Gorgeous George

For many visitors to Canada, Halifax is the gateway to the Maritimes, which are Canada's three eastern provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

It's the busy, working capital of Nova Scotia, with lots of options when it comes to accommodation and eating out. It has an excellent modern airport which is only a thirty minute drive from the centre.

We returned home via Halifax International Airport and the experience, in stark contrast to recent air-side escapades was a very pleasant one. 

Nova Scotia Welcome Centre

But we arrived by car after a stopover in Fredericton and you'll want to visit the Nova Scotia Welcome Centre in Amherst. You can't miss it's faux lighthouse as you cross from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia on the Trans-Canada Highway. The staff are very welcoming and there's a plethora of information in the form of brochures and maps, as well as the usual gift and souvenir store.

Halifax waterfront, Nova Scotia

You can keep yourself occupied for a couple of days in Halifax, the waterfront is a pleasant area full of bustling shops, bars and restaurants, and unlike parts of downtown Halifax it's pedestrian friendly. The huge cruise ships can dwarf the port buildings and are a sight to behold hold up close. We also got to bag our first ocean based lighthouse of our Canada trip.
Georges Island Lighthouse is on the western side of Georges Island in the Halifax Harbour and pretty much visible from the whole of the waterfront, which makes a nice back drop to a having a beer.

Georges Island Lighthouse, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Our personal highlight of Halifax was catching the short ferry across to Dartmouth.
Evans sea food restaurant is a no frills affair based in the ferry terminal and we headed straight there. I ate wonderful sea food chowder - my first one one of the trip and as it turned out, the best chowder of the holiday.

Good Chowder!

We enjoyed our short time in Halifax. It was the perfect base to visit the immediate lighthouses of the South Shore before setting off on our own lighthouse trail around Nova Scotia.
More of that next time.