48 hours in Halifax + the urban Nordic spa that converted me

Hi ,

You know those places you don’t know much about and don’t have high expectations …and then truth shows you a different version? That was Halifax for us.

We landed to a downtown that buzzes: a waterfront boardwalk that runs for blocks, patios spilling onto pedestrian streets, live music drifting from pubs, and locals actually talking to each other (not screens!). We parked the car and forgot about it for two days - my favorite kind of city break.

Halifax highlights that hooked us:

• Argyle Street for a first-night patio dinner (hi, seafood chowder + live music).

• A sunset waterfront wander where tiny boats turned into floating living rooms.

• The hilltop Citadel and a cannon demo that echoed across the harbour.

• Halifax Central Library, a glassy stack-of-books with a sunny rooftop terrace.

• Public Gardens for a Victorian breather between bites and sips.

• A whisper-quiet electric harbour cruise that glides past Georges Island as your guide unspools Halifax’s biggest stories (explosions, heroes, and resilience).

All our tips, why-it’s-worth-it notes, and a simple 2-day plan are in the post:

👉 Read our Halifax highlights + 2-day guide

Nature Folk: the urban Nordic spa that converted me to cold plunges

Across the harbor in Dartmouth, a quick ferry ride leads to Nature Folk Nordic Spa, a cozy, boutique sanctuary that became our favorite reset of the trip. We grabbed breakfast and an excellent coffee at Café Good Luck, then tucked into thermal cycles inside this intimate, design-forward space.

Hot. Cold. Rest. Repeat. I did what I never thought was possible here - 10 minutes immersed in 10-degree Celsius water.

It’s small (by design) and all the more soulful for it—perfect for travelers who want a few hours of deep calm without leaving the city.

If you’re spa-curious (or cold-plunge skeptical), start here:

👉 See our Nature Folk Nordic Spa experience

If Nova Scotia is on your list, let Halifax be your opening chapter. It sets the tone for coastal towns, Nordic spas, and wine country to come.

See you on the boardwalk,

Caroline (& Craig)

P.S. Got Halifax favorites we missed? Hit reply. I’m all ears (and always up for another chowder).

Caroline + Craig

P.S. Make sure you’re following our Instagram as we’ll be sharing stories and video content soon from our Nova Scotia road trip.