Aug 30-Sept 3, 2022

We finally leave Victoria, BC for Halifax, Nova Scotia

Halifax,  Lunenburg, Gaspereau Valley, Grand Pre & Wolfville.


AUGUST 30, 2022

We left Victoria after one long year of prepping Greenlands for sale, selling a ton of household contents, moving into Balmoral, renovating that house and getting rid of much more possessions and closing up shop on Chris’ 8 year Real Estate career. It was a lot.

We did the same thing last time we went cruising but it does not get easier. Plus this time we kept our house we have some rental properties which we needed to figure out and I kept my car in case Cari needs to use it next summer. 

Thank you to Mitch who got his but out of bed super early to drop us off at the airport, luckily he had rented a truck or all of us and our bags would not have fit in his vehicle. 

We decided to go straight to Vietnam from Halifax which meant that we needed to haul 4 49.8 pound duffel bags, 2 carry ons plus all of Cari’s school stuff for her move to Halifax.  We bought some air tags as most people do these days and it all arrived. 

We used this great app called Truro and was able to pick it up around the corner from our AirBnb.  We clearly were not thinking clearly as the car is a tad on the small side. Not sure how we will fit everything in!

McElvie’s on the waterfront for dinner. A real Nova Scotia feast!

Lunenburg

Drove from Halifax to Lunenburg, stopping at small seaside villages on the way back plus Peggy’s Cove.  I love Nova Scotia it is so beautiful.

The Savvy Sailor Café for Breakfast is right across the road from the Bluenose moorage (but it was just a replica)

Stoppped at Chesters Bakery for an afternoon treat and coffee and checked out Chester Yacht Club just because we can't resist. 

Stopped at Bayswater Beach for photos and a quick walk on the beach, then arrived at spectacular Peggy’s Cove. 

Cari wanted to drive over to Dalhousie University to check out things before move in the next day so we headed over there to check it out. Then it was off to Walmart to do some serious shopping for Cari’s dorm.  

To end the day we went to Primal Kitchen and had dinner with Charlotte and Cecile, who was in town for the same reasons we were.

Halifax

Dalhousie University move-in day. So exciting! Managed to fit Cari into the back seat with all the luggage.

Poor Cari locked herself out of her room a few minutes after she got her keys!

Halifax

Started the day off at Mary’s Place Café for breakfast with Cari – (such a Nova Scotia classic) – dropped Cari back off at Dal.

Did some final shopping at Best Buy to buy Cari an apple tablet for school as her birthday gift  - dropped it off. Now we are on our own! 

Took stroll through the Halifax Public Gardens - Home to more than 140 species of trees, the 16-acre Halifax Public Gardens is one of the few surviving Victorian gardens in Canada. 

Continuing along a climb up to the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site – but by the time we reached the top it was just closing,  so continued to the Halifax waterfront where Chris finally got to eat his lobster roll. Did you know they have hammocks lining the dock so you can stop and take a breather? Amazing! 

Our walk ended at Garrison Brewing Company for a flight of local beer.  On our way back we heard music coming out of the Stubborn Goat GastroPub so stopped to listen for a while and grab a bite.

Halifax

Our friends who were also dropping their daughter at Uni joined us to tour the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. This is a museum where you can spend hours learning about small craft boatbuilding to World War Convoys, the Days of Sail to the Age of Steam, the Titanic to the Halifax Explosion, as well as inside you can step aboard CSS Acadia in Halifax Harbour.

Gaspereau

Next stop is Luckett Vineyards in the Gaspereau Valley,  a family-run winery & vineyard with gorgeous varieties and some of the most iconic views in Canada. You will see why they call it a An Experience to Phone Home About.

Grand Pre

I guess we spent too long at the museum and winery because by the time we arrived at Grand-Pré National Historic Site it was just closing up for the day.   However they were nice enough to let us in to take a quick look and allowed us to roam around on the lands for as long as we wanted.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is over 1,300-hectares of farm-fields, marshes and dykelands. We learn about the efforts of industrious Acadians, who, in the 1680s, overcame geographic challenges and the world’s highest tides to foster thriving settlements. Their ingenious system of dykes remained a technological zenith for hundreds of years—expanded and maintained by English, Scottish and Dutch settlers until the mid-20th century—and combined with a tumultuous regional history

Wolfville

Our last stop of our tour was Acadia University in Wolfville. 

Founded in 1838, Acadia University is one of the oldest and most respected liberal arts universities in Canada. It is a small university with approximatley 3,500 students. 

Out for dinner to a great mediterrian restaurant then back to Halifax.

Vancouver

We had to get up super early to get our flight out of Halifax to Vancouver. Luckily our friends had a truck and offered to drive us and our many bags. We were literally the last people to check in and our bags were taken over the last bags to be put on the flight!

Click on the name "Nova Scotia"  down below to see the trip.

Land was created so boats would have a place to visit.