We'd like to show you some of our best kept secrets - our towns, villages, cities and harbours with an exciting diversity of sights and attractions in a region rich in culture, romance and history. Explore charming seaside towns, sundrenched beaches, sparkling coves and miles of rugged shoreline guarded by graceful lighthouses. Imagine the excitement of city living, the charms of smalltown life and the pristine beauty of nature - all in one place.

There are so many things to do while you are here. Spend a day enjoying sun and surf on broad sandy beaches. Travel winding coastal roads to picturesque fishing villages. Visit the downtown area and delight yourself with an impressive array of museums, galleries, historic sites, fine restaurants, and colourful gardens. Vibrant shopping districts cater to even the most discriminating tastes and sidewalk cafes create a lively international flavour. And when the sun sets, experience Celtic fiddles played in hundred-year-old pubs and cool jazz that brightens the night in friendly nightclubs.

Our region has a long history. Over the centuries, people of diverse cultures have called the Halifax area home; the Mi'kmaq native people camped on the shores of Bedford Basin, European fishermen dried their catches on the beaches and early Acadians farmed the marshes at Chezzetcook, long before the British arrived to officially found the city in 1749. Black Loyalists came here after the American War of Independence and Scots and Irish came to build the Shubenacadie Canal. In more recent times, Pier 21 was the gateway for crowds of immigrants from war-torn Europe seeking a new life. Today, this rich history is preserved in the museums and historic sites throughout the Municipality.

Let yourself be romanced by the sea. Everyone is drawn to the ocean - the crisp tang of salt air, fresh breezes, and an ever-changing panorama of colour and light. Everyone should experience the pleasure of a broad sandy beach, the awesome power of waves crashing against a rocky shore, or the simple pleasure of beachcombing for unexpected treasures from the sea. Stroll our boardwalks and see ships from around the world, watch fishermen at their timeless tasks or sail or kayak among the many islands of our beautiful bays.

Come and experience our many festivals and events, lobster suppers and summer outdoor concerts. Spend the day listening to buskers, jazz musicians, story tellers or fiddlers. Fill the evening with dinner theatre, symphony performances or country ceilidhs. And don't forget the craft fairs, yard sales, church suppers and ethnic festivals. It's all here in the Halifax Regional Municipality, so let our communities welcome you. Discover how friendly, fun and easy to explore we are!