preeya

My husband, 11 month old daughter and I plan to visit Halifax in the first week of May for 3-4 days. Please suggest:
1) Must see places in and around Halifax
2) Good restaurants in Halifax
3) Is Harborfront Marriott good?
4) Can we visit the Hopewell rocks from Halifax and how far is it driving?
5) Any good sunset cruise at Halifax waterfront

Tanya

My kids love the Harbourfront Marriott and we have stayed in most of the hotels in downtown Halifax. You may want to look at Cambridge Suites as an option and ask for their one bedroom suite. That way you have a living room and bedroom that are separate - might be easier with a little one. The only difference is the Marriott is directly on the water - but you pay more for a water view.

Lots of good restaurants in Halifax depending on what your price range is?

Hopewell Rocks would be about a 4 hour drive from Halifax one way. Can I suggest you instead look at Peggy's Cove as an option or if you want to see the tides, check the tide schedule and head towards the Annapolis Valley and Halls Harbour. When the tides go out here, the boats are left on the bottom of the ocean.

It may be too early in the year for any cruises but you can check with http://www.murphysonthewater.com

preeya

I'm planning to visit Peggy's Cove, maybe Lunnenberg, and ofcourse do the Halifax waterfront one evening with the Citadel and Public Gardens.
Do you think I can drive up from Halifax to the Cabot trail, do some hiking, enojythe place in one day and be back to Halifax that night?
Also, any other nice places around for half a day trip? Please let me know. Thanks.
P.S: Thanks Tanya for your input
Preeya

preeya

Also, I request for you all to suggest that if Hopewell rocks park is closed in May first week, can I still see the rocks and Bay of Fundy from Truro? Is this trip and one day return driving distance from Halifax.
Thanks.
Preeya

Tanya

You wouldn't get out of your car if you did a one day trip to Cape Breton. About 4 hours driving time from Halifax one way and then really a full day to go around the Cabot Trail.

In order to see the "rocks", towards Five Islands and Parrsboro would be the closest. Most tourism spots are closed that time of year and reopen the long weekend in May. You would drive to Truro (45 minutes from Halifax) and then head towards Parrsboro - about another hour away. You will need it to be low tide in order to view the "islands" or rock formations. It is a very pretty drive and lots to do, just not sure who will be open then. If you love clams, this is the place to get them!

preeya

Thanks for your response Tanya. I really wanted to see the "rocks". If I still drive up there, will I be able to atleast see these rocks from above somewhere, if not go down and look at them? Please let me know. Thanks.
Preeya

Tanya

Low tide is best. At high tide you won't get the full effect.

Sue_xx_yy

preeya, you don't mention where you are from but you should know that the first week of May is very early in the season in Nova Scotia. Don't worry, you can still enjoy yourselves, but two points: 1) the leaves will not yet be out on the trees, so dress accordingly; 2) some attractions like the harbour cruises might (I stress might) not yet be running.

preeya

Thanks Tanya & Sue!
We are from the Boston area and I know it might be a little cold...but again, I'm thinking of the trip in 3 days as:
1) Halifax downtown and around the city
2) Peggy's cove and maybe Mahone Bay
3) Truro look at rocks
Please let me know if this is OK and if I'm missing anything. Also, please let me know what specifically I should not miss out in the areas above or like a small driving itinery suggestion for the last 2 days. Thanks again!
Preeya

oliverandharry

My suggestion is that you continue on to Lunenberg, seeing Chester and Mahone Bay along the way. I don't remember how long that drive was, since we stayed two days in Lunenberg and did not return to Halifax directly. Peggy's Cove, while pretty, is generally crawling with tourists spewed off the tour buses. You will be lucky to get a lighthouse picture without the crowds and we thought it underwhelming compared to other places along the coast.

Tanya

With only 3-4 days, may I suggest the following:
Spend your first day exploring Halifax.
Next day - day trip to Peggy's Cove, Chester, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, hugging the coastline.
Third day - I would do another day trip towards the Annapolis Valley - Wolfville. Canning lookoff, Evangeline, Halls Harbour, etc.

I would save the rocks for another visit.

Lunenburg in a straight drive on the highway from Halifax is only an hour at most. Same for Wolfville.

quicksilver

Re. restaurants: If you feel like spending some money (on a Halifax scale), do *not* miss The Press Gang.

http://www.thepressgang.ca/

Little stone rooms, candlelight, good wine list and wonderful food.

Another restaurant I enjoyed was Deco:

http://www.decorestaurant.ca/

This was on a February 2006 trip.

Enjoy!

- Quicksilver -

preeya

Thanks so much for your responses!
Could you please suggest good restaurants to eat in Halifax, near downtown as we'll be staying at the Residence Inn (how is this one?) and also at Peggy's Cove? We are vegetarians, so anything Italian, Thai, Indian or any sandwich place is great, just has to be a great place and good food! Thanks.
Preeya

NorthwestMale

I was first drawn here to post about the Hopewell Rocks park.

When I was there, the park was technically "closed" (as in, after hours... and no admission charge)... BUT I could easily drive into the parking lot, get out, and walk down the long stairway to the ocean floor, surrounded by the towering "Flower Pots".

I think Preeya should clarify somehow whether she can do the same thing, even if the park is "closed".

Also, if your days are etched in stone, something you should do is check the TIDE TABLES at the following link, and PRINT OUT all of the info that you MIGHT need on a whim.

http://www.lau.chs-shc.gc.ca/cgi-bin...=5&zone=30

(note: Full Moon is May 2, and tides are most prominent near to a full moon)

Priya should print the little square boxes for a 5-day or 7-day "range" which will cover her trip, for the following spots:

Hopewell Cape
Burntcoat Head

Perhaps even the TIDAL BORE info for Truro and Moncton.

It wouldn't hurt to have this info with you, in the car, for quick reference, just in case...

Enroute to Hopewell Cape, at Moncton, you can go to "Tidal Bore Park" and sit in bleachers, by the river's edge, and watch the river CHANGE COURSE (turning around and running up stream) on a predictable schedule.

It is certainly unique, and it suggests the power of the tides in the area, although some may walk away saying "was that IT?"

(***you definitely see it, and hear the rush of the water, but it isn't like you'll spot lawn chairs, Volkswagen Beetles, and other debris being carried by the current)

I understand about your interest/desire to try the Cabot Trail drive... but unfortunately the fastest inland routes in NS are NOT the "super highways" that the rest of the continent knows. NS just isn't on the way to anywhere so it doesn't need such rapid transportation.

As soon as you commit yourself to taking a chance like that, the forboding Nova Scotia FOG will stop you in your tracks.

Speaking of which, for things you plan outdoors, you should have an adjustable schedule so that you can POUNCE when the weather is clear and warm, to do the outdoorsy stuff, and then see the other areas in the event of fog.

I did the cute little passenger ferry from Halifax to Dartmouth and back, in the fog, and it was quite mystical. Same for the Halifax waterfront, etc.

Nobody ever minded the image of eating seafood chowder on a chilly, foggy day.

A hike that I did (even though I'm NOT a hiker) was out to the end of Cape Split.

You drive less than 90 minutes from Halifax, out onto a peninsula as far as you can drive, then you park, and hike for 2 1/2 hours each way... (5 hrs. total) and you wind up at the very TIP of a cape, up high, with the Bay of Fundy and the highest tides in the world roaring all around.

It was crazy-windy out at the end, but there was a wind-sheltered area a few feet away from that.

I was there in the chill of late March, so early May would be more suitable for an 11-month-old.

I was warned to "bring a change of socks" on the hike... and the only other thing I brought was a bottle of juice. Didn't even change my socks until back at the car after 5+ hours.


I've written a number of responses on various Nova Scotia queries here over the years, so if you want to click on MY name and look through them in the list, then here is your chance.

My best advice, is to have your daily plans "interchangeable" so that you can leap into action and see nature when sunny skies present themselves, and you don't miss out for having allocated one thing to one day weeks before knowing the weather.

IF you want to take a shot at seeing the Cabot Trail... (which really IS a beautiful drive)... I would set out in late evening on one night, and stay in a strategic spot up that way, to allow the whole day for the trip around the trail and back.

Maybe you already have all of your hotel reservation though, making that wasteful.

According to MSN maps, the trip from Halifax to Baddeck, NS (due west of Sydney) is 217 miles and just under FOUR HOURS.

This assures that your attempts to go round-trip from Halifax and around the Cabot Trail in a day of driving would be extremely tiresome or unlikely.

I'm going to push "post" now and hope that some of this helps.

preeya

Northwestmale: I was so excited reading your post here as well as other posts because I really want to see the Hopewell rocks! We could just climb down and walk, is fine even if the park is closed! But from halifax, how far would this be? Is it a return day trip thing? Where can I see these rocks the best from? Is Burncoat head good enough for Tidal bore or I do need to go to NB? My priority would be to see the best of rocks in a return day trip to Halifax. Suggestions please?? I'd do Halifax downtown and area nearby with ferry to Dartmouth in one day, then another day Peggy's cove and Mahone Bay. And keep the last full day for adventure exploration, especially if it means a trip to the rocks! Thanks.
Preeya

stringer

preeya: Since you've only 3 days, I agree with tanya that doing the "Rocks" isn't realistic as that will take a FULL day since it's about 3 hour drive from Halifax (if traffic isn't a problem) each way. And you'd want to see it at low tide and high tide to get a good notion of the dramatic tidal action. That means timing those events, which might well not coincide with your itinerary.

I love Halifax and NS in general, but the province is pretty big and distances are longer than they look on a map, esp. going north and south, but even going east and west, too. 'Bout the only day trip I'd take out of Halifax would be Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove, and Mahone Bay, all along the coast.

Another suggestion while you're in Halifax proper is to take in the Maud Lewis museum which contains the artist's entire (tiny) house and many of her paintings. Pier 21 also is a good bet, Canada's version of Ellis Island.

Whatever you, do, don't drive too far out of town or else you'll feel more rushed than you'd like. three days will give you a taste for NS and I guarantee you'll want to return!

NorthwestMale

Preeya, I am strongly on-board with a "YES" vote for going to see the Hopewell Rocks.

Much of the satisfaction you'll get shall come from your own awe over the scene. I can relate to that from my own first trip to Nova Scotia, and seeing the tides, and ocean-going ships sitting in the mud at low tide while tied to the docks way up above them.

Nowthen, I used MSN maps to find that the drive from Halifax to Riverside-Albert, NB (just beyond Hopewell Cape) is a tad less than 200 miles, and that it should take 3 hours and 20 minutes.

If it were me, I would attempt to leave Halifax at approximately 4 1/2 hours before the point of low tide at Hopewell Cape. Even if you didn't stop, didn't breath, didn't get gas(oline, I mean), didn't hit any red lights, and didn't burp the baby along the way, you'd arrive at a reasonable point prior to low tide, with the tide going out further from that point.

The edge of the water will be waaaaaaaaaay the heck out there, and you might not even be interested to go near it (just knowing that it will be 30 feet above your head in 6 hours could be enough).

It is fun to explore the caves and caverns dug out naturally by the power of the tides, and you must take turns posing for the obligatory photos with each of you and the little one nearly unrecognizable when shot from far enough away to get the entire "Flower Pot" in the picture.

On the rebound it might make sense to at least check to see if the timing is right for the TIDAL BORE at Moncton. You have to go up that way anyway to get BACK to Halifax, so IF the timing is right, then you may as well go to "Tidal Bore Park" (wide spot in the road, next to the river, in Moncton) to sit and await the reversal of the river flow, right on schedule.

I don't know exactly which days you're going to be there... but I cringed upon seeing the "May 4" tide data, because one Tidal Bore at Moncton happens at the inconvenient time of midnight, but lets do things in order of priority here (in my response):

Geez, the tide times for low tide at Hopewell Cape are NOT too convenient during the first week of May.

So you'll have to strategize accordingly. I WISH I knew what exact days you'll be in the area (let us know??).

I just checked MONCTON Sunrise and Sunset for May 4, and it is

sunrise: 6:00am

Sunset: 8:30pm

I have a general vibe that your best window of opportunity would have you making this day trip (afternoon trip?) as early in your schedule as possible. (will you be in the area May 2???)

Low Tides as follows:

May 2 7:30pm
May 3 8:05pm at Hopewell Cape

So if you target arrival in the 6:30pm-ish range, you'd still have 2 hours before sunset, and could get the full effect of the Hopewell Rocks in the afternoon shadows.

That would also allow you to begin your day slowly... although, admittedly, you'd be pretty late getting back into Halifax (at least this would be early in your trip, where you might be able to recover when sleeping-in at your hotel).

I might as well say, that given the way the tide schedule unfolds, and that you have so much of an actual "day" to burn before getting to Hopewell Cape in late afternoon, you could afford to take one of my favorite Nova Scotia drives...

First from Halifax to Truro on the main freeway... then off at Truro onto highway #2 going due west to Parrsboro.

Some of the views on that path are really neat, even in gloomy weather. There is a cute little island out there in the water somewhere along the way, and an idyllic country store or two along the road.

I would normally not suggest this for someone needing to make fast time, but since the options for you are limited about seeing the ROCKS... you just about have to make this an "afternoon trip", and in this case can afford to get out of the city and allow yourself some added nature.

Looking at the timing... the tidal bore idea just isn't going to work for you at Moncton.



So, with the clock continuing to tick... if I were you, I'd use the net to locate ANY random business not far from the Hopewell Rocks... and phone there and ASK whomever answers if they can confirm that you can still walk down to the Rocks even when the park is officially "closed".

I'm sure you can take pictures from above, but going down there is really awe-inspiring to those interested in the tides.


Now to address some of your questions:

The main reason I suggested that you list Burntcoat Head at all, is because that is the spot where the highest tide of all time happened, and where the difference between high and low is most pronounced.

The Tidal bore is best viewed at spots near to Truro, perhaps, IF you can find a river with great viewing.

I really recommend having a handy printout of various tide tables and tidal bore schedules, because you can't predict ahead of time just when you'll be passing through which area.

Understand that the "Hopewell Rocks" are experienced sufficiently only from the awkwardly-located spot in eastern New Brunswick, which is made very awkward by "Shepody Bay" and having to navigate around it via Moncton.

(translation: you either GO to this awkward destination, from Halifax, or you probably shouldn't bother with "The Rocks" thing at all)

More about the afternoon trip timing on either May 2 or May 3:

IF you arrived at the Rocks @ 7pm (with 90 minutes remaining before sunset)... you might go down the stairs and trudge around down there, taking pictures, and impressing your daughter, for, maybe 30 or 45 minutes... (who knows?)

THEN it would be BACK in the car, and back off toward Moncton, where it might make sense to have your evening meal (again, hard to say?)... and then you'd drive off to Halifax on a 2 1/2-hour trip back.

If you stopped for a lengthy meal in Moncton, this wouldn't get you back to Halifax until after midnight. At least the road you'd be on would be all highway/freeway, and not requiring great navigational skills.


Looking back at your earlier posts... about Peggy's Cove... I think you should just dine at the restaurant right by the lighthouse. I'm sure their cuisine is filled with enough choices for you to find something vegetarian.

You may not want to sit too near to the live lobster tank, so opt for a window with a great view of (the foggy Atlantic, OR a stunningly clear day).

I'm going to end this now, and await your added queries.

preeya

I'm now thinking agin of this trip as we start next Wed! I checked the tides for a possible(?!!) trip to the Fundy rocks. We might do it on the Friday or Saturday morning (05/05 or 05/06) as the low tide is at 8.30am or so!! So if my daugter wakes up at 4-5am which she usually does, then we will just start driving to the rocks at 5am..but will we still reach the rocks to make it to the lowtide? Our trip back can be easier and we can rest in the afternoon. But again with a 11 month daugter who knows what will happen, can plan much. BUt I so look forward to the Halifax trip with or without the ricks!
That said, "Nortwest male" do you know if I can surely go down there at the Fundy rocks just strolling even if the park is closed? Otherwise I go upto there and see that I cant get in or go down upto the flower pots!! Please let me know. Thanks.
Preeya

cmcfong

Satisfaction Feast on Grafton is a vegetarian restaurant in Halifax.

Tanya

Restaurant in Halifax - check out the Wooden Monkey on Argyle. Lil is an awesome person and keeps (or tries to keep) everything fully organic. Last September one of the "Stones" ate at her restaurant and gave it great reviews!