00AM-5:00PM | Friday 9:00AM-4:00PM | Saturday is closed

If you’re planning to visit Peggy’s Cove I hope I have given you a glimpse of how beautiful it is here!

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