Things to do in  Nova Scotia

Appearance-wise, little has changed in this picturesque Nova Scotia fishing village over the past century. Colorful, salt-weathered fishermen’s houses and the town’s iconic red-and-white lighthouse stand strong along the sea-splashed shore of St. Margaret’s Bay, and lobster traps, jetties, and fishing boats are still all over the place.

Overlooking Downtown Halifax, this strategically set hilltop fortification has presided over the capital of Nova Scotia since 1856, with earlier versions of the fort having stood here since 1749. Today, the former British citadel remembers the military history of Halifax, with exhibits focusing on life within the 19th-century fort.

Fairview Lawn Cemetery is a fascinating place to encounter some of the tragedies that have befallen Halifax, Nova Scotia. Most notably, Fairview is the final resting place of more than 100 people who were lost in the sinking of theTitanic, as well as many others who died in the 1917 Halifax Explosion that devastated the provincial capital.

Cabot Trail comprises 185 miles (298 kilometers) of cliff-edge roadway weaving around the northern half of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island. It offers epic views of the whale-inhabited waters of the Atlantic and Gulf of St. Lawrence, and access to quaint towns and Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Open to the public since 1867—the year Canada achieved confederation—the Halifax Public Gardens is one of the oldest Victorian gardens in North America. This National Historic Site of Canada was built on two formerly adjacent gardens, and today the idyllic urban green space is home to a variety of trees, flowers, and even tropical plants.

Learn about the seafaring history of Nova Scotia—which comprises the Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island—and its strong connection to the Atlantic Ocean at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The museum traces the area’s maritime heritage, from the arrival of French, Irish, and Scottish immigrants by boat to the importance of the boatbuilding and fishing trades.

Dating back to 1749, St. Paul’s Anglican Church is the oldest building in Halifax and the oldest standing Protestant church in Canada. As a National Historic Site of Canada, the church is noteworthy for its stained glass windows, pipe organ, subterranean crypt, and adjacent cemetery.

Halifax’s Old Town Clock has faithfully kept time for the city since its installation in 1803. The clock is manually wound twice a week, and you can hear its chimes throughout the downtown area. With its copper dome, Palladian symmetry, and bright white exterior, the beloved landmark is a fixture of downtown Halifax.

Now the Canadian Museum of Immigration, Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia served as the first glimpse of Canada for many people who came to make this country their home. Interactive exhibits offer visitors the chance to learn what these new residents faced as they left where they came from in hopes of finding something better.

One of the oldest breweries in Canada, Alexander Keith’s Halifax brewery still operates from its original location, which dates back to 1820. A visit here will show you how the company’s popular beers are made—and give you the chance to have a taste.

Halifax City Hall stands at the north end of the city’s historical Grand Parade, which dates back to when Halifax was founded in 1749. The building was constructed between 1887 and 1890 and is now one of the oldest public buildings in Nova Scotia. Using a combination of sandstone and granite, the building’s architecture stands out from other nearby buildings.

The vast green space and wooded trails of Point Pleasant Park, on the southern tip of the Halifax peninsula, contains 185 acres (75 hectares) of oceanside parkland. Bustling with walkers, joggers, and visitors to the seaside city, this park is home to statues, events, and memorials including the Halifax Monument erected in 1969.

This privately owned island is one of several hundred forested islands scattered around Nova Scotia’s Mahone Bay. According to local legend, Oak Island is the site of buried treasure—some speculate that loot was hidden by plundering pirates such as Captain Kidd and Blackbeard. Treasure hunters are still drawn here in search of booty.

This Nova Scotia fishing town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts well-preserved wooden architecture. Visit the boat-filled harbor to take in its brightly painted clapboard homes and heritage buildings. Lunenburg is also the birthplace of the boat featured on the Canadian dime.

The towering columns of Province House are fittingly impressive for the oldest legislative building in Canada. With classic Palladian symmetry and a sizable portrait collection, Province House is an ideal destination for history-lovers. Today, as a meeting place for the Nova Scotia legislative assembly, you can watch history in the making as you observe a House of Assembly sitting.