Halifax is the largest urban area in Atlantic Canada and largest population centre in Canada east of Quebec City. A major economic centre in eastern Canada with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Major employers and economic generators include the Department of National Defence, various levels of government, and the Port of Halifax. Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas.

The area comprising present day Halifax County was settled for thousands of years by the Mi'kmaq. Those who settled on Halifax Harbour called it Jipugtug, meaning Great Harbour. The first permanent European settlement in the area was the establishment of the Town of Halifax in 1749, other towns and villages were established throughout adjacent areas of what would become Halifax County in the decades that followed.

The urban area of Halifax is a major cultural centre within the Atlantic provinces. The municipality's urban core also benefits from a large population of post-secondary students who strongly influence the local cultural scene. Halifax has a number of art galleries, theatres and museums, as well as most of the region's national-quality sports and entertainment facilities. Home to many performance venues, and is also the home to many of the regions major cultural attractions, such as the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Noted for the strength of its music scene and nightlife, especially in the central urban core on Argyle Street. Halifax is considered by many to be the cultural centre of the Maritimes, the municipality has been able to maintain many of its maritime and military traditions, while opening itself to a growing multicultural population.

The architecture of the South End is renowned for its grand Victorian houses while the West End and North End, Halifax have many blocks of well preserved wooden residential houses with notable features such as the "Halifax Porch". Dalhousie University's campus is often featured in films and documentaries. The urban core is home to several blocks of typical North American high-rise office buildings, however segments of the downtown is governed by height restrictions which prevent buildings from obstructing certain sight lines between Citadel Hill and Halifax Harbour.

On December 6, 1917, the collision of a munitions ship loaded with 2,500 tons of explosives resulted in the Halifax Explosion, which killed over 2,000 people and leveled the northern half of the city. The city was quickly rebuilt and World War II saw Halifax busier than ever, with British supply convoys assembling to start their perilous journey across the Atlantic as German U-boats lurked offshore. After the war, over a million immigrants to Canada passed through Halifax.

Halifax has a number of regional landmark buildings and retains some significant historic buildings. The downtown's mid level office towers are overlooked by Citadel Hill, a stone fortress offering amazing views of the city and the harbor to its visitors, with its iconic Halifax Town Clock. Presently, the citadel is a national historic site and home to a museum and a small ceremonial garrison. Other points of interest include Pier 21, recently named as the National Immigration Museum. Canada's equivalent of New York's Ellis Island, this historic waterfront building processed over a million immigrants. Now converted into a modern museum with extensive exhibits related to Canadian immigration. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, located on the downtown waterfront, a collection includes exhibits and artifacts related to the sinking of the Titanic and the devastating 1917 Halifax explosion, as well as the CSS Acadia, a hydrographic survey ship built in 1913, moored a few meters from the museum building, tours are available during the summer.

Point Pleasant Park, most southern point of the city, a large peaceful park that serves as a vantage point to see the mouth of the harbor and into the Atlantic ocean. The park contains some preserved historic military fortifications such the 18th century Martello tower, as well as ruins of several other fortification. York Redoubt, a sprawling complex of forts from 1790s to 1940s, spend hours exploring tunnels, caves, cliffs, cannons, bunkers, trails, and views of the harbor. Free admission, 1 hour bus ride from downtown. Do the Waterfront, A boardwalk with a great variety of historic buildings, shops, restaurants, and other entertainment. During the summer months, there are many harbor boat tours that launch from here.

Halifax is celebrated by residents who take pride in their slower pace and warm hospitality. Its very lush and green and a great place for walking. I stayed at Dalhousie University campus which offers dorms for rent in the off seasons, perfectly located within reach of downtown core.

One of my more enjoyable experiences was taking a boat trip out into one of the islands in the harbour where I spent a few hours secluded on a pebbled beach looking out onto the Atlantic and exploring its many trails.