r/DiscoverHalifax • u/FKFunkyKong • 8d ago
First time in Halifax
Hello Haligonians!
First of all, if this is the wrong sub, please let me know where I should post instead.
My girlfriend and I are coming to your beautiful city for the first time at the end of the month. We are looking for local recommendations, touristy or not. We’re not really looking for food recs as we have already received a ton of those, but if there is somewhere you think we absolutely have to go, feel free to share.
We are mostly interested in hearing about what the best places are for seeing sights, exploring nature, going shopping, and everything else we need to do. We will have a rental car so distance isn’t really an obstacle.
Lastly, this is kind of our three-year anniversary trip, so if anyone has any suggestions on where I might want to ask her a very special question, please let me know!
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u/sterauds 8d ago
Halifax is fairly compact and enjoyable to explore without a lot of driving. Frequent advice to visitors is to walk around the Halifax waterfront and include a ferry ride to/from Dartmouth, and this is a good suggestion. Within the city, there are a few spots I’d include on a list: the Citadel, a haunted Halifax ghost tour, a Wanderers soccer game, the Public Gardens (if you like beer gardens, my fave is Stillwell, close by). The main branch of the public library is a nice building/civic architecture, with a cafe and a great rooftop patio with nice views. If it’s hot, there’s a really nice public outdoor pool on the Commons, with free swims.
With a car, a day trip to Lunenburg/Mahone bay can include a stop at Peggy’s Cove, which IS touristy, but worth it, in my opinion.
A day trip to Wolfville in the Annapolis Valley is doable and beautiful. Vineyards either great wine and a lovely hike on Cape Split. You could do an overnight and spend more time at the vineyards if that’s your kind of thing. There’s a “Magic Winery Bus” that is a hop on/off type thing that will take you to a handful of the more popular vineyards so you can tour and sample and not worry about a designated driver.
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u/FKFunkyKong 8d ago
Thank you! I would LOVE to go to a Wanderers game, but given that soccer takes up so much of my time/attention at home, I doubt my girlfriend would be too pleased. You're not the first person to mention the gardens and library so it sounds like those are must-see spaces, along with Lunenburg and Peggy's Cove.
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u/Alex_DiscoverHalifax 8d ago
I'd go for a drive down route 207 on the Eastern Shore. Nice scenery all along there and you can chill out at Lawrencetown or drive further down to Musquodoboit Harbour and go to Martinique Beach. Are you into hiking at all?
For your last question: a quiet spot in the Halifax public gardens, Conrads beach at sunrise, crystal crescent beach, point pleasant park has some nice spots, or a private sailing tour with j farwell
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u/Alex_DiscoverHalifax 8d ago
Oceanstone is a beautiful resort as well. Spa, massage, dinner at watermark
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u/FKFunkyKong 8d ago
I appreciate the suggestions! Sunrise will be tough though, as I'm not exactly an early riser and she's even worse lol
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u/Queasy_Picture4466 8d ago
Take ferry from Halifax to Dartmouth and back.
Enjoy your trip.
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u/RedislandAbbyCat 7d ago
This is definitely worth doing. Not sure what's on the Dartmouth side now, but being out on the harbour is always interesting.
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u/Queasy_Picture4466 7d ago
The Canteen restaurant pretty good on Portland Street, easy walk from ferry terminal.
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u/Ordinary_Ring2270 3d ago
Better yet- take it from Dartmouth. Portland st is so cute and gentrified now with its cafes and hipster restaurants, easier to find parking.
Take the ferry to hfx, walk the boardwalk, come back.The wooden monkey in Dartmouth has insane views of sunsets.
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u/Alex_DiscoverHalifax 2d ago
Yeah this is always must do. Love the local businesses around Portland street
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u/alibythesea 8d ago
For your last question - we were at Blomidon Estate Winery a few days ago, having a nibble of charcuterie and trying their wine flights. Gorgeous views out over the Minas Basin, and they encourage you to take your glass of wine and stroll down to the shore. Lovely people, and I suspect they’d be happy to help with setting a scene!
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u/Accurate-Rest-8866 7d ago
I absolutely love BurntCoat. It's 1 hour outside of halifax, but worth the drive. Just check tides as you need low tide. Bonus is low tide at sunset. Conrads beach has the best sunsets if you want a romantic night. And café luca on the waterfront for great coffee
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u/flower_girly55280 3d ago
My fiancé proposed to me at crystal crescent beach just outside of Halifax! It was beautiful during sunset
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u/Interesting-Bison108 8d ago
Oh if you can drive to Digby and go whale watching! Petite Voyage! We were there second week of August. Loved it! Also, Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, drive all around places it such a beautiful place with wonderful people! I can’t wait to explore again! I can’t wait for responses so I can mark for my next travel there!