Halifax Regional Municipality

This review is for the City of Halifax. I'm reviewing it as a tourist/visitor and not as a resident. My husband and I come to Halifax every couple of years, so I feel pretty familiar with the downtown core. I've noticed that the food scene has really diversified in the last few years. I personally come to Halifax for the seafood, so I'm happy with just lobster rolls and fish tacos, lol, but I was happy to see more ethnic restaurants around. Admittedly, most of the shops in the downtown core are touristy, but I'm happy that there are lots of shopping options, ranging from vintage clothes at Elsie's and KingsPier (which recently moved to downtown Halifax from Dartmouth), to high end consignment items at Brilliant, to independently owned boutiques like Sweet Pea and Wildflower (that sell locally made/designed pieces), to Atlantic Canada chain stores like Samuel & Co and Pseudio. I like poking around Park Lane Mall and Spring Garden Place (with its quirky multi-level layout). The waterfront is really pretty. I like the hammocks and Adirondack chairs along the water. I find the water really romantic and it makes me happy to walk along the boardwalk hand-in-hand with my husband while eating ice cream, lol. Growing up in Toronto and now living in Ottawa, I find that Halifax is a bit more laid back. People are not in such a hurry and they are a little bit nicer. I also noticed that there are less douchebag drivers in Halifax than in Ottawa and Toronto, haha. Halifax remains one of my favourite vacation destinations :)

Our cruise ship docked into Halifax on very foggy Sunday morning. Also, because it was a national holiday, most of the businesses were closed that day. Pretty bummed because I think this city has a lot to offer for the visitor. Halifax has a lot of maritime history, especially with the Cunard ocean line and the Titanic. After we came departed from our ship, we took a half mile walk along the Harbourwalk toward downtown. Even with the fog, it was a very nice walk along the water front. For an industrial port, the water along the edge is so clear, I could see to the bottom. Kids could see jellyfish bobbing on the surface, and starfish at the bottom. Lots of shops and restaurants along this walk and downtown., but as I mentioned earlier, many of them closed. I would like to visit this place again, but hopefully will chose a time when the weather is clear, and when the city is bustling with activity

Halifax is proof that global cooling is omnipresent. All in all, Halifax is pretty cool for a small city. It is compact, and lively. The winters can be unrelenting and brutally long which makes summer that much more pleasant when it does arrive (usually overnight) Historic buildings downtown are stunning and deserve a close look.

Litter. Sobeys bags, superstore bags and timmies cups everywhere and not too many garbage bins. Have lived here for a year and I've never seen a municipal worker. Not really representing Canada well in the cleanliness department.

Halifax is a city with a small town feel. Unlike most cities, you don't have to walk a few hours to get anywhere. Everything is always 15 minutes away! And if you are in the city around the week of August 6th, you will be treated to the international Busker festival. This is a great event that takes place on the waterfront and features street performers from around the world! Weather-wise, there is an old saying in Halifax, "If you don't like the weather...wait ten minutes." This is very true. You can have fog in the morning, sun midday, rain in the afternoon and a clear, crisp night where you see stars everywhere in the sky. Lets go through the seasons shall we: Spring & Summer - Its hard to figure out when Halifax's spring and summer really begin or end because our weather becomes more unpredictable every year. Thank you Global Warming. This year, 2009, we went from cold days to extremely hot days of approximately 30 degrees Celsius or 86 Fahrenheit. Fall - In my mind, the most beautiful time of year for Halifax and Nova Scotia! If you want to see leaves change their color, go no further then Halifax and its surrounding area. If you want to go into the woods and find a nice hiking trail, Halifax is small enough so that you don't have to drive further than twenty minutes before you are on a beautiful, nice trail where you can enjoy the Fall weather. Winter - White Christmas or green Christmas...who knows. We never know one year to the next what kind of Christmas we are going to have. One thing is for certain though; January to March are our toughest times weather-wise. The people in Halifax definitely live up to the reputation of Maritime kindness. Everyone enjoys a more "laid-back" lifestyle then the bigger cities like Toronto, New York or Vancouver. They definitely know how to balance work with a relaxing lifestyle. I have lived in this great city for almost eleven years and I love it. At times I miss the bustling activity that bigger cities have to offer. But how can I really complain when the city has a nice relaxed attitude, beautiful beaches, parks and trails.