A day on the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk

If you're in Halifax and want a day that takes care of itself, the Waterfront Boardwalk is the obvious answer. It's 3.8 kilometres of pedestrian promenade hugging the harbour, free to walk and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At a relaxed pace, it takes about 40 to 50 minutes one way, and the smart way to do it is to walk from one end to the other and catch the Dartmouth ferry back across the harbour in about 12 minutes. Three main entrances spread the walk out: Pier 21 and the Seaport Farmers Market at the south, Bishop's Landing in the middle, and Casino Nova Scotia at the north.

The museums are the anchors. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, at 1675 Lower Water Street, is Canada's largest maritime museum, with more than 30,000 objects and a world-renowned Titanic exhibit that holds the largest collection of wooden objects recovered from the sinking. It also covers the 1917 Halifax Explosion and Mi'kmaw heritage. Admission in the summer is C$11 for adults, C$10 for seniors and C$6.50 for youth, and it's free on Tuesday evenings from 4 to 8 pm. At the other end, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 sits in the former transatlantic terminal that took in nearly a million immigrants between 1928 and 1971. It's a National Historic Site, and the building itself is part of the story.

Between the museums, the boardwalk is broken into districts, each with its own character. Historic Properties, the Queen's Marque District, the Maritime Heritage District, and the Halifax Seaport District all pack in shops and galleries. Bishop's Landing is a hub of its own, with a piazza and a mix of boutiques and restaurants. For a quick photo, look for The Wave, a polished steel sculpture on Lower Water Street that's become an unofficial landmark people can't help but climb. And if you're there on a weekend morning, the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market is worth the detour; it's the oldest continuously operating farmers' market in North America, created by royal proclamation in 1750, and it still pulls in more than 100 vendors.

Eating and drinking are woven right into the walk. The Bicycle Thief at Bishop's Landing is the well-known name here, and there's a long list of seasonal spots like Bar Sofia, Drift, Salt Yard Social, and Cable Wharf Kitchen & Patio, which gives you a 270-degree view of the harbour. For something quicker, BeaverTails at 1549 Lower Water Street does its hand-stretched pastries daily from 10 am to 11 pm, with a Choco Wafer at C$9.95. And if you're in the mood for a donair, Tony's World Famous has been a family business since 1976.

If you want to get off the pavement, the water is the obvious next step. Ambassatours runs land and sea tours, City Harbour Cruises has a 26-foot pontoon, and the Harbour Hopper is the amphibious tour that goes from land into the water. For something quieter, Halifax Harbour Tours takes a small group out on the Violet Mac, a 1930s electric launch. A few more sights round out the area: HMCS Sackville, Canada's oldest warship; the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, with more than 17,000 works; and the Discovery Centre for anyone with kids. It's a lot to take in, but that's the point — you can pick your own pace and let the harbour do the rest.