Cruise vacations, especially along the Atlantic Coast, offer plenty of learning experiences. The ports-of-call on these itineraries usually have some sort of historical significance. Halifax, Nova Scotia, is one of the best places to learn not just about Canadian history, but the story of North America as well.
Here are few places that you’ll want to visit during your time here:
We recommend that you come here not only for the art (which is good), but for the Maud Lewis Painted house exhibit. Maud Lewis was a native Nova Scotian artist who spent most of her adult life in a three-meter-by-four-meter house. After her death, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia took over the property to keep the memory of Lewis alive.
Photo courtesy of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Within the museum itself, you will find a variety of exhibits that range from ancient art to contemporary pieces. Free tours are available daily during the summer and on Sundays during the rest of the year.
Fairview Lawn Cemetery
In the days that followed the Titanic tragedy, victims who were not buried at sea were brought to Halifax. In this solemn place you’ll find 121 memorials including 40 for people who were never identified. Among the individuals buried here is a coal shoveler named Jim Dawson. You may recognize the name as he was transformed into the character “Jack Dawson” in the film “Titanic.”
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
The Citadel is Canada’s most visited national historic site. The star-shaped structure sits atop Halifax’s central hill and many visitors say that it has somewhat of a spooky presence. The original Halifax Citadel was built in 1749 upon the founding of the city, but the current iteration was constructed between 1818 and 1861. During a guided tour, you will learn about the military installation’s interesting shape and history. The grounds are open year-round and you can explore on your own if you choose to do so.
Photos of Halifax Citadel National Historic Site courtesy of Parks Canada/Photos are by J. Ingram
Formerly known as the Naval Museum of Halifax, this institution collects and displays artifacts about the Royal Canadian Navy. The building that the museum is housed in used to be the home of the admiral of the British Navy until 1819. Visit this location to explore its beautiful architecture and browse the interesting items that are housed here. Collections include cigarette lighters, silverware and ship’s bells.
If you’re interested in taking your family on an exciting adventure along the Atlantic Coast, let our trusted agents at CruiseExperts.com do the work for you. We can help you with an itinerary and provide suggestions for places to visit. Contact us by calling 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784) or visiting our website www.CruiseExperts.com.
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2 Comments
I just realized that my hus & I would take cruises all the time – our only problem is that at our age (80), we have a terrible time, getting TO the ship. We live in a small town in Ct. – we’ve been looking at cruises to P.E.Island, Halifax (NS) etc. Want to go in Oct. – all ships seem to leave from big cities, which we don’t like to drive in. Limo price is prohibitive. Wish there was a better way. Pat
Well, Pat, maybe you can go with a group and pool your money and hire a limo to drive you to the port. Please be sure and contact us if you’d like information. We’d be happy to help you plan your trip!