Best of Halifax from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide The Entrance to The Halifax Public Gardens 1 A curious combination of urbanized art, abiding culture and stunning natural landscapes, the city of Halifax is an essential travel destination for tourists from North America and abroad. An uninitiated visitor to the city may easily find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer amount of dining destinations, cultural events and natural attractions they can indulge in at any given time. To combat this, the following WorldWeb.com Travel Guide will assist visitors of Halifax by directing them to the best of what this historic urban centre has to offer. THE BEST PLACES TO STAY Hotels The Westin Nova Scotian 2 Westin Nova Scotian Far and away the epitome of class in Halifax, the Westin Nova Scotian was originally constructed in 1930. Situated just behind Halifax Harbour, guests are treated to views of Halifax’s beautiful coast, as well as, its bountiful parks and historic buildings. This hotel houses a number of first class amenities for its visitors such as in-room Starbucks coffee, wireless Internet access, and Westin’s trademark “Heavenly Beds” and “Heavenly Showers.” As a testament to its reputation, past luminaries and dignitaries who have stayed at the Westin Nova Scotian include Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Diana. Lord Nelson Hotel For guests looking for first-class lodging located within walking distance of some of Halifax’s greatest attractions, the Lord Nelson Hotel is for them. The building’s interior exudes classic hotel architecture reminiscent of establishments seen in golden-age Hollywood films. To further entice guests, management of the Lord Nelson have invested funds to retrofit the hotel with several modern services like high-speed wireless Internet, a fitness centre containing elliptical machines and recumbent bikes, and a full-service business centre capable of assisting guests with photocopying, faxing, and courier services. THE BEST PLACES TO DINE Contemporary Seven Wine Bar For guests as conscientious about their choice of wine, as they are about their entree, Seven Wine Bar needs to be a part of their dinner plans. This restaurant houses one of, if not the largest wine cellar in Halifax, which at any given time contains over 300 types to choose from. Not to be forgotten, Seven’s food menu is full of international dishes that utilize ingredients brought in fresh from the Nova Scotian coast. Specialties on the menu include the marinated Atlantic salmon with soba noodles and miso broth, PEI tenderloin with foie gras poutine, and wood grilled lobster. Bish World Cuisine Situated on Halifax’s waterfront, Bish is a local favourite among the city's fine-dining enthusiasts. Dinner guests will find themselves enjoying the restaurants modern décor, almost as much as its innovative dishes. The menu at Bish will please the taste buds of any customer as it contains everything from Nova Scotian lobster salad and sea bass with fried plantains, to smoked salmon carpaccio and sweet pea and pancetta risotto. Viewers of TLC’s “Restaurant Makeover” may recognize this restaurant, as it was featured in an episode of the popular television show. A View of the Halifax Harbour 3 Regional Chives Canadian Bistro Recipients of over a dozen awards and honours from across Canada, Chives, uses fresh, organic ingredients from Halifax and the surrounding Maritime provinces, to create its dynamic seasonal menu. Depending on the time of year, head chef and restaurant owner, Craig Flinn creates culinary masterpieces such as his Nova Scotia seafood risotto, Maritime pan fried haddock, and his locally bred lamb chops with artisan blue cheese. Chives Canadian Bistro has been featured on the television series “Opening Soon” which can be seen on the Food Network and the Life Channel. The Five Fishermen Restaurant Housed within a building constructed in 1816, this restaurant is a required dinner destination for any passionate seafood lover. The menu at Five Fishermen is flush with dishes that take full advantage of Halifax’s coastal location. Dinner guests can order specialties such as the cast iron seared digby scallops, prosciutto wrapped sambro halibut, and the five fishermen bouillabaisse, among other things. Adventure seekers will be interested to know that the building this restaurant resides in has been of interest to paranormal investigators. Cafes / Coffee Houses Just Us! Café (Barrington Street) Winners of the “Best Coffee” award, as chosen by readers of Nova Scotian publication, the Coast; this café is a perfect place to spend an afternoon. Just Us! was created by Jeff Moore with the intent to be one of Canada’s first coffee houses to only serve organically produced, fair-trade coffees and teas. As such, the patrons of Just Us! may indulge in coffees produced by artisans from countries like Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Colombia. To complement their coffees, guests of Just Us! often indulge in some of the café’s freshly baked goods. Coburg Coffee Renowned by city-dwellers for employing Halifax’s best baristas, Coburg Coffee is perfectly suited for the coffee connoisseur. Open seven days a week, patrons enjoy carefully brewed coffee and pastries in an upscale environment. As if the first-rate coffee isn't enough to get visitors through the door, Coburg Coffee also provides its customers with free wireless Internet access, and live music is booked on a regular basis. THE BEST ATTRACTIONS Public Gardens Akin to New York City’s Central Park, Halifax’s Public Gardens is a city landmark, and a must-see tourist destination. Opened to the public in 1867, the Gardens have remained one of Canada’s finest examples of traditional Victorian garden design. Sightseers will love the abundance of statues, fountains and architectural wonders found within the park’s confines. Some of the fountains worth tracking down include the Nymph Fountain, which was constructed in 1897 as a tribute to Queen Victoria, as well as the Soldier’s Boer War Memorial, which commemorates the contribution Canadian soldiers made to the Commonwealth during the South African War. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia 4 Art Gallery of Nova Scotia The hub of art exhibition in the Maritimes, this gallery will enthrall visitors with its large collection of East Coast art and innovative exhibitions. For over 100 years, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia has not only showcased the work of its regional artists, but also educated the public at large with classes on everything from drawing and painting to sculpting and animating. Some items of note that are part of this gallery’s permanent collection include works by Forshaw Day, Garry Neill Kennedy, and Nancy Edell. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is a must-see attraction for any appreciator of art. Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery Since 1863, Alexander Keith’s has been producing award-winning beers from this brewery located right in Halifax. Any fan of fine ale will enjoy the tours offered at the brewery, which feature actors and historians who educate visitors on life in Halifax in the 1800s and the beer itself. Furthermore, the tours offered here all conclude with a visit to the brewery’s in-house watering hole, the Stag’s Head Tavern, where tourists may partake in a pint of Nova Scotia’s finest ale. Halifax Mooseheads No visit to a Canadian city would be complete without attending a hockey game, and in Halifax the team to see is the Halifax Mooseheads. A member of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), this major junior team provides affordable sports entertainment from September to October every year. Established in 1996, the club plays out of the Halifax Metro Centre, which is an attractive tourist destination in its own right. THE BEST FESTIVALS Atlantic Film Festival Held every September, this film festival exhibits short and long-form movies from around the world, and at the same time makes a concerted effort to showcase homegrown Maritime talent. Past films screened at the Atlantic Film Festival include critically acclaimed titles such as Luis Bunuel’s the Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, and Ang Lee’s Eat Drink Man Woman, as well as audience favourites like Jerry Levitan’s I Met the Walrus or Bruce McDonald’s the Tracey Fragments. Halifax Pop Explosion A celebration of Canadian independent music, this festival is an attractive destination for anyone looking to find the latest great-new artist. Over the course of the four-day festival, attendees are able to sample music from a variety of genres, be it rock, electro, or hip-hop. Past performers of the Halifax Pop Explosion include the Arcade Fire, Cat Power, Jason Collett, and K-OS. The performances for this festival are held in a variety of venues, scattered throughout Halifax, making careful planning of where to go and who to see, a necessity. PHOTOS COURTESY OF: Thorfinn Stainforth; Halifax Public Gardens; Halifax, NS, Canada c/o Westin Nova Scotian Hotel; Westin Nova Scotian at Dusk; Halifax, NS, Canada Halifax Harbour; Halifax, NS, Canada Simon P; Art Gallery of Nova Scotia; Halifax, NS, Canada