Ideas for Day Trips -- Halifax and St. John
Replies: 2 - Last Post: Aug 1, 2012 10:45 AM Last Post By: globaljaunt
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Ideas for Day Trips -- Halifax and St. John
Hi TT-ers,So my partner and I have been thinking of making the flight/car/ferry trip up to Nova Scotia and the environs (traveling from the Northeast) for a while now, and each time we put it off because of the transportation logistics. We chanced upon a cruise that leaves from New York and goes directly to St. John, NB (for a day) and Halifax, NS (for a day). While this means we won't have the luxury of time, it also cuts out transportation transfers/etc. so we decided we'd give it a shot.
Now, we're wondering what we can realistically do in St. John and Halifax, considering we only have one day in each town, knowing how it goes with cruise stops. We're not sure if we'd want to join the "shore excursions" organized by the cruise company, and want to hear from people on the ground. How hard is it to get around both places, and is it feasible to do so within a day each?
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks!
djglobe
1
Hi DJ,Having lived and worked in Halifax until recently, I can tell you that cruises in Halifax dock very near the Halifax waterfront, which is adjacent to downtown Halifax, which near virtually all of the cities major attractions. The best shopping in the city is handy (try Spring Garden Road, Agrigola Street, and everything in between - 10 minutes from where cruise ships dock), as are many of the cities attractions (the Citadel is about a 20 minute walk from where cruise ships dock, very near Spring Garden Road, for example). So if you're looking to visit Halifax proper, don't worry at all about hoofing it on your own.
Also, if you're feeling like venturing a little further abroad, there are multiple places from which to rent cars. This Enterprise location (http://www.enterpriserentacar.ca/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?gpbr=C9E3&bid=004&cnty=CA) would only be about a 10 minute stroll from where cruise ships dock in Halifax. With a rental car in hand, you could visit Mahone Bay or Peggy's Cove (the former's about a 1.5-hour drive; the latter about 45 minues) very easily and see some of Nova Scotia's famed coastal villages.
As for St. John, I've visited often, and love the city. I can say that once one is downtown, St. John is an immensely walkable city (and the market there is fantastic and open seven days a week). However, I'm not entirely certain where your cruise ship in St. John would dock, so I'm not comfortable speaking with any certainty as to how easy a self-managed day trip would be.
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You are going to LOVE eastern Canada, the vibe is very friendly. Downtown Halifax is nice if you are interested in shopping or pubs, otherwise, there is not much to do (I lived there for 3 years). I highly suggest renting a car or taking a bus trip to Lunenberg. It is about 2 hours from Halifax and you can stop at the famous Peggy's Cove along the way! The town is right on the water, with every house painted a bright color (makes for great photos). There are hundreds of small artisan shops, amazing food, and a few great little museums. I have been all over the world, but Lunenberg is one of my favorite towns ever! The Blue Nose (most famous Canadian boat, it is on the 10 cent coins) is often housed there for viewing.Feel free to message me if you have any other questions- I love to help!
