McNabs and Lawlor Island Provincial Park: McNabs and Lawlor Island Provincial Park is located at the mouth of Halifax Harbour. Ferry boats take visitors to this natural area to enjoy bird watching hiking or a little history. While Lawlor Island is not open to the public McNab Island features 400 acres of woodland area along with Fort McNab a national historic site. Other heritage buildings include summer homes Maugers Beach Lighthouse and a long closed teahouse.
Art Gallery of NovaScotia: In downtown Halifax the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is the largest art museum is the Atlantic provinces. The museum features a permanent collection of visual arts from the Maritimes and around the world numbering more than 13,000 pieces. There is a particular emphasis on the work of Nova Sctian folk artist Maud Lewis and part of the gallery's collection includes her shedsized house that is decorated with vibrant paintings. The gallery also features excellent temporary exhibitions. Address: 1723 Hollis Street, Halifax.
Point Pleasant Park: One of the most splendid places to stroll in Halifax is Point Pleasant Park on the southern most point of the city peninsula. This natural area features towering trees winding footpaths and great views out er Halifax footpaths and great views out over Halifax harbor and the North West Arm. It is closed to vehicles. Within the park are many historical monuments and remnants of wartime. The Prince of Wales Tower is a round stone tower that was built by Price Edward in 1796. It was the first of its kind in North America the prototype Martello Tower. The asic idea was to combine soldiers accmmodattion a store house and cannon mountings in a until capable of defending itself surrounded by immensely thick stone walls with access only by a retractable ladder to the first floor.
5718 Point pleasant Drive, Halifax.
Halifax Public Gardens : 5665 Spring Garden Road, Halifax.
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic : 1675 Lower Water Street, Halifax.
Pier 21 National Historic Site : 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax.
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site: 5425 Sackville Street, Halifax.
Where to Stay in Halifax for Sightseeing: the best place to stay in Halifax is right downtown near the stunning harbor and easily walkable to key attractions including the Maritime Museum Province House and Pier 21 National Historic Site. Just behind is the famous Cotadel Hill. The following are some highly rated hotels in great locations:
1. Luxury Hotels : Downtown just one block from the stairs to Citadel Hill the posh Prince George Hotel offers exceptional service and well appointed rooms some with views of the harbor. The only hotel directly on Halifax's waterfront is the Marriott Hotel. This property has rooms with amazing views out over the harbor and is directly on the harbor walk. Next to the train station and close to the waterfront is the recently renovated charming Westin Nova Scotian originally built in the 1930s.
2.Mid Range Hotels: The Homewood Suites by Hilton Halifax Downtown features suites with full kitchens separate sitting areas good views and a complimentary breakfast. The Hollis Halifax a Double Tree Suites by Hilton is one block off the waterfront and has oversize suites and a large indor pool. For a boutique hotel the Hallibur ton an excellent choice. The hotel consists of three heritage townhouses that have been converted into 29 charming rooms some with fireplaces.
3.Budget Hotels: The best budget options are just outside the city center. About 10 minutes from downtown in the Bayer's Lake area is the Coastal Inn with large bright rooms and a good variety of restaurants in the nearby area. Also a sort drive out of downtown is the Comfort Inn. This hotel offers a great view out over Bedford Basin and has an indoor pool. Ahiking trail leaves from the back of the hotel and winds its way through Hemlock Ravine Park.
Despite the skyscrapers of more recent times Halifax is still dominated by a star shaped hilltip citadel. The city is not just the capital of Nova Scotia it is also the commercial hub of Cana's Maritime provinces as well as being an important center for research with no fewer than six universities and colleges. Its fine natural harbor cuts deeply into the Atlantic coastline with doccks piers parks and industry along its entire length.
uring both world wars Helifax was a collection point for convoys a strategy for ships to cross the Atlantic in greater safety and protect themselves against attack from German U boats. In 1917 the Frenc munitions ship Mont Blanc which had arrived to join one such convoy collided with the Belgian Imo causing the world's worst explosion prior to the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. The whole of the northern end of Halifax was razed to the ground killing 1,400 people outright and injuring about 9,000. Windows were shattered as far away as Truro some 100 kilometers way.