BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi everyone,
I'm headed to Halifax for mostly business for a few days (never been there) and would like some suggestions for things to see/do, places to eat, etc - I have most nights and one weekend day fully off. I have access to a car and can make a day trip if it is not too far away (ie. Cape Breton).

Unfortunately, I will be going during low season, before everything opens fully - Citadel isn't open, museum in Mahone bay isn't open on weekends, etc. Anything you'd reccommend?

thanks!

Cape Breton is not a day trip
Halifax to Cheticamp is 5-6 hours
You need to return to Cape Breton another day = you'll need 2 nights minimum

Halifax:
several things to do:
check out the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic - you can rock in the Titanic rocking chair
several good displays

the Citadel really isn't anything fancy
you can walk around the grounds but not go up on top
you don't get to see inside the buildings

Pier 21 should be open, but not at night - if you get off early and have an hour and a half, i'd say its worth visiting

My favourite restaurant: top floor of the Dartmouth ferry building - you'll need to take the commuter ferry there
on the return trip, you can check out Canada's Atlantic fleet if they're in harbour

The only place I found that makes lamb so I like it is a turkish restaurant on Spring Garden Road. A 10 buck dinner. Try the salty yogourt drink.

You can try out Ethiopian food if you like raw beef. Very different. Not my cup of tea.

The Economy Shoe Shop
I've tried to make it to this place on my 2 trips but the first, couldn't find it, the 2nd, it was packed. Very interesting pub/restaurant

On your weekend day off I'd recommend driving to Peggy's Cove. You can still drive into Mahone Bay - not much to see for me (I went in March/April one year). If you do this, I was avoiding snow along the scenic coastal highway. Take the main highway: faster, safer, and the ocean looks the same anyway. You'll get to spend more time in peggy's cove. There's a restaurant there if you want lunch.

If you want to check out Point Pleasant Park it's walkable from anywhere in Halifax........if you have a car, drive there and walk around. The hurricane a few years ago tore up a lot of the forest.

Enjoy Halifax

oops! I meant to say NOT cape breton!!! (I also mean to say the museum in lunenberg with the bluenose, not mahone bay...)

Thanks for the tips, especially the restaurants. Sounds yummy - I can't wait to go! I was initially thinking a peggy's cove/mahone bay/lunenberg day trip, but not too sure that mahone bay and lunenberg trip will be very fruitful at this time of year, although I'm not overly worried about snow/road conditions (it will be in late April). How much is there to do in Peggy's cove? Is it worth the hassle of renting a car for the day just to go out there in off-season?

boo for off season! If only I was going a month later!

you're really not missing much with the museum in lunenberg
it's not much more than a big room - smaller than my elementary school gym

i'd say peggy's cove is worth the hassle
go there, see cool rocks, sit on the rocks near the water - don't go too close, people die there.
have lunch at the restaurant. worth the 1 hour drive each way (if you take the main highway)
if you go early in the morning, have lunch there, you can be back in Halifax by early afternoon if you find yourself bored

i went to Halifax at end of oct and had an awesome time - walked the riverfront walk from Pier 21, go to the Maritime museum, walk up to the citadel - the views are great. Head over to York Redoubt which again amazing views and a great walk. Got to Keith's brewery and check out the Park and cementary.

We hired a car and drove down to Peggys Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg and then carried on down to Rissers Beach and to the Caves (will need to look that up for the name) but we spent the whole day meandering down the coast and had a great time - was one of highlights of my trip.

Michelle

quote:

was one of highlights of my trip.

Michelle

...... and I thought it was meeting me

quote:

Originally posted by BostonBill:

quote:

was one of highlights of my trip.

Michelle

...... and I thought it was meeting me

awww of course meeting you was 100 times better - but that goes without saying lol

Michelle

Thanks Ramboo and Michelle - I'll head out to Peggy's Cove for sure, and will look into some of the other places suggested! The maritime museum is definitely on my list, as is Pier 21 as long as it's open when I'm free.

thanks again!!

Halifax is a very nice city for walking, both downtown and along the waterfront. It's also a really good restaurant town. If you like Greek food, Opa is the best in town. For Indian food, there is a really good restaurant across the street from the Westin Hotel (don't recall the name). Sweet Basil Bistro is really nice for seafood/nouveau type cuisine. North China (also near the Westin) is authentic (underline the authentic) Chinese cuisine. There's no shortage of Italian food and, of course, lots of seafood. Downtown Dartmouth is a nice place to spend a few hours.

Lunenburg is worth the side trip. It's very quaint. If you are at all interested in Inuit Art, the Houston Gallery is well worth the visit. Mahone Bay is also very pretty and quaint. I second the motion on Peggy's Cove--it's very pretty, and will be quiet off-season.