We had one last full day to create our own adventure in Halifax. For breakfast, we headed downtown to Cabin Coffee, which was already busy with locals who were enjoying their regular routine. From the smell of cinnamon filling the space, we decided to get their apple cinnamon pull apart - it was warm, gooey with cinnamon sugar, and delicious.
Not too far away along the waterfront, we found the Halifax Seaport Farmer's Market - a collection of vendors selling produce, ready-to-eat food, souvenirs, and various local products. We thought we might find some more pastries for breakfast, but the selection was somewhat limited - maybe because it was a Sunday morning? One raspberry jam cookie and a disappointing blueberry scone were all we purchased before we switched to savory. In a corner of the market on the upper floor, we found a Trininadian booth selling doubles - corn-based patties surrounded chickpea filling, which was tasty with spices and hot sauce.
Another must-see attraction downtown was the Alexander Keith's Brewery. I didn't realize that there was an entire district dedicated to Alexander Keith, who was not only a brewmaster, but also mayor of the city! The brewery is located in a shared building more than 200 years old, with beer offered from a pub within the building. We tried 3 of the beers, and liked the red ale best.
Full of food and beer, we then explored the areas around downtown, starting at Point Pleasant Park. We discovered that the park is fairly similar to Stanley Park in Vancouver, in that it has trails through forests, well used by locals who enjoy running and walking outdoors in shaded areas. One difference is that the park was used as a lookout, part of the city's defenses, constructed to protect the British against the French - so we saw the Prince of Wales Tower, still in great condition.
Moving North, we saw the Halifax Public Gardens - a beautiful park maintained for the public, and the oldest Victorian garden in North America. It was amazing to see all the different varieties of plants and flowers, in bright colors, all arranged in attractive Victorian elegance, almost like a botanical garden fit for royalty.
Beside the Gardens, we tried to see the Halifax Citadel Historic Site, which was another structure created for the city's defence. The road leading up to the citadel circles the building, but requires additional admission if you want to see what is inside the walls. Since we were running a bit short on time before we had to return our rental vehicle, we decided to hit the gas station instead and drop off the SUV.
For an afternoon snack in the sunshine, we went to Dee Dee's Ice Cream. They have unique flavors and I would suggest that their ice cream is even better than Cow's, definitely deserving of being named the best in Halifax.
Our last meal was a two-part affair. The first half was tasty food at the Wooden Monkey downtown, where I had a heaping plate of fish, roasted potatoes, coleslaw, and salad. The second half was at Chain Yard Urban Cidery, close to our Airbnb, where we sampled cider in a flight, just like beer tasting.
We had to head back early in order to get packed and sleeping in time for our early flight to Newfoundland tomorrow. Goodbye Nova Scotia - thanks for the lobster and scallops!
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