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Halifax is the biggest metropolis in Atlantic Canada and a metropolis that’s simple to like. It is giant, pure harbor is the middle of town and comes alive throughout the summer time months. It was the primary cease on our East Coast highway journey and an amazing place to be taught concerning the historical past of the Maritimes. The heat of the individuals and the overall vibrancy of town, charmed us instantly. Halifax makes a improbable vacation spot for all ages, nevertheless, this information focuses on what to do in Halifax with teenagers and tweens.
8 Issues to Do in Halifax with Teenagers and Tweens
Harborfront
The Harbourfront must be the very first thing you do on any go to to Halifax with youngsters of all ages. Wander alongside the boardwalk to see the navy ships, yachts, buskers and musicians and views of Halifax harbour. There’s a nice playground for little youngsters and our older youngsters liked enjoying on the huge wave. The Halifax Harbourfront presents a plethora of eating places and cute eaters. The well-known PEI Cows ice creamery has each an ice cream store and a retail merchandise retailer. You too can pattern all of the Canadian and East Coast classics together with lobster rolls, poutines, donairs, and extra. We actually loved visiting the brand new Peace by Chocolate store after having watched the film by the identical identify about Syrian refugees who misplaced their chocolate manufacturing unit in Syria, got here to Canada and began once more.
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
This excellent museum is situated on the Pier 21 nationwide historic website on the Halifax seaport which operated from 1928-1971. Over 1 million new Canadians entered right here and the Museum tells the story of their experiences, in addition to Canadian immigration over the ages. Our daughter is taking gr 10 historical past in summer time faculty and there have been unimaginable linkages to what she was studying. She a lot most popular this discipline journey to her precise lessons! This could positively be included in your Halifax with teenagers itinerary.
The Museum could be very trendy with extremely highly effective exhibitions that our children actually loved. Excursions are provided often all through the day which actually improve the expertise by serving to guests connect with the journeys that immigrants take. As Canadians we’re extremely happy with the multi-cultural society we stay in and this Museum tells the essential story of the political, historic and social expertise and results of immigration. Whereas there are actions and reveals to curiosity youngsters, this Museum might be most impactful on teenagers and teenagers. Plan to spend a minimal of two hours.
Grownup $15.50, youth (6-16) $10.25, household (2+3) $35.50. Open every day 9:30-5:30.
Halifax Citadel
You do not have to look laborious to search out the Halifax Citadel. Situated proper within the downtown, the grassy hill that the Citadel prominently websites upon is seen all through the downtown space. The Halifax Citadel was chosen in 1749 to guard Halifax harbor and is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Halifax with tweens, teenagers and children. You’ll step again in historical past with costumed guides and workers that can clarify the function of the fortress and what life was like inside the fort.
The location is run by Parks Canada as a Nationwide Historic Website and has an Xplorers program for kids 6-11 that you could decide up on the Info desk. Youngsters full mini-quest actions all through the Citadel and may obtain a small memento. Nonetheless, teenagers and tweens are usually not neglected. There’s a nice spy journey that children aged 9 to fifteen will take pleasure in (my 14 yr previous was absolutely into it) can decide up as effectively. They’re given a comic book booklet with cipher and a satchel with compass, flashlight, and ruler to find clues to assist decode the message. The spy journey took our children 45 minutes to finish and was an amazing introduction to the Citadel.
Excursions of the Citadel are provided each hour in each English and French (45 min tour). The tour guides are college college students in costume and provide nice info on the Citadel. After our spy journey, we joined a tour to be taught extra.
If you’re there at midday, you’re going to get to expertise the every day cannon firing, a spotlight of visiting Halifax with youngsters. Plan to spend a minimal of two hours there, though you can double that when you go to all of the Museum exhibitions (included).
Grownup (peak season) $12.50, youth are free. Open every day 9-5.
Maritime Museum
Nova Scotia has a wealthy maritime historical past and this Museum showcases all facets of it from small boatbuilders, to wartime crusing ships, to steam liners. There are quite a few full-size boats and complex fashions of boats and ships all through historical past. You too can be taught concerning the Halifax Explosion, see artifacts from the Titanic and study treasure hunters.
We lucked out and confirmed up on a Tuesday night, which is their free admission evening.
Grownup (peak season) $9.55, youth $5.15 (peak), household $24.75. Wednesday-Monday 9:30-5:30, Tuesdays 9:30-8. Free admission Tuesdays 5:30-8 pm.
Harbor Ferry to Dartmouth
I like water-based public transit. It offers you a harbor cruise for a fraction of the worth of a vacationer boat cruise. Catch the ferry on the Halifax waterfront and head throughout to Dartmouth. Get pleasure from being out on the water and the nice views and spend a while wandering round downtown Dartmouth. Better of all, youth are fully free, making this a really low cost factor to do in Halifax.
Adults $2.75/one-way, youth are free. It’s essential pay with precise change. Financial institution machine and alter machine on the ferry terminal.
Alexander Keith’s Brewery Tour
A brewery tour won’t usually be in your record for issues to do together with your youngsters, nevertheless this one must be. It is without doubt one of the oldest breweries in North America and the interval costumes, tune, dance and video games might be a success with the youngsters, whereas the beer tastings might be a success with the adults.
If in case you have visited all the above sights and are in Halifax longer, it is a good exercise so as to add to your itinerary.
Adults $29.95, youth (11-18) $12.95, youngsters are free. Excursions each hour between noon-8pm. Excursions are 45 minutes. Bookings wanted throughout peak season.
Take a Halifax Tour
The preferred tour in Halifax is the Halifax Harbor Hopper Tour, an amphibious car that can present you Halifax from land and sea. There are additionally crusing and yacht excursions to expertise Halifax harbour.
The close by Peggy’s Cove lighthouse is a Canadian and Nova Scotia icon. If you’re not visiting by yourself, you may guide a tour that features a go to to the lighthouse, in addition to Mahone Bay and Lunenburg.
Lobster and Seafood Meal
You’ll be able to’t go to the East Coast with out consuming a lobster or seafood meal. Some good recommendations of the place to eat in Halifax are Salty’s, 5 Fisherman, Goldwater Seafood, and South Shore Fish Shack . For those who head to Peggy’s Cove, pattern all the things lobster at Shaw’s Touchdown the place you may style lobster rolls, complete lobster, a lobster grilled cheese, and even a lobster poutine. After all in addition they have scrumptious mussels, fish truffles and fish and chips.
Festivals in Halifax
There appears to at all times be a competition taking place in Halifax in the summertime. Whereas we had been there, the TD Jazz Competition was on, in addition to the Halifax Mural Competition. Verify the Halifax web site earlier than your go to to see what is occurring.
If you’re into mountain biking, do not miss trying out the superior trails at Macintosh Run, simply on town limits. The paths are impeccably effectively maintained and the using is Moab-like with huge granite slabs all over the place.
How Lengthy to Spend in Halifax
Halifax is pretty compact and you’ll see the foremost websites in two days. Nonetheless, permit your self just a few extra to take pleasure in this vigorous maritime metropolis and you’re going to get a glimpse of Halifax that goes deeper.
The place to remain in Halifax
Halifax Marriott Harborfront – this lodge is in an amazing location proper alongside the harborfront with nice views and rooms appropriate for households (2 double beds). There may be additionally a pool and health centre. Verify the most recent costs right here.
The Sutton Place – one of the best and most luxurious lodge in Halifax, the Sutton Place’s handy location with nice views, gorgeous design and glorious workers will impress you. Rooms are arrange effectively for households (2 queen beds). Verify the most recent costs right here.
Shubie’s Campground – in case you are on the lookout for the closest campground to Halifax, Shubie’s in Dartmouth is your house. The campground has a extremely nice location set in Shubie Park with nice trails, a lake with seashore and even a motorbike pump observe. The campground has a playground, tennis court docket, laundry and good services.