A further taste of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia is located in one of the world’s largest natural harbours. The British saw the advantage of this and founded a garrison here in 1749.

This was my second visit and this time we arrived by train. Our hotel, the Westin Nova Scotian is just across from the station. After a quick change, we headed out for dinner at the famous Five Fishermen Restaurant. The meal was fabulous and I would highly recommend the restaurant to anyone visiting the city.

The next day was 1st July, Canada Day - Canada’s national holiday! It was great to see so many people dressed in red and white or wearing maple leaf t-shirts as we travelled around visiting the main sites of the city. There was such a lovely atmosphere everywhere we went and if you are ever in Canada on 1st July, I would recommend joining in by wearing red and white. Many attractions were free to enter and were giving away cake!

We had a busy day of touring the main sites ahead of us. Our guide from Atlantis Tours, Ken was the same one as I had on my last visit! First stop was Peggy’s Cove. Nova Scotia is home to over 160 historic lighthouses – there are trails you can follow! Built in 1915, Peggy’s Point Lighthouse is undoubtably the most photographed. The fishing village is very pretty as well.

From Peggy’s Cove we travelled back into the city to visit the Halifax Citadel. This star-shaped fortress has stood watch over the city since the mid-1800s and is home of the 78th Highland Regiment. We had a tour of the site and were given a VIP spot from which to watch the firing of the Noon Day Gun.

After a delicious lunch at the Waterfront Warehouse, we headed out on a tour of the city. First stop was the Titanic Cemetery where the remains of 150 of the victims of this tragic disaster are buried. It was very moving, especially as some have never been identified. The numbers on the gravestones are the number assigned when the body was found. Next stop was the Public Gardens where there was a free Canada Day concert.

Then it was back to the harbour area where we learnt more about Halifax’s connection to the Titanic at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic - they have many artifacts from the ship. We also learnt about Nova Scotia’s rich maritime history and the Halifax Explosion in 1917 which killed hundreds and destroyed a huge part of the city. You could easily spend an afternoon here exploring the exhibitions and displays.

At the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, we learnt the stories of the almost one million immigrants, refugees, war brides and evacuee children who passed through the immigration shed at Pier 21 before entering Canada. It was incredibly interesting and I would highly recommend a tour with a guide.

After dinner at Salty’s, which is located on the waterfront, we joined the crowds on the boardwalk to watch the spectacular Canada Day fireworks. It was a fantastic experience and I really enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere.

If you are ever in Canada on 1st July or get the opportunity to be, make sure you have something red and white or a Canada t shirt to wear. There are usually many free events happening and fireworks in the evening. It will be a highlight of your trip!