Canadian Train Vacation Articles
- Canadian Rockies Train Vacations
- Rocky Mountaineer Services
- Routes on the Rocky Mountaineer
- Via Rail Canada Service Classes
- A Brief History of the Canada Pacific Railway
- Travel in Style on the Royal Canadian Pacific Service
- Canadian Wilderness Tours by Train
- Canadian Canoeing Vacations by Train
- Canada Heli-Hiking Tours by Train
- Canada Train Vacations as Honeymoons
- Polar Bear Train Tours In Canada
- Visit The Polar Bear Capital Of The World On Canada Train Tours
- The Chateau Lake Louise
- Canada's Chateau Laurier
- Canada’s Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
- Train Tours to Canada’s Hotel Vancouver
- Quebec City's Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
- Jasper, Alberta Travel and History
- Vacations in Toronto by Train
- Travel by Train to Vancouver, British Columbia
- Halifax, Nova Scotia Train Vacations
- Banff, Alberta Train Travel Options
- Tofino, British Columbia Train Vacations
- Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel
- Canadian Trains in Cinema and Literature
Halifax Train Vacations
While not always the first destination that comes to mind when you think of Canadian train vacations, the maritime provinces of the Canadian east coast are beautiful places to visit, particularly by rail. Nova Scotia’s capital city, Halifax is a fascinating place to visit with a history and culture which sets it apart from much of the rest of the nation. Canada train tours which take you across the breadth of eastern Canada including a visit to Halifax are one of the many ways to experience the country by train.
Halifax (technically known as the Halifax Regional Municipality) was once a British colonial port and military base, which was largely abandoned following the deportation of French settlers in neighboring Acadia after the Seven Years War. British settlers departed for home or south into the then British colonies, resettling in New York, Massachusetts and as far south as the Carolinas. Many Acadians headed even farther south to the French territory of Louisiana, becoming the ancestors of the gulf coast region’s Cajun population.
Following this exodus, remaining settlers in Halifax invited immigrants to the city and the surrounding areas. Newcomers arrived from Germany; the Netherlands from the French territory of Martinique and even from what would soon become the United States. Later waves of immigrants came from Poland, the Ukraine, Syria, Italy and Lebanon. The diverse origins of Halifax’s population account for the wide variety of cuisines and cultural influences seen in the city.
While not nearly as large as Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, Halifax is a treasure trove of Canadian history. The first book and newspaper in Canada were published here, the first college in the country was established in Halifax; even the first formal game of ice hockey to be played in Canada was played in Halifax!
Canadian Train Vacations can provide you with Canadian train vacation package deals which include a nine day journey across eastern Canada. Starting in Toronto with visits to and Montreal, Quebec city as you ride in comfort across the scenic Canadian east coast, you’ll spend two days in Halifax. While you’re visiting Halifax, here are a few things you shouldn’t miss:
- Walking tours of historic areas including the Halifax Harbor, Dartmouth and downtown Halifax, where you’ll be charmed by the city’s wealth of Victorian-era architecture, visit one of the country’s first major ports and catch a ferry to Dartmouth.
- The Bedford Institute of Oceanography – this is Canada’s largest oceanographic research facility, with displays, presentations and aquariums to see. If you’re coming in a group, then guided tours are also available.
- Weather and time permitting, there are many parks and trails in the Halifax region where you can enjoy hiking, cycling and seeing beaver, muskrat and other Canadian wildlife.
- Dining out – naturally, seafood is the specialty of Maritime Provinces and Halifax is famous for its incredible seafood and no visit to this city would be complete without trying the catch of the day.