NS Road map of Halifax and Mahone Bay with cities and towns

Map of Halifax and Mahone Bay      

Amajor port city since founded in 1749, modern Halifax has a  livelihood and culture centered on its waterfront. Boardwalks along  harbor's edge lead to open-air plazas, parks, shops, eateries, historic  sites, and waterfront attractions. The meticulously restored fortress  atop Citadel Hill offers a panorama of city and harbor, as well as a  famous landmark, the Town Clock, built in 1803 for Prince Edward, who  loved punctuality. Below the hill at the waterfront lies the cobbled  lanes of Historic Properties, where in the 18th and 19th centuries, a  lusty, brawling military town full of soldiers, sailors, privateers, and  adventurers sought their fortune in the New World.      

South of Halifax, the coast road winds around island-studded  bays, passing through weathered fishing villages, past sun-drenched  beaches, to dramatic lighthouses, sparkling coves, and kilometers of  rugged shoreline. This is the place to experience and savor seafaring  heritage and seaside adventure.      

Chester [D3] Once the haunt of pirates and Prohibition bathtub  gin smugglers, the sailing capital of Nova Scotia overflows with  elegant seaside charm; stately homes ring small harbors where yachts bob  in the waves. dOak Island, 10 minutes from Chester, is the site of one  of the world's greatest buried-treasure enigmas: Captain Kidd's  treasure. A mysterious system of tunnels and shafts discovered in 1759  has inspired two centuries of treasure hunters. While you can't do any  of your own digging, tours are available.      

Lunenburg [E2] Home of the original schooner Bluenose and a  designated world heritage site, Lunenburg is where German and Swiss  Protestants settled under British patronage in 1753. The city is an  outstanding example of a British colonial settlement; narrow streets  still follow the 1754 town plan. On the waterfront, the Fisheries Museum  of the Atlantic is an excellent interactive complex. Boat tours are  offered where you can ride the waves in a restored salt-bank schooner or  trawler.      

Mahone Bay [E2]      

Marked at its entrance by a trio of churches, Mahone Bay is a  popular Sunday-drive destination from Halifax. A collection of studios  and galleries showing the work of local artists and craftspeople  contrasts nicely with fine examples of Victorian gingerbread  architecture.      

New Ross [B1] The Ross Farm Living Museum of Agriculture is a  19th-century settlement to life, with heritage animals and heirloom  gardens; demonstrations of barrel making, black-smithing, spinning, and  cooking.      

Peggy's Cove [D5] A favorite with artists and painters, this  fishing village has become a symbol of the spirit of coastal Nova  Scotia. Famed for its picturesque profile, with fish sheds and houses  perched on rocky inlets, colorful fishing boats, and ancient granite  boulders smoothed by the sea. In the summer, its lighthouse serves as a  post office with its own cancellation stamp.      

Tancook Island [E3]      

Linked by ferry from Chester, Tancook is known for remarkable  schooners and outsize cabbages. While most of the schooners are gone,  the cabbages still make some of the best sauerkraut found anywhere. The  ferry is an ideal way to experience Mahone Bay, which boasts 365  islands-one for every day of the year.      

CITY GUIDE      

HALIFAX ATTRACTIONS      

Citadel Hill and Town Clock Historic Properties Point Pleasant  Park Bluenose II Pier 21 York Redoubt Discovery Centre Art Gallery of  Nova Scotia Neptune Theatre Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History The  Public Gardens The Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia Alexander  Keith's Original Brewery and History Tour      

AIRPORT INFORMATION      

(902) 873-4422      

TRAIN INFORMATION      

(902) 429-8421      

RADIO STATIONS      

CJCH 920 AM CFRQ (Q-104) FM      

TOURISM OFFICE      

International Visitor Centre 1595 Barrington Street (902) 490-5946      

TOURISM WEB SITE      

www.region.halifax.ns.ca