Activities and attractions
Les activities et les attractions

Angus L. MacDonald Bridge between Halifax and Dartmouth (2005)

Founded in 1749 and the capital of Nova Scotia, the ocean port of Halifax and the surrounding area offer many attractions to visitors. Some of the highlights are listed below.

Museums

The Halifax / Dartmouth area offers numerous museums of local, provincial and national significance.

• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia The Gallery holds over 17,000 works of art between its two locations including the Maud Lewis Gallery (which includes her house) and many Group of Seven works from their days in Halifax.
• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
  Nova Scotia has a rich maritime heritage and the Museum provides the story of small craft boat-building to World War Convoys, the Days of Sail to the Age of Steam, and the Titanic to the Halifax Explosion. Visit the CSS Acadia and HMCS Sackville dockside.
• Museum of Natural History
  Explore Nova Scotia’s natural diversity... “plants and birds and rocks and things”, including displays of Mi’kmaq artifacts, rocks and minerals, flora and fauna, a whole whale skeleton, and Gus, the 70-year old Gopher Tortoise.
• Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
  Your Canadian story might have begun here. Pier 21 was the entry point for 1 in 5 Canadians from 1928 to 1971. Uncover your own family history by visiting the onsite Scotiabank Family History Centre.
• Admiralty House / Naval Museum of Halifax
  Halifax’s Naval heritage dates to its founding in 1749. The Halifax Naval Yard was created in 1759, and Halifax was an important British Naval base until control of the base was given to Canada in 1904.
• The Halifax Citadel Historic Site
  The present citadel was completed in 1856. Actors portray the army life of the mid-Victorian era, when it was headquarters for the 78th Highland Regiment of Foot and the 3rd Brigade, Royal Artillery. The site also houses the Army Museum preserving Atlantic Canada’s military heritage.
• Shearwater Aviation Museum
  The museum heralds the history and technology of Canadian Maritime Military Aviation.

Maud Lewis Gallery

HMCS Sackville (1998)

Immigration - Pier 21 (2000)

Halifax Citadel (1983)

Outdoors

• Halifax Public Gardens
  This National Historic Site, opened in 1867, is the oldest Victorian Garden in North America. The present garden retains the original Victorian charm on 16 acres in the heart of Halifax.
• Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
  Extending from the Casino to Pier 21, the Boardwalk links many waterfront attractions and businesses in downtown Halifax.
• Shubenacadie Canal Waterway
  Historic parks, lakes, locks and a 19th-century marine railway in Dartmouth, the City of Lakes. It includes 9 km of wooded walking trails, some of which follow the Canal.

Halifax Public Gardens (1991)

Other attractions

These websites provide information on activities and attractions in Nova Scotia and the Halifax-Dartmouth area.

Halifax and Nova Scotia

• Discover Halifax
• About Nova Scotia

Day trips from Halifax

• National Historic Sites
• Peggy’s Cove
• Mahone Bay
• Lunenburg
• Nova Scotia Wine Country

Peggy's Cove (2002)

Mahone Bay (2019)

Lunenburg (2016)

Explore Nova Scotia on stamps

Canada has issued a wealth of stamps with links to Nova Scotia. Go explore, compliments of the BNAPEX 2020 host, the Nova Scotia Stamp Club.