Halifax self-guided tour

[corpkid]

Me and my partner will be arriving in Halifax on the QM2 on July 3rd. We are not big fans of motorcoach-type tours and prefer to strike out on our own and sample the downtowns of cities. That said, I am thinking of taking the FRED bus from the terminal to downtown and just exploring the city for the day. A few questions:

 

1) What stop to get off of the bus to be "the most downtown"?

2) What are good areas to eat/shop downtown and to sample the local culture?

3) Best place for a seafood lunch downtown?

4) Stuff not to be missed downtown?

 

THANKS!

Dominic

[MonaCD]

Me and my partner will be arriving in Halifax on the QM2 on July 3rd. We are not big fans of motorcoach-type tours and prefer to strike out on our own and sample the downtowns of cities. That said, I am thinking of taking the FRED bus from the terminal to downtown and just exploring the city for the day. A few questions:

 

1) What stop to get off of the bus to be "the most downtown"?

2) What are good areas to eat/shop downtown and to sample the local culture?

3) Best place for a seafood lunch downtown?

4) Stuff not to be missed downtown?

 

THANKS!

Dominic

 

Get off the ship, hang a right and walk. In that walk, with a couple diversions up the hill you will accomplish your quest. There are many shops and restaurants along the boardwalk as well as museums and historical sights along the way. FRED will take you to those places a little further afield but you don't even have to leave the waterfront to fill your day.

 

As for best place for seafood, there are several along to route or one street up, most mention Salty's but there's also Waterfront Wharehouse, Stayners, Murphy's on the Water, McElvies and a few others.

[corpkid]

Thank you! We'll just wander about on the boardwalk and side streets per your recommendation. Is the boardwalk very "touristy?" We like to spend a day at a port exploring the real city so that we can decide if it is a place we'd like to return to and stay for several days (non-cruise). The touristy stuff doesn't really hold up for a week or so if you know what I mean...

 

THANK YOU again!

Dominic

[hvsteve1]

As someone who visits Halifax,I can say the waterfront is kind of touristy. Which one isn't?

 

When I was up there when the QM2 came in,I walked down to the pier to check it out. There is a large area of the pier they fill with booths representing local merchants. I think the concern is that most people on the ship will head off on shore tours and never get a chance to shop. I think I recall a booth for the local tourism agency that can supply you with all sorts of maps,brochures,directions,advice and,possibly,coupons. So,don't worry. You will have an opportunity once off the ship to get plenty of information.

 

Once you get a block or two up the hill from the waterfront,everything is a lot less touristy. You appear to be in port on a Sunday so,be aware,NS has some pretty strict blue laws (right,MonaCD?) and that is something that impressed us on our earlier visits. The local supermarkets actually had to form separate corporations for each portion of the store so they could "close" unacceptable areas on Sunday in order to sell food. I know the local government exempts "tourist related" businesses to allow folks like us to shop if in town for the day. However,I don't know how this will impact the rest of the city once you leave the tourist area.

 

Our first vacation in NS was back when the looney was something like $0.73 US. Despite the normally high prices at places such as Salty's,it was still a cheap vacation. Also,at that time,NS was refunding much of the sales tax to tourists. That runs something like 15%. After leaving,we would send in our receipts and get a check. I wonder how the healthy looney and no tax refund has impacted tourism?

[missymac222]

Once you get a block or two up the hill from the waterfront,everything is a lot less touristy. You appear to be in port on a Sunday so,be aware,NS has some pretty strict blue laws (right,MonaCD?) and that is something that impressed us on our earlier visits. The local supermarkets actually had to form separate corporations for each portion of the store so they could "close" unacceptable areas on Sunday in order to sell food. I know the local government exempts "tourist related" businesses to allow folks like us to shop if in town for the day. However,I don't know how this will impact the rest of the city once you leave the tourist area.

Most stores are open on sundays now. that happened in a time when they were trying to bring in sunday shopping (everything use to be closed on sundays) now most things are open. the hours are a little odd sometimes like a store may not open until 9 am on sunday instead of 7am like every other day.

[maryann ns]

I agree with what Monacd has told you. I'll just add that a walk up Spring Garden Road will bring you to the heart of the city.

 

And yes, things are open on Sundays.

[Thoth]

My favorite walking tour of Halifax is to take a bus to the Citadel at the top of the hill. Enjoy the fort....Then walk down to the waterfront boardwalk...see the Maritime Museum...then back to the ship. Easy if the weather is nice !

Plenty of places to eat or shop as well .

[maryann ns]

Great plan, Thoth. A taxi to the top is only about $10 according to a report here recently. If you are fit, the walk is doable.

[MonaCD]

I came back to add a walk up Spring Garden Road as well. This would be the main downtown shopping area for the "locals". It will also bring you by the law courts, library and up to the public gardens. Then if you take a right at the public gardens you will eventually reach Citadel Hill and beyond that the Halifax Common (after all that walking you might want to take a cab back ;-).

 

I'm not a native Haligonian, have lived hear about 3 years but I love to go down and walk along the waterfront all times of the year. Touristy or not, it's a great walk, especially in the summer and there are often buskers (a great busker festival in August) and other sights, great just to sit and have an ice cream and people watch or watch the ships sail by.

 

At the opposite end of the boardwalk is the casino, which may or may not be of interest and just beyond it is the Navy Dockyards.

 

Also along the boardwalk you will come across the ferry terminal. You could take a ride on the ferry across the basin to Dartmouth and get a nice view of the Halifax waterfront. There's a park near the terminal and a few nice restaurants including MacAskills (serves seafood) and I've heard the Celtic Corner Pub serves up a decent meal as well.

 

And as someone else mentioned, the Sunday shopping laws have been relaxed and most, if not all, stores are open on Sunday, especially the big box stores and grocery stores.

 

You can easily fill your day in Halifax and be seduced by it's charms, you will be compelled to come back and spend more time.

[groinky]

As someone who visits Halifax,I can say the waterfront is kind of touristy. Which one isn't?

 

When I was up there when the QM2 came in,I walked down to the pier to check it out. There is a large area of the pier they fill with booths representing local merchants. I think the concern is that most people on the ship will head off on shore tours and never get a chance to shop. I think I recall a booth for the local tourism agency that can supply you with all sorts of maps,brochures,directions,advice and,possibly,coupons. So,don't worry. You will have an opportunity once off the ship to get plenty of information.

 

Once you get a block or two up the hill from the waterfront,everything is a lot less touristy. You appear to be in port on a Sunday so,be aware,NS has some pretty strict blue laws (right,MonaCD?) and that is something that impressed us on our earlier visits. The local supermarkets actually had to form separate corporations for each portion of the store so they could "close" unacceptable areas on Sunday in order to sell food. I know the local government exempts "tourist related" businesses to allow folks like us to shop if in town for the day. However,I don't know how this will impact the rest of the city once you leave the tourist area.

 

Our first vacation in NS was back when the looney was something like $0.73 US. Despite the normally high prices at places such as Salty's,it was still a cheap vacation. Also,at that time,NS was refunding much of the sales tax to tourists. That runs something like 15%. After leaving,we would send in our receipts and get a check. I wonder how the healthy looney and no tax refund has impacted tourism?

 

I live in Halifax and have sailed into it many times. It is a beautiful sail in and the ship docks right downtown. What you are saying about the grocery stores is very old news. The Supermarkets are all open Sunday and there is a very large Superstore a 10 minute walk from the ship.

 

The stores along the waterfront will all be open. As for eating places, unless you want the view the restaurants along the water alal cater tp tourists and in my opinion not very good.

MacKelvies is by far the best seafood restaurant in the area.

 

Enjoy your vist. Halifax is a beautiful city to spend a day and you don't need to go on expensive ship tours to see and enjoy it.

[epicTLR]

This sounds like a great plan. We will be in Halifax on June 27. Too bad FRED won't start till July. Are there other buses that take us from dock to Citadel? Also, is it easy to walk from Citadel to Public Garden? Thanks!

 

My favorite walking tour of Halifax is to take a bus to the Citadel at the top of the hill. Enjoy the fort....Then walk down to the waterfront boardwalk...see the Maritime Museum...then back to the ship. Easy if the weather is nice !

Plenty of places to eat or shop as well .

[MonaCD]

This sounds like a great plan. We will be in Halifax on June 27. Too bad FRED won't start till July. Are there other buses that take us from dock to Citadel? Also, is it easy to walk from Citadel to Public Garden? Thanks!

Here's a route from Cruise dock to public gardens to Citadel Hill.

 

Walking Route

[epicTLR]

Colleen: thank you very much. The walking route is helpful. However, we have a 3-year-old and a 74-year-old in our party. A long up-hill walk will be a challenge for them. So, there are no regular buses running between dock and citadel/public garden at this time of the year? I guess I'll just have to hire two cabs for the six of us then. BTW, do cab drivers and merchants accept US dollars there? Thanks!

 

Here's a route from Cruise dock to public gardens to Citadel Hill.

 

Walking Route

[MonaCD]

Colleen: thank you very much. The walking route is helpful. However, we have a 3-year-old and a 74-year-old in our party. A long up-hill walk will be a challenge for them. So, there are no regular buses running between dock and citadel/public garden at this time of the year? I guess I'll just have to hire two cabs for the six of us then. BTW, do cab drivers and merchants accept US dollars there? Thanks!

 

I'm afraid I've never taken public transit here so I can't help you much in that respect except to offer a link to the map of transit routes good luck decoding it, I can't see a bus that would take you direct from the cruise terminal to the citadel but you might be able to do it on the #6 bus. I'm sure there will be an information booth in the terminal where someone can give you information on the best route.

 

As to your question regarding the use of USD here, there are many threads on that very topic in this forum if you go back a bit or do a search. The quick answer is some do as a courtesy to their customers but the USD is not legal tender here, you will receive any change in CAD and you may not get a favourable exchage rate as it is an inconvenience for most merchants to deal with USD at the banking end. May be best to get a bit of CAD at a bank machine just in case.

[epicTLR]

Colleen: thanks for your great help!

I'm trying to book a private van tour, but apparently it's already too late. So, we are going to brave the public transit system or cabs. It will be fun!:D

[MonaCD]

Colleen: thanks for your great help!

I'm trying to book a private van tour, but apparently it's already too late. So, we are going to brave the public transit system or cabs. It will be fun!:D

 

You're welcome. You're sure to have a great time here no matter what.

 

 

I'm so often tempted to say, I'll pick you up outside the terminal and take you around myself. But that opens up a whole other kettle of fish (besides the fact I have a job) so I just do what I can here on the boards.

[epicTLR]

It's so generous of you to offer your time on the boards. You make me feel that Nova Scotia is a very friendly place :)

 

Btw, I was lucky to have a van tour booked today for our up-coming visit to Charlottetown, PEI. DD and I are big fans of Anne :)

 

You're welcome. You're sure to have a great time here no matter what.

 

 

I'm so often tempted to say, I'll pick you up outside the terminal and take you around myself. But that opens up a whole other kettle of fish (besides the fact I have a job) so I just do what I can here on the boards.

[Thoth]

It's so generous of you to offer your time on the boards. You make me feel that Nova Scotia is a very friendly place :)

 

Btw, I was lucky to have a van tour booked today for our up-coming visit to Charlottetown, PEI. DD and I are big fans of Anne :)

 

I've taken 12 cruises and found Nova Scotia ( along with New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island) to have the friendliest people. The Maritime provinces seem to be a congenial culture.

[MonaCD]

It's so generous of you to offer your time on the boards. You make me feel that Nova Scotia is a very friendly place :)

 

Btw, I was lucky to have a van tour booked today for our up-coming visit to Charlottetown, PEI. DD and I are big fans of Anne :)

 

Ah, dear Anne, there will be no lack of sights in Anneland. Don't miss out on Matthew's Pizza or Marilla's Ice Cream Parlour :rolleyes: If there's a way to cash in on poor Anne we've found a way. The Green Gables property in Cavendish itself is quite nice though it's been built up quite a bit since my childhood, in fact all of Cavendish has changed considerably in the last 40 years. It's too bad you couldn't take in seeing Anne of Green Gables the Musical, a prerennial favourite and one I never tire of seeing.

 

I'm heading home to PEI next weekend for a visit and, I'm hoping, for a nice feed of lobster. :D

[maryann ns]

I think the simplest plan for you would be to take two taxis from the dock to Citadel Hill, explore there and then walk to the Public Gardens, down Spring Garden road all the way to the waterfront and then explore there to your heart's content.

 

Be sure to go to the Maritime Museum on the waterfront.

[reallyitsmema]

Colleen: thank you very much. The walking route is helpful. However, we have a 3-year-old and a 74-year-old in our party. A long up-hill walk will be a challenge for them. So, there are no regular buses running between dock and citadel/public garden at this time of the year? I guess I'll just have to hire two cabs for the six of us then. BTW, do cab drivers and merchants accept US dollars there? Thanks!

Our cab driver did accept US dollars but any change you get will be in Canadian so don't have just big bills. We paid $10 US for our ride up to the Citadel and it was a mini van so you might be able to fit your whole party into one cab. If you end up with 2 cabs, that is still cheap.

 

The cab drivers are actually looking to do a private tour and weren't too happy to take us only to the Citadel but they are required to take you. Since you originally wanted to book a private van, I would have a discussion with your driver and see what you can negotiate for a private city tour. You only need an hour at the Citadel if you hit the tour right, if you have to wait for a tour then you might need 2 hours. You could then have the cab take you to the Gardens and anywhere else that is on your list.

 

We chose to walk down from the Citadel and then go to all the places we wanted to but there was only my DH and I. We weren't going to the gardens though since we had been there before. It is a beautiful city to walk.

[epicTLR]

Thank you both, Maryann and Reallyitsmema.

I was almost able to book a van tour today with a driver in Halifax. However, when I mentioned that we don't carry a car seat for our three-year-old, the driver told me that it's required by law but he didn't have one either; and to his knowledge no taxi driver in all of Halifax carries a car seat! :(He was very nice and offered to find out if he can borrow a car seat and get back to me next week. I sure hope he gets a car seat, otherwise we have to rely on buses since the taxi option is also gone for us.

 

Fortunately the tour operator in Charlottetown told me that their van is equipped with child car seats.:)

 

Our cab driver did accept US dollars but any change you get will be in Canadian so don't have just big bills. We paid $10 US for our ride up to the Citadel and it was a mini van so you might be able to fit your whole party into one cab. If you end up with 2 cabs, that is still cheap.

 

The cab drivers are actually looking to do a private tour and weren't too happy to take us only to the Citadel but they are required to take you. Since you originally wanted to book a private van, I would have a discussion with your driver and see what you can negotiate for a private city tour. You only need an hour at the Citadel if you hit the tour right, if you have to wait for a tour then you might need 2 hours. You could then have the cab take you to the Gardens and anywhere else that is on your list.

 

We chose to walk down from the Citadel and then go to all the places we wanted to but there was only my DH and I. We weren't going to the gardens though since we had been there before. It is a beautiful city to walk.

[nationaltreasure79]

Does FRED operate on Sundays?

[maryann ns]

Here is an article from the Halifax paper about a company which rents car seats. http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1247380.html

 

http://www.tinytravellers.ca/weAre.php

 

And FRED does operate on Sundays: http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/fred.html

[tjcox9]

 

Fortunately the tour operator in Charlottetown told me that their van is equipped with child car seats.:)

 

Good info here. Thanks to all!!

 

epicTLR, would you be kind enough to share the info on the tour operator in Charlottetown. You can contact me at tessin at bellsouth dot net.

 

Cheers............