Halifax

view of the water while sailing

I travelled to Halifax, Nova Scotia (on the east coast of Canada) from July 22 to 29th. I flew there with Flair Airline directly from Windsor. The flight takes about 2:30, but when you arrive in Halifax you are in the Atlantic time zone which is 1 hour later than Windsor. My flight to Halifax was on July 22 in the evening and I returned to Windsor in the afternoon of July 29. Personally, I think Halifax and the landscape are really beautiful - as I have mentioned, I love the landscapes in Canada!

I stayed in a hotel in Dartmouth which is a smaller city near Halifax and from there, I always took the bus into the city, but there is also plenty of accommodation in Halifax. Here's a little tip: if you have the opportunity to rent a car, I would definitely recommend it as the excursions would be much easier. Unfortunately, I booked my trip spontaneously and didn't have the opportunity to rent a car.

On my first day in Halifax, I went to the Nova Scotia Visitor Information Centre located at 1655 Lower Water St. There you can get a walking tour map, "City Tour of Historic Halifax" which has all the important points along with a description of why it so special. The walking tour takes about 2 hours, depending on whether you see all the points or not. But I definitely advise you to do this city tour.

My highlight was the Halifax harbour and the view over Halifax from the Citadel. Halifax Citadel National Historic Site of Canada is a historical museum site where Halifax served as the main base for the fleets of the British Empire. There is a guard outside the entrance, this post is changed every hour, which is very interesting to watch. The way up to the Citadel is not easy, but it is well worth the walk.

I also did a sailing tour with J. Farwell Sailing Tours from Halifax. The sailing tour takes about 2:00 hours and you taste three different Tidal Bay wines, plus there was also a detailed wine explanation, a cheese platter, good vibes and a great view of the water and surrounding coastline.

I also went on a day trip with Aberdeen Bus Tours & Charters. Our tour started in Halifax and went first to Peggy's Cove, which was actually also my highlight of the whole trip. Peggy's Cove Lighthouse and Village is located directly on the Atlantic coast the first lighthouse was built in 1868, although it was replaced by the current lighthouse in 1915. Care should be taken on the rocks, however, as it can get very slippery here when the waves crash on the rocks.

After Peggy's Cove, we drove to Lunenburg. Lunenburg is one of two urban communities in North America that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Particularly characteristic of Lunenburg is the numerous colourful houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is also Canada's oldest German settlement, with a long tradition of fishing and shipbuilding. On the way back, we made a short stop in Mahone Bay which is known for its history of wooden boat building (the main industry of the area in earlier times).

Halifax Harbourfront 

Peggys cove lighthouse

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse

Colourful houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries in Lunenburg

I actually went to Lunenburg twice, because the second time I did a whale-watching tour with Lunenburg Whale Watching Tours at 62 Bluenose Drive. Unfortunately, we weren't lucky that day and didn't see any whales. Instead, we saw lots of seals basking on a rock. Although I didn't see any whales, I really enjoyed the tour it was a great time and I recommend it.

Other nearby destinations could be Annapolis Valley, Bay of Fundy or Cape Breton Island. As I already wrote, I didn't have a car because I booked my trip relatively spontaneously and therefore I did the tours with the tour operator and not on my own. However, to be able to explore more of Nova Scotia, having your own car would be a very good idea.

Halifax, or the entire province of Nova Scotia, are super scenic and definitely worth a visit!

Windsor has many parks that are perfect for a walk, picnic or bike ride. But what can you do away from them? What if you just want to relax and get some vacation vibes? Well, then I recommend Sand Point Beach. You can easily get there by car, there is public parking across the street from the beach. You can also take the bus, but you have to walk the last part (about 1km). By bus, you get on at the "Wyandotte / Sunset" stop right by the University of Windsor and get off at the "Riverdale / Cedarview" stop. One ride cost $3.15 and there is no refund, so you should have the bus money with you. 

At the beach, there are several sunbathing areas and benches where you can spend the day relaxing. But take enough to drink and something to eat with you and don't forget the sunscreen because Windsor is a hot sunny place in the summer.
After the beach, we went to eat at the "Harbour House Waterfront Eatery", because this restaurant was close to the bus stop. As you can guess, the restaurant is a bit more upscale and expensive, but for us, it was more than okay because the food was really delicious, so it was worth the money.

colourful houes in lunenburg, NSAnother beautiful picture of the colourful houses in Lunenburg, NS

Village in Peggys cove houses and water

Village in Pegg's Cove, NS.  When we arrived in the morning, the lighthouse and the village were still shrouded in a layer of fog which gradually lifted after a short while. It looked really beautiful and mysterious. 

seals basking in the sun on rocks Seals basking on rocks on the whale watching tour from Lunenburg, NS