Halifax is an inspiring place, as anyone looking at my list of recent Epinions can see. My wife and I spent our honeymoon there this summer, and I can't think of a place in the world that would have suited us better.

To Eat

Halifax is as seafaring a city as they get, and so of course there's a variety of great seafood to be had. Now, my wife and I try to stay away from seafood because of the incredible overfishing that goes on to keep restaurants, markets and grocery stores stocked. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to find much of anything else to eat. Happily, I was wrong.

Halifax is actually as well known for its pubs as it is for its seafood. With a solid British heritage, Nova Scotians love to go crawling as much as any other people I've seen. The pubs of Halifax not only serve great beers, but great food as well.

There's also a surprising amount of ethnic cuisine available in Halifax. The Acadian-French influence is obvious, but there are other ethnicities represented as well. For example, who'd have thought that we'd find an internationally-recognized Italian restaurant just across the harbor in Dartmouth? Hey, it happened!

To See

There are lots of interesting things to see in Halifax, from the Citadel to a wide range of museums to the whales and seals out in the harbor. My favorite place to go was the Victorian Public Gardens, wonderfully preserved in the style of the late 1800's, even with a bagpiper playing outside the gates. The Scottish side of Halifax can be seen in front of the Lieutentant Governor's mansion, where there is a great little changing-of-the-guard with sentries dressed in full kilted glory.

The greatest thing to see in Halifax, however, is the city itself. The architecture of the downtown area reflects the complete range of the city's history, from the wee-small hours of the European presence in the Western Hemisphere to the present day. Much of the city retains a distinct maritime feeling, thanks to persistent efforts to maintain historical buildings. Walking down the streets, one gets a feeling of being simultaneously in Europe and in North America. The variety of visitors adds to the flavor, with British, French, German, Chinese and who knows what other kinds of accents heard all around.

Atmosphere

The thing that sets Halifax apart from most other cities in North America is its quiet bustle. There's a sense that while there's a lot of important work to be done, there's no sense of any hurry. The traffic always stops for pedestrians and bicyclists, of which there are plenty. If you're looking for an ExTreme vacation, look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you need a place to be refreshed, Halifax is the place to go.



Recommended: Yes