Exploring my own backyard with Tall Ships Nova Scotia

A view of Halifax that I’ve never seen before with my own eyes. Love it.

Lately I’ve been to busy exploring the world to even pay much attention to my own hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Over the past week I’ve had the opportunity to see Halifax in a bit of a different light than normal, as the city celebrated the 2012 Tall Ships Festival. Organized by Tall Ships America, Tall Ships festivals and races are held each year rotating between the Pacific and Atlantic side of North America, and the Great Lakes and lately the Tall Ship Festival has stopped in Halifax, Nova Scotia every few years while on their Atlantic tour.

The Tall Ships Festival this year was celebrated over five days in Halifax and aside from being able to tour each ship there were also a lot of other great events taking place in Halifax, from the “Food Fare by the Sea” foodie event presented by the Taste of Nova Scotia to the nightly fireworks, a concert on George’s Island (an Island in the middle of our harbour that is not open for general public access), the Parade of Sail where all of the ships parade around the harbour and a whole lot more.

The Tall Ships helped me to explore my own backyard in different ways I hadn’t before or at least hadn’t done for a while. I was excited that for the first time ever that I got the chance to visit George’s Island and I was thrilled to have a spot on the media boat in the harbour for the Parade of Sail, I don’t get out on the harbour nearly enough and I got to enjoy some great eats at the “Food Fare by the Sea” ok maybe that bit wasn’t so new to me because I am always enjoying local seafood but it was still wicked and we don’t have food fests often enough.

Check out some of the awesome pics I took exploring my own backyard this past week.

Some colourful beach balls were let loose at the concert, with the wind in the harbour most of them quickly found their way to the grassy hillside of George’s Island.

 

A closer view of Halifax, with Captain Morgan standing at the bottom of the pic. You can see Fort George on the top of Citadel hill.

A side of the lighthouse on George’s Island that I had never seen before.

Some of the tasty seafood up for offer at the “Food Fare by the Sea”

Celebrity Chef Anna Olsen shows the crowd how to cool up a mean gumbo at the “Food Fare by the Sea”

Theodore Tugboat leads the beginning of the Parade of Sail around the harbour.

Boats of various different kinds, shapes and sizes full of people swarmed the harbour to watch the parade of sail, like this fishing dorey.

The beautiful ships head for the mouth of the harbour to depart the city.

This ship was called the Peacemaker and was one of the prettiest ships out there.

It was such a beautiful day for a sail and boat ride that it really made me appreciate my little city that much more.

The Fire tugboat signalling the end of the Tall Ships Festival until another year.

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13 Comments

  • Reply
    Lauren
    June 11, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    Did not realize there was a “fire” boat in existence, cool! Thanks for sharing.

  • Reply
    Audrey | That Backpacker
    August 6, 2012 at 7:03 am

    Nice view of the harbour. I only spent one day in Halifax, but I remember eating the best seafood there at a restaurant that was on the water. Scallops wrapped in bacon, Mmmmm!!!! :D

    • Reply
      Cailin
      September 12, 2012 at 7:42 pm

      Oh man scallops are some of my favorite seafood! :)

  • Reply
    Abby
    August 1, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    I love sea-side scenes like these! I’d love to go to a festival like this.

    • Reply
      Cailin
      September 12, 2012 at 7:42 pm

      Abby come visit me in Halifax next summer! :)

  • Reply
    Brock - Backpack With Brock
    July 30, 2012 at 1:16 pm

    Love those tall ships!

    • Reply
      Cailin
      September 12, 2012 at 7:43 pm

      It was great weather to see them all too!

  • Reply
    Rease
    July 26, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Lovely! I really like the old ships.

    • Reply
      Cailin
      September 12, 2012 at 7:43 pm

      Its a pretty awesome festival. Too bad it doesnt happen here every year.

  • Reply
    Gina
    July 26, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    What a cool festival! Loved the pictures of the ships and that lobster meal looked AMAZING.

    • Reply
      Cailin
      September 12, 2012 at 7:44 pm

      It was pretty awesome! Especially since George’s Island is closed to the public, I was so excited to finally get there!

  • Reply
    Monica
    July 26, 2012 at 9:00 am

    Nova Scotia looks gorgeous! That Peacemaker ship is amazing. I always forget how gorgeous my own backyard is too. It’s only when I’ve been away for a few months that I come back and really appreciate it.

    • Reply
      Cailin
      September 12, 2012 at 7:44 pm

      When its sunny and not foggy or rainy it is pretty spectacular. Days like this make me remember why I love it so much :)

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