2. Water, water everywhere … and an inspirational commute
With the deep blue of the Atlantic visible from almost every vantage point, Halifax is not a city for aquaphobics. Two days closer to Europe by ship than any other North American port, the city came to prominence by virtue of having the second deepest natural harbour in the world. And like all the friendliest metropolises, from
Sydney to
Liverpool, its deep-rooted seafaring history defines its identity.
Waste no time in filling your lungs with the fresh, salty air of the breezy waterfront Boardwalk, a pretty 3km stroll peppered with attractions like the Maritime Museum, where the Titanic exhibition is invariably swollen – apparently without irony – with cruise ship passengers wandering in from the nearby terminal.
Midway along the Boardwalk is the ferry port for leafy Dartmouth, Halifax’s blue-collar sister town: with its superb panoramic views of the city’s waterfront, the zippy commuter crossing is the best-value Can$2.50 you’ll spend in town. Right above the ferry terminal, The Wooden Monkey’s open terrace is the ideal place to survey the scene at sunset – though you might also make time for a quick tour of Dartmouth’s infectiously cheery Happy Face Museum.