Halifax, At Last
Okay, so it took me a while to get to my own back yard! So now I can let you know that Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia and the largest city in the Atlantic provinces (this may be a “duh” for most of you. With its steep streets, beautiful harbor, and the historic Citadel overlooking the city, Halifax is world-renowned for its beauty and character. Visitors are treated to a city with a close connection to the sea, and Halifax thrives on its maritime history having one of the world’s largest natural harbors. As the major international air terminal Halifax is also a gateway to the rest of Nova Scotia.
Established in 1749, Halifax was begun as a post to watch what the French were doing in the area. It was not that anyone in England particularly cared for the region. They tried settling the place with Swiss and German farmers but forgot to tell the poor seasick travelers that it was difficult to plow rock! Nevertheless, most of the newcomers (who the British thought were a good way to spread protestant precepts into the area) moved further south to the Lunenburg area.
I think the big draw to Halifax is the whole package: history, restaurants, music and lifestyle. You don’t need to go too far to find anything. There are great beaches within a 1/2 drive either up or down the coastline. Most of the sights and museums in the town are completely walkable and anything else (Titanic graves, mall shopping) can be seen within a short bus ride.
History buffs will have a field day because almost every North American war, plus the two World Wars, were supplied from this port. Convoys to and from Europe hooked up with their escorts here and this is shown vividly at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The tours and tour escorts are second to none in Halifax and so you will be rewarded with a great knowledge of history.
Another reason to come here: they have great grog shops (entertainment bars)!
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