There are so many things to do in Halifax, but what do you do if you're looking for activities that minimize the negative impact on our planet - or even better, have a positive impact? We've compiled the perfect list of sustainable activities for you.
Tour the harbour in Halifax's only all-electric boat
The Violet Mac is the Halifax Harbour Tour’s all-electric, environmentally-friendly 1930s-style harbour launch. With a maximum passenger load of eight people, they provide a truly personable 60-minute guided boat tour.
Rent bikes and explore Halifax on two wheels
I Heart Bikes is a bike rental shop located on the Halifax Waterfront, offering bike rentals and e-bike tours. Explore Halifax and enjoy scenic routes with expert guides. This is a perfect activity for families or solo adventurers!
Rent skates or roller blades at Downtown Halifax's outdoor skating rink/park
The Emera Oval is an outdoor year-round facility located on the Halifax Common offering free public skating, rollerblading, and cycling.
In the winter, the Emera Oval transforms into the largest outdoor, artificially refrigerated ice surface East of Quebec City equivalent to the size of three NHL hockey rinks.
The Emera Oval also offers free equipment rentals.
Visit a 100% solar-powered living history museum along the Eastern Shore
Memory Lane Heritage Village is a 100% solar-powered living history museum depicting 1940s rural life. Pick up a picnic lunch at Memory Lane’s Cookhouse ($15 adult/$9 child) and sit outside at the picnic tables or the surrounding grassy meadows.
Relax and keep an eye out for the many goats, chickens, and cats roaming the grounds before exploring Memory Lane’s historic buildings filled with 1940s artifacts.
Sea kayak rentals and tours in Lower Prospect
East Coast Outfitters (ECO) offers sea kayak tours, sea kayak lessons and sea kayak rentals, giving visitors a chance to learn about the natural and cultural history of the area while experiencing some of the best sea kayaking anywhere.
ECO offers one of the most varied outdoor programs in Atlantic Canada, and are the only outdoor operator driven largely by community economic development. In the wake of a collapsed groundfish industry, coastal communities like ours are faced with the challenge of economic uncertainty. Eco-tourism can provide an alternative resource on which to base the economy of our village.
Rent surfboards or take surf lessons on the Eastern Shore
Rent surf boards and a wetsuit and spend the day learning to ride the ways on the Atlantic Ocean in Halifax’s Eastern Shore Region.
East Coast Surf is located at Lawrencetown Beach, which is the home of Nova Scotia’s surfing scene. This beautiful 1.7km beach is naturally protected by a round cobblestone barrier which turns to sand before entering the water. Its unique south facing direction make for the most consistent waves in the province, with only a handful of “unsurfable” days a year.
There are two primary surf schools in Halifax – East Coast Surf School (closest to Downtown Halifax and open year-round) and Halifax Surf School (located at Martinique Beach).
Spend time with goats and farm animals at Ataraxy Farm
Ataraxy means a “state of serene calmness”; and it makes people that visit the farm feel just that, calm.
Ataraxy is a local farm in Halifax’s Eastern Shore Region where folks can take tours or shop the goat milk products. Their farm currently has 2 horses to 5 horses, 3 donkeys, 1 mule, and 49 goats.
What started off as a therapy farm (and still is) now offers so much more, and the public are now able to visit this serene place.
Shop at a local farmers' market to support Nova Scotia farmers and makers
With a community that has grown increasingly devoted to shopping local from the incredible range of crafters, growers, makers, bakers and farmers here in Halifax, the local food scene is growing by the season.
If you’re looking to experience the Halifax region like a local, finding the closest farmers’ market is a fantastic place to start.
Check out this list of year-round and seasonal farmers’ markets in the Halifax region.
Visit the sustainably built and operated Halifax Central Library
The Halifax Central Library opened in 2014, winning the lieutenant Governor’s Design Award in Architecture for 2014 and a Governor General’s Medal in Architecture in 2016.
More than the design in pure architecture, this library is complete with a wealth of sustainability features from water efficiency efforts to responsible material selection upon building.
Read about the full list of Green Design and Sustainable Features.
When visiting, make sure to see what events are on, grab a coffee at the Ampersand Café and visit the rooftop patio.
Spend the day thrifting in Halifax
Spend the day shopping as sustainably as there is: thrift-style.
Downtown Halifax is home to an array of secondhand shops that house quality pieces. Check out this blog that outlines all the urban vintage, consignment and thrift shops in the area.
