Towering over downtown Halifax, the Citadel is a testament ... fall or early winter to avoid the most crowds. The Citadel National Historic Site is about a 15-minute walk west of the waterfront.

The Halifax Waterfront is a fun-filled spot packed with cafes, restaurants, bars, breweries, shops, historic ships, boat tours and ferries, not to mention buskers and other street performers.

Built in 1856, the Halifax Citadel now boasts regiments of uniformed re-enactors playing the part of the kilted 78th Highlanders who would have populated the fort in the mid-19th century.