Don't Sleep On Halifax! - Halifax, NS, Canada.
Thinking back, I don’t believe anyone has ever recommended Halifax as a “top spot” to visit in Canada, typically opting for other more major cities like Toronto and Vancouver. However, after visiting Halifax and also reading online that its major source of revenue comes from tourism, I completely get it now and definitely place Halifax as a top (if not, the top) spot to visit if you’re curious about checking out places in Canada!
Despite not having as many attractions as compared to the other major cities, the lack in quantity is inconsequential due to the quality of these attractions. Funny enough, the lack in quantity is also what allows you to cover everything in just a few days, making this the ideal place to visit for a weekend getaway.
Whether strolling along the boardwalk and getting a bite to eat, or perusing through the Maritime Museum to learn all about the ships that passed through Halifax’s harbour (even possessing its own Titanic exhibit—turns out Halifax is where they sent the bodies from the Titanic to be shipped back around the world), or travelling through time at the Citadel, each of these attractions are top notch and worthy of the time spent checking them out!
For all you gamers out there, Halifax’s boardwalk kind of reminds me of Final Fantasy 8’s Balamb Town, and is loaded with many great spots to eat, with some of my top recommendations being: The Bicycle Thief and Dave’s Lobsters (home to easily the best Lobster Roll in Halifax—trust me, I tried a bunch!). Though, if you’re in for a bit of a drive, my other top two recommendations in Halifax would be The Canteen and The Knot Pub.
In fact, out of everything to see and do in Halifax, I would have to say that it’s the food that really stood out to me as the main highlight while visiting Halifax! With fresh seafood, reasonable prices, and plenty of options, you won’t have a hard time pleasing your taste buds while here!
One unexpected gem, and place providing a ton of insight if you’re up for it, was the Citadel. Located at the highest point in Halifax (which makes sense for military reasons), the Citadel really illuminated me to the fact that our species thrives off war. Though Halifax is a great place to visit and enjoy things like the food and scenery, the Citadel really makes a point of establishing that the entire city would not be what it is without its strong military force. If you take the tour, you’ll actually learn that the Citadel was constructed specifically to maximize its potency for being able to kill any potential intruders!
My only caveat for visiting Halifax would be that it rains… a lot. Our Uber driver (they didn’t seem to have Lyft there) even mentioned to us that it rains in Halifax more than it does in Vancouver! So, be sure to bring a raincoat and waterproof bags for your gear.
All in all, I think Halifax is definitely a place worth revisiting. Though not necessarily just to stay in Halifax, per say, but it also provides a great “home base” if you’re interested in checking out other Atlantic spots (which Tara and I will definitely be doing in the future!).
-happy eating.
