Parks & Hikes

In warm weather there’s nothing better than getting outside to hike or relax in a park. There are so many parks in and around Halifax that it would be impossible to list them all, but here are a few of my favorites.

Point Pleasant Park

It’s hard to imagine a visit to Halifax without mentioning Point Pleasant Park. This park makes up the entire southern tip of the Halifax Peninsula and has 39Km of walking trails. It is dog friendly with some areas being off leash. Not only is the park beautiful but it has a rich history. You can find the Prince Of Wales Tower, which was built in 1796, it was used as a powder magazine, and it is a National Historic Site of Canada. 

Public Gardens

The Public Gardens opened in 1867 – so it’s as old as Canada! They are Victorian style gardens with a couple of ponds, fountains and lots of places to sit and relax. It is only open seasonally from May 1st until November 1st.

Sir Sandford Fleming Park

Known as The Dingle to most locals, this park is located on the North West Arm of Halifax. This park was donated to Halifax by Sir Sandford Fleming – the creator of standard time zones! There are paved walking/biking trails, a sandy beach with a boat launch and lots of bird watching to be had. Make sure to climb to the top of the Dingle Tower for some great views!

Peggy’s Cove & Swissair Flight 111 Memorial

A bit outside of Halifax but Peggy’s Cove is iconic to Nova Scotia, and free to visit! Explore around the lighthouse, just stay off the black rocks! You can hike Polly’s Cove and get a different view of the area. Just down the street you can visit the Swissair Flight 111 memorial, where you can learn and remember the 229 people that died in the crash in 1998. 

The Beach

One of my favorite things about Nova Scotia is how close we are to the ocean. I love visiting the beach, although they are a little far away from Halifax, you can have your toes in the sand after a short drive. Crystal Crescent Beach is only about 40 minutes from downtown and has beautiful white sand and free parking! Rainbow Haven is closer if you’re on the Dartmouth side, and is a nice beach that has change rooms and washrooms onsite. 

Related: The Best Beaches In Nova Scotia

Crystal Crescent Beach

Bluff Trail

The Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail is located in Timberlea and is comprised of 4 loops. The full 4 loops are 30km long, and would require camping. The first loop called the Pot Lake Loop is 9km long and should take 3-4 hours to complete. Parts of this hike are difficult, but the wilderness is beautiful. 

Duncan’s Cove

If you’re looking for a hike with beautiful views in Halifax, this is the one! Duncan’s Cove is about 35 minutes from downtown. It can be a bit challenging at times, as it is not maintained. The hike will likely take you 3-4 hours round trip during this 8K hike. The views of the Atlantic ocean are amazing, and you can explore 2 WW2 era bunkers. 

Museums

Luckily there are some free museums in Halifax, and also some free museum nights at some museums that aren’t normally free. You can learn a lot about Halifax history and art.

Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame

**Currently closed and will reopen in a new location**

The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame highlights Nova Scotian athletes in all sports. Athletes like Sidney Crosby, Colleen Jones and Ellie Black all have a place in the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame!

Halifax Naval Museum

The Halifax Naval Museum is located on the Canadian Forces Base Halifax (Stadacona) and showcases the history of Canadian Naval forces throughout the years. You can view uniforms, weapons, documents, models and more. It is free to enter, you just need to show government issued ID at the Gottingen Street gate to CFB.

Listen To Jenn and Meggan on the The Travel Mug Podcast chat about Halifax

Free Museum Nights

Discovery Centre

The Discovery Centre is a “hands-on” science centre that is definitely kid approved! Learn about energy and its many forms, health and how our bodies work, explore flight in a flight simulator and explore oceans and weather. It is only free on Wednesdays from 5-8pm (not currently due to Covid-19)

Related: Indoor Things To Do In Halifax

Art Gallery Of Nova Scotia

FREE ADMISSION Daily July 1- August 31 2021!

The Art Gallery Of Nova Scotia highlights mostly Canadian and Nova Scotian artists with some international artists as well. Although all of the art is interesting, I love seeing Maud Lewis’ house and art showcased. Her home was restored and brought into the museum, and you can see so much of her work on display.

Architecture & History

We have lots of interesting architecture in Halifax if you look for it. Some of it new, and some of it as old as Canada with a rich history, there’s lots to explore!

Halifax Central Library

A visit to the Library is always a great way to spend the day, and the Halifax Central Library has so much to do. First you can check out the amazing architecture, since it was built in 2014, it has won awards for it’s design. The criss cross staircases always remind me of a modern Hogwarts! The library hosts workshops and also has space to use to record music, podcasts, etc. and many areas to sit and read!

Province House

Did you know that you can actually take a tour of Province House? You can actually watch proceedings of the Nova Scotia House Of Assembly, and the building itself is a National Historic Site that you can tour and learn about its history. It also has a library that you can use. 

Citadel Hill & The Clock Tower

Citadel Hill and the Halifax Town Clock are almost synonymous with Halifax. Although you have to pay to go into the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, you can take in views of Halifax from the top of the hill for free. There are plaques that describe how Halifax was destroyed during the Halifax explosion in 1917. The “Old Town Clock” was built 1803, and is now a Classified Federal Heritage Building. Unfortunately you can’t go inside at this time.

Related: Visiting The Halifax Citadel

St. Paul’s Anglican Church

St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Halifax’s Grand Parade is the oldest building in Halifax, and also the oldest existing Anglican place of worship in Canada. It was built in 1750, and still hosts weekly services and community events. They have free guided tours all year round. The building survived the Halifax Explosion with little damage. However you can still see a “face” in one of the windows, it is said to be the profile of a deacon that was standing there when the explosion took place. Despite attempts to clean the glass, the outline remains!

Sports & Activities

Playing a sport and being active doesn’t have to cost money! There are so many ways to play and try different things in Halifax

Halifax Common

Almost the heart of Halifax you’ll find the Halifax Common, or to us locals “the Commons”. It is a large park with softball diamonds, a cricket ground, tennis courts, a playground and a skateboard park. You can relax on the grass or meet up with some friends for a game of frizbee! There is also a city-owned pool for those hot summer days. 

The Oval

The Emera Oval is in the Halifax Common and opened in 2011 for the speed skating event at the Canada Games, which was hosted in Halifax that year. Now it is a free spot to go ice skating in the winter, with free skate rentals, and rollerblading in the summer, also with free skate rentals! 

St Mary’s Boat Club

I had no idea, but you can borrow canoes and stand up paddle boards from St. Mary’s Boat Club on weekends from June 1st to September 30th for an hour for free! They will also supply all safety equipment! What a great way to try out some water sports for free.

Snowshoe and Sport Equipment Rentals

You can rent Snowshoes from many HRM recreation centres. Perfect for those snowy days! Some recreation centres have Nordic walking poles, skateboards, tennis rackets, and other sports equipment. Check out this list to see what the closest rec centre to you has. 

Free Festivals & Events

So many free festivals around Halifax throughout all seasons! We have checked many of these out, and will be attending new ones this year.

The Buskers

July 31st – August 2nd 2021

The Halifax Busker Festival has been a staple on the Halifax Waterfront for more than 20 years. Every summer performers from around the world come to our city to show us their talents. We love checking out some of the performances. While it is technically a free event, the performers do rely on donations since they are not paid to attend the event. See the schedule and more information here.  

Halifax Jazz Fest

July 14th – 17th 2021

Halifax Jazz Festival is the largest music festival in Nova Scotia! The event has concerts all throughout the week that you have to buy tickets for, but the afternoon concerts are generally free! They also put on concerts in the Spring concerts for free. Check out their website for the 2021 event calendar! 

Nocturne

October – 2021 dates TBD

Nocturne: Art At Night is a free festival that showcases visual arts. It takes place in downtown Halifax and downtown Dartmouth, and numerous businesses and community organizations get involved. Wander around in search of art, you’re sure to find something awesome! For all the official info check out their website.

FIN Outdoor

In the summer FIN puts on a series of free movies in parks around Halifax for everyone to enjoy! Last summer the theme was sing-a-longs, and they showed classics like Grease, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. See their website for more info.

Nova Multifest

VIRTUAL in 2021 Alderney Landing, Dartmouth.

At Nova Multifest you’ll be able to experience performances, demonstrations and exhibits that highlight the multiculturalism of Nova Scotia. Admission is free, but delicious food from around the world will be available to purchase!

East Coast Kite Festival

August 21-22 2021, Citadel Hill

This family-friendly free event takes place on the Garrison Grounds at the Halifax Citadel. There will be a bouncy castle, face painting, kite workshops, kites for sale or rent and a display of unique kites! You can bring your own to fly as well. See their Facebook page for more information

Holiday Parade Of Lights

November 2021 -Date TBD

The Holiday Parade Of Lights in Downtown Halifax is a great event to kick off your holiday season. This approximately 2 hour parade will have festive floats, marching bands, dancers, great costumes, and of course, Santa!

Halifax Waterfront

You can’t have Halifax without the water, it’s really in our blood. Luckily there’s lots of free things to do on the Halifax waterfront!

Halifax Seaport Market

The Halifax Seaport Market is the oldest farmer’s market in North America, and for good reason! The market itself is free to enter, although there are a lot of delicious foods, beautiful art, and unique crafts available to purchase. On Saturdays local musicians usually provide some nice background music while you browse the vendors. 

Related: One Day In Halifax Nova Scotia

The Boardwalk

How can you mention Halifax without mentioning our beautiful waterfront boardwalk. It is 4km long and the most visited attraction in Nova Scotia. It’s also totally free to walk along. Of course there are many shops and restaurants along the way, and sometimes ice-cream is worth splurging on!

Scotiabank Family History Centre at Pier 21

If you are researching your family history, someone at the Scotia Family History Centre inside the Pier 21 Immigration Museum can help you find immigration records, and ship information. It is free to go in (you don’t have to pay the entrance fee to Pier 21), the only thing you have to pay for is if you want copies of records.

Free Day Trips From Halifax

There are lots of free things to do outside of Halifax too! Here are my favourite day trips from Halifax that will only cost you gas money:

Burntcoat Head

Experience the world’s highest tides by walking on the ocean floor at Burntcoat Head Park, only about an hour and 14 minutes from downtown Halifax.

Read more about Burntcoat Head Park

Cape Split

Cape Split is my favourite hike in Nova Scotia, not just because I got engaged there! It is about 15km long round trip and it takes about 4-5 hours to complete. It is about an hour and a half from downtown Halifax.

Read more about Hiking Cape Split

Oak Island Interpretive Centre

If you’re obsessed with The Curse Of Oak Island TV show like I am, then you probably want to visit Oak Island! The tour tickets sell out fast, but you can visit the Oak Island Interpretive Centre for free! It’s a small museum that displays things found on the island.

Read more about visiting Oak Island

Final Thoughts

See?! I told you there were so many free things to do in Halifax! Did I miss anything? What is your favourite free thing to do in Halifax?

Find more things to do in Halifax 

This weekend I got the chance to check out one of my new favorite places; The Tartan Tea House on the Bedford Highway, just outside of Halifax Nova Scotia. I had been looking for a place to take my Mom for her birthday and this seemed like the perfect fit! I had way more fun than I could have imagined so naturally I have to tell you about it too! The Tartan Tea House is very unique because it is the only place to find traditional british afternoon tea in Halifax! Complete with tea, scones and homemade clotted cream, you’ll be transported across the pond for the afternoon. 

Important Info

The Tartan Tea House is open Wednesday through Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday & Sunday 12pm-5pm. The last sitting for afternoon tea is at 4pm. Reservations are recommended but not required. You can book online using their website or call them directly at 902-832-0439

Location

The Tartan Tea House is located at 1149 Bedford Highway, Bedford. It is about 20-25 minutes by car from downtown Halifax. It is also accessible by Halifax Transit on route 80 from Sackville or downtown Halifax. There is parking onsite however there are not many spots. 

Looking for other indoor things to do in Halifax? Check it out here!

Menu

The menu at Tartan Tea House has 7 different afternoon tea services with different sandwiches, sweets, quiches, and traditional scones which are all served with your choice of tea. If you don’t want afternoon tea they also have a dessert menu to choose from. Everything looked so delicious it was hard to choose! There is also a tea service for young “princes and princesses” that comes with some more kid friendly options and your choice of tea, hot chocolate, juice or milk.  My Mom ended up choosing the Victorian Delight, which included 2 sandwiches, a scone with either lemon curd or jam and clotted cream, and 3 little desserts with a pot of tea. I went for all sweets and chose the Bedford Sweet Bliss which included a scone with either lemon curd or jam and clotted cream, and 4 delicious sweets with a pot of tea.  The tea menu is extensive with many different varieties. The ones we chose were black tea. My mom got the Earl Grey tea, and I chose the Tartan Tea House signature tea “Tartan Chai”. I like how the menu described each tea and it’s origins so you really knew what you were getting. Our server, the owner told us if we didn’t love the tea we chose not to worry – she would get us another! I really enjoyed both mine and Moms.  Tea is served a teapot which you strain into your cup. They also refilled our pot with hot water, so we had plenty of tea to go with all our treats.

The Experience

What really sets the Tartan Tea House apart from any other place is the service & experience. The owner, Amal was our server and you can tell how much she loves the Tea House. She explained everything on the menu and was proud to tell us that most things on the menu are made in house, with the exception of the bread for sandwiches and a few of the sweets which are sent from a bakery in Montreal.  All of the beautiful china teacups and dishes are mostly picked by Amal herself from thrift stores, she was happy to show us her collection of cups, Royal Dalton figurines and other decorations. She has a collection of hats to wear during tea, if you don’t have your own to bring from home! We enjoyed playing a bit of dress up while waiting for our tea to be served.  One of the best parts of the experience is that you don’t feel rushed. Afternoon tea is meant to be a leisurely event, and Mom and I were able to take our time, savoring each of our treats and enjoying our tea. 

Final Thoughts

We’ll be back! I can’t say enough good things about the tea house and all it has to offer. I hope you’ll visit for afternoon tea in Halifax!

Visiting Halifax? Check out all our Halifax posts!

Important Information

Address & Parking

The address is 5425 Sackville St. Halifax, NS. There are two roads to access the Citadel, one entrance is on Sackville St, and one is on Rainnie Drive. The Halifax Citadel is well serviced by Halifax Transit as well, with bus stops close by.

There is a limited amount of parking onsite for a fee of $3.15. Parking in Halifax can sometimes be difficult and you may have to park close by and walk up to the Citadel. Be aware it is a large hill in case anyone in your group may have trouble walking.

Moneywagon [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Hours & Cost

The hours vary depending on the season, so be sure to check before you go!

May 7th – June 30th: 9am-5pm

July 1st – August 31st: 9am-6pm

September 1st – October 31st: 9am-5pm

November 1st – May 6th: Grounds are open but you cannot access inside the fortress

Fees also depend on the season

Peak season is June 1st to September 15th, and shoulder season is May 7th to 31st and September 16th to October 31st.

Adult price is $11.70 in peak season and $7.80 in the shoulder season. Youth under 17 is free, and there are discounts for seniors.

You can also get a seasonal pass for $29.40 per adult, or if you’re visiting a lot of National Parks this year, look into getting the Parks Canada Discovery Pass for $67.70 per adult.

Food

If you’re hungry on your visit, there is a small cafe inside the fortress serving up coffee, sweets and light lunches. There are also many delicious restaurants within walking distance in the downtown area of Halifax.

What Is The Halifax Citadel?

Being that Halifax is on the Atlantic ocean, of course it needed to be protected from attacks coming from the sea. The Halifax Citadel was built high above the city so that soldiers could see into the harbour. There have been 4 fortresses on the site, but the one that stands today was built in 1856, and was officially called Fort George. Our fortress must have looked intimidating because it was never attacked.

Wondering what else to do in Halifax? Check out my One Day In Halifax post, or these other Halifax articles!

What To Expect On Your Visit To The Halifax Citadel

Guided Tours

If you’re interested in a guided tour, there are many throughout the day starting at about 5 past the hour that take around 45 minutes to 1 hour. There are offered in both French and English.

Exhibits

When you first arrive to the fortress, make sure to pick up a map so you don’t miss out on anything! There are so many exhibits to check out, and there’s usually someone there to explain how things worked in the Victorian era.

There are so many things to see, you’ll want to make sure you have a couple of hours so you don’t miss anything.

The Halifax Citadel Army Museum showcases Canadian Military history from WW1 to Vimy Ridge and to the present. You can see firearms, outfits, and learn about how soldiers lived overseas to protect our country.

There are classrooms to explore, bunks, and even a recreation of WW1 trenches. We got a kick out of the ambulance parked in the middle of the fortress, since my husband is a paramedic!

Sentry Change

Every hour while the fortress is open, you can watch the changing of the Sentry at the front gate.

Soldier For A Day

If you really want to know what it’s like to be a Victorian era soldier, then you can sign up to be a Soldier for a day! They’ll dress you up in uniform (complete with kilt!) and you’ll march into parade square, practice drills and even get to learn how to fire a rifle or play the drums! You’ll also be provided with light refreshments with your fellow soldiers.

This is an extra cost of $199 per adult or $175 per child. There are discounts for groups of 2-4. You must reserve this experience at least 48 hours in advance. The whole experience is about 3 hours.

Halifax Citadel Ghost Walk

Of course any good National Historic Site is haunted right? After dark on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays mid July through the end of October you can take a ghost walk with a guide dressed in period costumes. Carrying only a lantern for light they’ll take you down into the prison cells, and a few other places where unexplained things have happened. A man who fell down a well, as well as bride whose husband never made it to the altar are both said to haunt the fortress.

We had a great time when we took this tour in 2017.

Tickets for the tour cost $14 for adults and $8 for youth. There are seniors discounts, and discounts for a family of 2 adults/2 children.

Tickets go on sale on Sunday the week of the tours, so you must buy them for the same week you plan to attend. They are for sale on their Eventbrite page. The tour begins at 8:30 and lasts about 70 minutes.

Final Thoughts

If you enjoy National Historic Sites and/or military history then you’ll love spending time at the Halifax Citadel. The Ghost Walk is also worth experiencing.

Check out my post about the Fortress of Louisbourg if you’re headed to Cape Breton and learn about their fortress!

Have you been to the Citadel? What was your favorite part?

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Halifax Nova Scotia is such a vibrant little city, but with so much to do, can you really see Halifax in one day? I now call Halifax home, and love living here. If you’re visiting on a cruise or just stopping by on a Nova Scotia road trip, here are my favorite things to do with one day in Halifax.

Start With Breakfast

I love eating, especially brunch food so this isn’t a surprise! If you are here for breakfast, head over to The Bluenose II for some delicious eats. It’s classic diner food, and breakfast is served all day! If you’re in town on the weekend I highly recommend Le Bistro by Liz, brunch is fantastic and comes with a mimosa, bloody mary or caesar.

After you’re full I highly suggest walking it off on the waterfront

Halifax Waterfront

We are pretty famous for our waterfront here in Halifax. The boardwalk is approx 3km (2 miles) long if you walk the whole thing. Stop in and check out some of our local stores like Amos Pewter. There are some interesting museums on the waterfront as well, Pier 21 (close to the cruise port) is an immigration museum, where you can learn about how newcomers to Canada became part of our country, or you can trace your own family history. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic explores boat building and naval exhibits, and even houses some Titanic memorabilia. Don’t forget to explore the Historic Properties at the end to see some beautifully restored 18th century buildings.

For lunch I recommend grabbing something along the waterfront from a food stand, or the Stubborn Goat Beer Garden. The Halifax Seaport Market is open 7 days a week and is Canada’s longest running farmer’s market, there’s always delicious food to be found there. Also check out Cow’s Ice-cream – however the line is usually a bit long!

Rainy day? Check out these indoor things to do in Halifax!

After the waterfront, it’s time to head inland a bit

Spring Garden Road

Start at the bottom of Spring Garden Road where it intersects with Barrington street and walk up, I love stopping in all the shops. You can’t miss Halifax Central Library, it’s architecture certainly stands out in a city of old buildings. Pop in to browse or just get some free Wi-Fi.

Once you’ve made it to South Park Street, you’re at another Halifax Landmark…

The Public Gardens

Established in 1867, walk around this beautiful Victorian era gardens. The garden is large and you could easily spend a lot of time in here – now’s a great time to grab an afternoon coffee or tea from Uncommon Grounds, located on the side of the park near Spring Garden and just stroll.

If you come out of the gardens on the Sackville Street side, you’ll be closer to our next stop:

The Halifax Citadel

I love the Citadel, it has a great view overlooking the city. The Halifax Citadel is a National Historic Site of Canada where you can step back into the 1800s and see how the 78th Highlanders lived and protected our city. If you’re around in the evening (Thursday-Saturday, mid July until end of October) I highly recommend their ghost walk as well!

Get all the details about Halifax Citadel here!

By this time you must be ready for dinner, which is where Halifax REALLY shines

Dinner & Drinks

There’s no way around it, we have a lot of bars and restaurants in Halifax. In fact we have the second most bars per capita in Canada (St. Johns NFLD holds the Canadian record for most bars per capita!). With so many places to eat it can be very hard to choose. I’ll outline my favorite places to eat & drink in Halifax so you can choose for yourself:

Piatto

I think Piatto pizzeria + enoteca is my favorite place to eat in Halifax, but probably because I LOVE pizza. They make pizza in a 900° oven and some of their pizzas are certified by the VPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana) to be authentic to what you would find in Naples, Italy. Also their Sicliana pizza was featured on the TV show You Gotta Eat Here.

Stubborn Goat

The Stubborn Goat is the perfect place to go with a larger group and order little plates to share. It’s all delicious and you can’t really go wrong. I especially love their mac n cheese.

Lot 6

You don’t want to miss Lot 6 in this beautiful historic building. If you’re into oysters there is an oyster happy hour from 4-6pm daily. They have a great combination of small and large plates, as well as fantastic and imaginative drinks. Make sure to sit down in the atrium if you can, it’s beautiful.

Bicycle Thief

If you’re looking for some upscale dining, the Bicycle Thief on the waterfront is a great choice. Serving “American food with an Italian soul”, you’ll love having a glass of wine and eating multiple courses here.

Split Crow

A true Nova Scotia landmark, the original Split Crow opened more than 250 years ago. Classic pub food, and drinks with live music. A really great place to spend an evening out!

Antojo

Antojo taco + tequila bar is the place for Mexican food in Halifax. I love the decor in here and the food and drinks are really great. I also highly recommend saving room for the churros for dessert!

Middle Spoon

The Middle Spoon is the place to go for dessert and cocktails. They have an impressive list of drinks, plus the desserts are all amazing (try the peanut butter pie). They also have light food like salad, soup and sandwiches.

The Pint

If you’re looking for a sports bar, The Pint is a great choice. You can always find a game on and if you’re into chicken wings, they have 40 different sauces. Just a word of warning – that inferno burger is SPICY!

Wooden Monkey

The Wooden Monkey is an amazing choice for vegans, and vegetarians. They have lots of options and have a farm to table mindset. Everything is super fresh and showcases local ingredients.

Five Fisherman

The Five Fisherman might be one of the most popular restaurants in Halifax. Lots of seafood options here for those looking for a lobster dinner or famous Nova Scotia seafood chowder. Fun fact: the building used to be a church and is said to be haunted.

Pizza Corner

If you’ve visited Halifax without going to Pizza Corner than have you really visited Halifax? Pizza Corner is an intersection where 3 pizza places take up ¾ corners. Try an authentic Halifax donair!

One Day In Halifax Is Over!

That was a lot wasn’t it? Halifax is such a fun city and there is SO much to do! I love living here and look forward to exploring more.

Looking for the best beach in Nova Scotia? This post has it broken down by areas!

Ready to take a road trip from Halifax? You might want to check out:

• Lunenburg and Mahone Bay ~1 hour away
• Liverpool ~ 1.5 hours away
• Cape Split ~ 1.5 hours away
• Sugar Moon Farm ~ 1.5 hours away
• Burntcoat Head ~ 1.25 hours away
• Wolfville ~ 1 hour away
• Oak Island ~ 50 minutes away
• Fortress Of Louisbourg ~ 4.75 hours away

If you’ve been to Halifax, what was your favourite thing?

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Fun For The Whole Family:

Escape Room

Want to test your problem solving skills? How about being locked in a room for an hour while you solve puzzles to escape?! I LOVE these! I have been to two around Halifax: Escape Artists in Sackville and Trapped on Barrington St Downtown. They’re definitely more fun with a bigger group (4-8 people) but there are a few rooms that are for 2 people as well. I don’t have kids but I think it could be fun with kids too! Here are a few around Halifax:

Escape Artists: 475 Sackville Dr, Lower Sackville NS

Trapped Halifax: 1313 Barrington St, Halifax NS

Captured: 1684 Barrington St, Halifax NS

The Great Escape: 5693 North St Halifax NS

Mind Hack: 1410 Hammonds Plains Rd, Halifax NS

Discovery Centre

1215 Lower Water St, Halifax NS

The Discovery Centre has been a staple downtown for a long time. If you’ve got kids, or if you’re a kid at heart like me it’s a great place to spend the afternoon learning while having fun. They have many science related play areas, a dome theatre and so many more fun things! I haven’t been to the new location yet but I’m excited to check it out soon.

Get Air

Get Air: 612 Windmill Rd, Dartmouth NS

How much fun is an indoor trampoline park?! I haven’t been yet but looking forward to going! I always loved jumping around when I was younger.

Board Room Games Cafe

Board Room Games Cafe: 1256 Barrington St Halifax NS

I seriously love this place! I grew up in a huge board game family. The Board Room has tons of games to choose from, yummy food and drinks – including alcoholic and specialty coffees. They have people who work there that will teach you how to play a game, or make suggestions to you. It’s so easy to kill a few hours here.

Kart Bahn

Kart Bahn: 66 Otter Lake Court, Bayer’s Lake NS

Who doesn’t love a little indoor kart racing or laser tag?! It’s super fun to beat your friends! They highly recommend making reservations.

Putting Edge Mini Golf

Putting Edge: 182 Chain Lake Dr, Bayer’s Lake NS

Putting Edge is an indoor glow in the dark mini golf course. I also grew up in a big mini golf family and I’ve been to Putting Edge many times and always had fun!

Bowling

Bowling always makes me feel like a kid again! It is so much fun. Many locations around HRM:
Bowlarama: 3459 Desmond Avenue, Halifax NS

31 Atlantic Street, Dartmouth NS

16 Dentith Road, Spryfield NS

Rock Climbing / Bouldering

Want to do something active but inside? Try some rock climbing! I haven’t gotten brave enough to try this myself yet but maybe some day.

Ground Zero Climbing Gym: 7 Mellor Ave, Dartmouth NS

Seven Bays Bouldering: 2019 Gottingen St, Halifax NS

Museums:

Pier 21

Pier 21: 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax NS

Come learn about Canadian immigrants, and what it was like to come into Canada between 1928 and 1971. It’s even more interesting if you can follow your family history. They make the exhibits interactive, and fun for everyone!

Museum of Natural History

Natural History Museum: 1747 Summer St Halifax NS

I have loved every museum of natural history I have been to including Halifax’s. You can meet Gus, the 94 year old Gopher Tortoise, learn about natural wonders of Nova Scotia and there’s usually an exciting new exhibit every couple of months. Sometimes you can meet critters, like a sloth from Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo!

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic: 1675 Lower Water St, Halifax NS

If you’re interested in The Titanic, the Halifax Explosion or just maritime history, this is the place for you!

Art Gallery Of Nova Scotia

Art Gallery Of Nova Scotia: 1723 Hollis St, Halifax NS

Here you can explore local Nova Scotian artists as well as other Canadian works, and some international artists. We especially enjoyed seeing Maud Lewis’ work, and her home which now resides inside the museum. The building itself is beautiful; it was built in 1867!

Visiting Halifax for 1 day? Check out my one day Halifax itinerary!

Entertainment & Food:

Sports Games

Halifax Scotiabank Centre: 1800 Argyle St, Halifax NS

We are lucky enough to have a few sports teams in Halifax that play throughout the year:

Hockey: Halifax Mooseheads

Lacrosse: The Thunderbirds

Basketball: Halifax Hurricanes

Axe Throwing

Axe throwing is so much fun to do with a group of people, it’s technically a sport, with leagues to join, but you can book an hour and learn how to throw axes with your friends!

HaliMac Axe Throwing: 1920 Brunswick St, Halifax NS (family friendly, no age limits)

Timber Lounge: 2712 Agricola St, Halifax NS (19+)

Neptune Theatre

1593 Argyle St Halifax NS

I have been to countless performances at Neptune Theatre and have never left disappointed. The theatre is gorgeous and comfortable, especially after the recent renovation. Shows go on mostly all year. We went recently for It’s A Wonderful Life and Mama Mia!

Grafton St Dinner Theatre

1741 Grafton St Halifax NS

I have been to the Grafton Street Dinner Theatre 3 times and every single time I’ve had so much fun I want to join them on stage. Seriously. The food is also delicious! Can’t get much better than a dinner and show all in one. Shows go on all year.

Eat:

There’s only a million restaurants in Halifax, choose one, order a drink and some food to share. Some of my favourites are Antojo, Piatto and The Stubborn Goat.

Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market

Seaport Farmer’s Market: 1209 Marginal Road, Halifax NS

This huge indoor market has everything you could want! Come hungry because the food is delicious. The market is open 7 days a week and all year, but Saturday is the big day with the most vendors.

Final Thoughts

We have so many indoor things to do in Halifax, you really can’t be bored! I love checking out museums and grabbing a bite to eat on a chilly or rainy day.

Do you have any favourite indoor things to do in Halifax?