Halifax

As you stand on the end of Halifax’s wooden wharf, smelling the briny tang of the Atlantic, fog wafts over the harbor, mysteriously obscuring the tiny green tuft of Georges Island and its picture-perfect lighthouse. Ship horns echo in the mist, as giant cargo ships slide past naval vessels, fishing boats and historic sailing ships. Halifax was first settled as a British fortress in 1749, and today this Nova Scotia city is a bustling port town and the historic, cultural and entertainment heart of Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Its compact and walkable downtown is jammed with history. And as befits a port town, global influences mingle in a recently revitalized dining scene, cutting-edge art shows, vibrant music performances and much more.