The Halifax Public Gardens is a 16-acre oasis, located in downtown Halifax, off Spring Garden Road and South Park Street. It is so incredibly beautiful that thousands of high school seniors have their prom photos taken here every year, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited during their royal tour and it was declared a National Historic Site in 1983. It is FREE to visit and once you step inside you feel like you aren’t in the city anymore.
The Public Gardens officially opened in 1867. The park boasts an amazing 140 species of trees, fountains, a bandstand, wrought iron fences, statues and bridges. Think it will be boring for children? Not with the miniature Titanic model, resident geese Flora and Diana and story time at the Uncommon Café. My children loved wandering around and looking at all the different flower varieties and lovely fountains. It’s a great spot for family photos too!
The Uncommon Café is housed in the Horticultural Hall, in the oldest part of the gardens. Built in the 1840s, the building is older than Halifax itself! You can sip your coffee on the terrace and enjoy the beauty surrounding you.
One way to really enjoy the Public Gardens in Halifax with your children is by downloading the Urban Bio kit and printing it off before you go. The Bio kit, from Environment Canada, is a children’s guide to identifying animals and plants in Halifax. Pack up a picnic and enjoy it on the lawn of the Public Gardens while your children roam around trying to identify trees, plants, and animals. They will build up their appetite and learn something about the park they might normally miss.
