Harbour views in Halifax

We still aren't really sure how we set our sites on Halifax, Nova Scotia but I'm really happy we did. It all started when one of Hub's friends needed a weekend away.  He's one of those friends who we're really close to (he actually married us, btw) but our schedules never seem to mesh. We picked a weekend and decided we wanted somewhere with a semi short flight and somewhere cold (in hind sight, I'm not sure why this sounded so appealing at the time). One thing led to another and bam, Halifax it was.

I really can't say enough great things about Halifax. The views are fantastic, there's tons to do and the food is fabulous. We landed midday and after clearing customs, our first stop was finding a place with fish and chips. Since Halifax is on the water there's tons of great choices if you just pick an exit and drive, you're bound to find somewhere sooner or later.

This may have been a hole in the wall, but by far the best meal of the trip

Once we'd finished chowing down we headed towards the Airbnb. We were able to find a place that was less than a mile from pretty much everything we wanted to do in Halifax. After settling in, we ventured off towards the Citadel and the Clock Tower. It was at this point we realized, we may have underestimated just how cold these winds from the harbor would be.  I seem to remember we were all complaining of headaches and jawaches from the cold... anyway, we didn't let that stop us. We took in the views and even learned a bit about the Citadel.  It was originally a fort designed to protect the city in the 1700's, which makes sense because it was at the one the highest points in the city.

By this point, we'd nearly frozen already so we walked over to the ScotiaBank Center and purchased tickets to the Mooseheads minor league hockey game (when in Canada, am I right). We then headed down towards the harbor and walked by the waterfront for a bit before heading over to Alexander Keith's brewery for a tour. If you're a beer drinker or even a history buff, this is a must do! The tour included five samples but we had different guides explaining the history behind the brewery and the culture during the time the brewery was established. It even included a free sample from the Red Stag bar which is right next door! Of course we stopped over after the tour was finished and partook in the spirits as well as dinner.

This is Saint George's Island, rumored to have been a part of the Citadel strategy but also beautiful. In the summer ferry's will take you over for exploring the island

This is a tribute to the many Canadian soldiers who took their last steps in Canada at this very point

Maybe we were enjoying the spirits too much?!? Never.

Next step - Mooseheads! We walked over to the ScotiaBank center and found our seats. We had a great time even though the Mooseheads lost. We even got to see a guy lose a tooth! And we may have had someone's birthday mentioned on the jumbotron...

At the end of the game, we'd had enough excitement for one day. We decided to hit the hay and wake up early to continue the adventure. 

After a good nights rest, we woke up ready to take on Nova Scotia!  We bundled up, headed out to find a Tim Horton's for some of Canada's finest breakfast foods and then we were on our way to Peggy's Cove. The original plan was to do Peggy's Cove for the views and then head over to Polly's Cove for a hike but once we got to Peggy's we realized we wouldn't have enough time to hike and hit all the other stops we had planned. Eventually, we plan on going back but for this trip - man was Peggy's worth it!

Technically, this was on the drive to Peggy's but still gorgeous

The water was crystal clear, it was amazing

We could not get over the views and definitely can't wait to go back

Hey Hollywood!

We were bummed we wouldn't be able to have time for a hike but we desperately wanted to see the Annapolis Valley and the Bay of Fundy (also, maybe, just maybe... stop for some wine, too).  It was over an hour but the views totally made the drive worth it. We first stopped at Blomidon Winery.  We had chosen this spot because it was close to the bay and the views looked astonishing. We were bummed to find out that because it was off season, we would not be able to partake in a tasting but we were able to buy by the glass and try. We opted for a glass of the bubbly red and man oh man was it worth it! Hubs and I weren't driving so we also tried a glass of the Pinot Noir and I bought a bottle for us to share later of the "Blow Me Down" because the name is too funny to pass up.  We were able to sit and talk to the employee for a while and she helped us figure out a great place for dinner and the best place to see the bay.  We thanked her for the company and suggestions, took some photos and headed out.

We pulled up to the Lookoff which was only a few minutes north of the winery and took in the views of the countryside and the bay.

We wanted to get a bit closer to the bay, so we kept going. A fun fact - the Bay of Fundy has the largest tidal changes in the world. Don't believe me- check it out on wiki! Once we got to the bay, we did climb a tad on the rocks but we were really careful (and lucky it was low tide). The photos we were able to snag were incredible.

By this point, we were ready to be inside for a while and a tiny bit hungry. We found the Port Pub and pulled off for some refreshments. Not surprising, we all chose seafood again and we tried a sampler of some more local wines. If you ever find yourself in Port Williams, I highly recommend this place. Check out the views!

Despite wanting to stay longer and enjoy the scenery, it was time to get back to Halifax. We were excited for more adventures at the Waterfront and the SeaBridge.We were hoping to get back in time for the parade of lights where the city celebrates with Christmas lights but we weren't able to get back before it ended. Nevertheless, we continued to the end of the waterfront where there are some "drunken lamposts" that we wanted to check out!

It was getting late (and of course was still cold) so we decided to try a place called Salty's. We had heard a rumor about their lobster roll (definitely worth trying) so we had to taste it! Since it was our last night, we indulged in some more Alexander Keith's and splurged on a desert called Cadix.  As we made the trek back to the Airbnb, we were bummed the trip was coming to an end but excited because we still have a couple more adventures coming up this year! Til next time y'all!

Pano at the Lookoff of the Bay and Annapolis Valley

Pano of the bay

Pano at Peggy's Cove