We’ve enjoyed many family vacations in Halifax and throughout Nova Scotia over the years and during our most recent Halifax visit, we explored the city with tweens. I was pleasantly surprised by how much this seaport city has changed in recent years and how fun it was to explore Halifax with tweens. There were so many fun things to do in Halifax with this age group of children who want to do more adventurous activities now that they’re inching towards the teen years.
Disclosure : This post is in partnership with Discover Halifax and Tourism Nova Scotia but, as always, opinions are TOTALLY ours!
Halifax with Tweens
If you’re looking to bring tweens to Halifax then we have a full itinerary to help you plan your Halifax vacation. There will still be some whining and complaining but for the most part, those moody tweens are going to get into the Halifax activities and attractions on our list of things to do with tweens in Halifax. Over the years we’ve also stayed at quite a few Halifax hotels and have narrowed down two tween approved ones and of course there’s no shortage of fresh seafood, delicious mocktails (and cocktails for parents) and plenty of treats to bribe the kids into walking “just a bit more”.
Getting to Halifax
Whether you’re road tripping through Nova Scotia or looking for a quick East Coast weekend getaway, Halifax is often a hub for most people visiting Nova Scotia. Luckily for us, there are many daily flights from Toronto to Halifax Stanfield International Airport. We’ve flown Porter Airlines numerous time from Ontario to Nova Scotia and they’ve added some new routes making it so easy to travel to Halifax from Billy Bishop Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport. For our most recent trip we decided to experience both routes and I certainly enjoyed our Porter Experience. I love that drinks and snacks are included as part of every Porter passenger’s journey and that there are no middle seats!
I personally love flying from and into the downtown Toronto airport because the airport lounge there is one of my favourites and the security process is so simple, allowing me to breeze from home to the Porter Gate in 20 minutes. However the Dash 8-400 jets are smaller out of this airport. The Halifax flights in and out of Pearson on the other hand enable you to fly the Embraer E195-E2 which gives you loads of leg room, outlets to keep your devices charged and free speedy Wi-Fi. Just keep in mind that this route is still under 2.5 hours (it’s crazy close though) so Porter Reserve seats don’t come with the complimentary meals, elevated cocktails or the turmeric ginger shots I love so much. So at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if the extra travel time required to go through Pearson vs. Billy Bishop is worth the extra perks of the larger Porter fleet for this Halifax route.
If you’re looking to book some summer and fall Halifax getaways, I’ve seen some crazy good Halifax flight deals with one ways as low as $100!!!
Looking to explore Nova Scotia Coast to Coast? Here’s my one week Nova Scotia itinerary!
Things to do in Halifax with Tweens
Halifax is a city filled with history but we know that our tweens want nothing to do with history and luckily for us, history isn’t limited to the museums when you’re in Halifax! We did take them to a museum but for the most part we found fun outdoor activities to keep them engaged. Be sure to keep an eye out for the physical copies of the Kids’ Guide to Halifax because it’s filled with activities to keep everyone busy! Akira and Apollo always grab a copy when we’re in Halifax and you can usually find them at the Visitor’s Centre or at your hotel.
Explore the Halifax Waterfront
I absolutely love the Waterfront area because there’s so much on offer and every year we notice new thing to do on Halifax’s waterfront. Start your day with a Harbour Hopper tour – yes even surly tweens are sure to gain a sparkle in their eye when this amphibious vehicle goes from land into sea. Not to worry, all is safe on this 55 minute tour because the vehicles are refurbished heavy duty military cargo vehicles. You will get a history lesson and quick overview of the walkable city on this tour.
Once back on the waterfront, be sure to take the kids to “the wave”. This structure is technically not to be climbed according to the sign at the bottom of the sculpture but kids have been doing that since Chris was a kid growing up in Nova Scotia! Needless to say, this sculpture continues to be Akira and Apollo’s favourite activity in Halifax. For families visiting Halifax, it’s the perfect time-waster because kids of all ages (including teens) will challenge themselves up the wave while parents can sit on the shaded steps nearby.
Once they’re tired out, walk towards the many food vendors-grab a lobster roll or fried clams and wash it down with an ice cold lemonade. Of course if you want a sit down experience, Darya and Drift are both amazing restaurants and I hear great things about Salt+ Ash Beach House. Oh and by the way, I’ll share more about this below but if you’re looking for the best kids’ meal offerings in Halifax, the waterfront is home to that too – just walk into the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront and dine at any of their restaurants! Whatever you do, don’t forget to pop into the Fog Company for ice cream and Peace by Chocolate for sweet treats!
As you roam around one of the world’s longest urban boardwalks you will discover many photo opportunities (as you can clearly see, we love hamming up to them!). You will also be able to enjoy the various pop up markets and musical shows that always seem to grace the boardwalk during the summer months.
We’ve been visiting the Halifax Waterfront since the kids were babies!
Take a Day Trip to Splashifax and Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse
There are many day trips from Halifax families can take but this one is certainly tween approved! Book yourself an early session at Splashifax during the summer months and arrive 30 minutes before your start time if you want to maximize your 100 minutes of water fun at this inflatable waterpark in Nova Scotia.
The drive from downtown Halifax took us about 30 minutes and definitely come dressed in your swimsuit and bring towels with you. Upon arrival at Hatfield farm you will be escorted in a wagon towards the lake. There are porta potties but not much else in terms of change areas so keep that in mind. You are to bring your own slip socks (the variety you may have accumulated if your kids visit trampoline and jump parks) or you can pre-purchase them when you book your tickets. You will be given life jackets and yes, everyone needs to wear one, and you can place your belongings on a picnic table. Even Chris’ Mom joined in on the fun but his Dad opted for the discounted land lover pass which enabled him to watch us from land. Akira and Apollo had loads of fun here jumping off things and Chris was on hand to show them how to do the jumps off crazy high inflatables! It was a joy watching the three of then push themselves beyond their comfort zones while I mostly chilled on the ones closer to the surface of the water! I mean, even Chris’ Mom did one of the scary slides which I was too chicken for!
There are many lifeguards on duty and they were all doing a fabulous job. When your time is up you head back to that picnic table to dry up as much as possible (remember there’s no places to change unless you want to go deep into the woods) before taking the wagon back to the main farm area. One of the reasons the kids said they’d arrive earlier than 30 minutes next time is because there was a fun looking playground with a zipline at the wagon drop off/pick up area near the lake. They unfortunately did not have much time here before returning to the farm. Of course once back at the farm you can dry out as you walk around and see the farm animals (baby goats were so cute!) and there’s another playground for the kids. There’s also a small canteen where you can purchase drinks, ice cream and freezies…and they have nice bathrooms (hint*hint*wink*wink).
We spent about an hour drying out as the kids played with the animals and after a quick freezie and change session we drove for 40 minutes before arriving at Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse on a beautiful sunny afternoon. Best part was that we arrived just in time for lunch! Tom’s Lobster Shack is my preferred Lobster Roll at Peggy’s Cove because their one had chunks of Lobster meat (lemon and truffle was so good though Chris preferred the classic).
Apollo ordered one from the Sou’Wester restaurant and he said he liked their shredded Lobster rolls best but mainly because it came with really good fries while Tom’s came with potato chips. Just watch out for those evil seagulls will ya? The greedy buggers will scoop down and steal your food! Don’t let it deter you from enjoying that delicious and fresh Lobster Roll as you sit and watch the waves crash over the rocks with the best view of Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse.
Watch those tweens closely as they jump from inland rocks and please don’t let them anywhere near the edge because there’s too many horror stories of those lost to sea. Do let them jump around closer to the restaurant and take silly pictures because that’s all part of the memory making fun!
We’ve visiting Peggy’s Cove area many times and on each visit we notice new shops and cafes in the Village which makes it very easy to spend a couple hours roaming around this free attraction in Nova Scotia. It’ll take you about an hour to head back into downtown Halifax so don’t be surprised if those tweens take a nice long snooze on the way back to refuel their energy to climb that wave on the Waterfront once again!
Click here for the best beaches in Halifax.
Be Spooked on a Ghost Tour
Akira is a huge lover of ghost tours and our search for the spookiest tour continues on every trip we take. I find ghost tours to be tween approved (and another reason for them to stay up late) but it also depends on the child so keep that in mind. Some tours are very scary but many aren’t! Halifax has many ghost stories and there are a few tours available depending on what you’re looking for.
On our most recent visit in 2024 we took a candlelit ghost tour at the Citadel with a Parks Canada guide. The backdrop was fantastic and you get to go through tunnels that aren’t usually accessible during the day tours! The stories weren’t scary enough for our tweens though they did jump out of their seat once. Friends of ours told us that on our next visit we should take the kids on a ghost tour with Dusty because his storytelling mixed with history will certainly spook the kids out! No matter which ghost tour you do in Halifax, wear some bug spray in the summer, bring a bottle of water and maybe a small snack in case the kids get hungry! The Halifax ghost tours are very popular so book those tickets as early as you can!
Bike and Catch a Play at Point Pleasant Park
Chris used to work at Shakespeare by the Sea so we definitely have an emotional connection with this recommendation but we’ve done our best to catch a kid friendly show each and every time we visit Halifax with kids. Our kids aren’t fans of the Bard’s work (yet) but musicals like Alice in Wonderland are often woven into the schedule which makes this a great evening activity for your list of things to do in Halifax with tweens. Bring bug spray and a hand fan to ensure you stay bug free and cool. You can bring your own picnic blankets or buy the premium seats which ensures you have a chair to sit on! Oh and you can totally eat and drink so pack a nice picnic!
Biking to Point Pleasant Park is a great idea and we did that on our recent Halifax vacation. Bikes can be rented at I Heart Bikes on the Waterfront and you can keep them for a day or two if you plan to ride past 6 p.m. They have e-bikes (what a wonderful invention!!!) and kids bikes so there’s options for all. They will provide you with helmets but remember to check that you have a bike lock and the combo (it’s part of your rental) before you start your journey.
Biking along the boardwalk isn’t recommended because of the crowds but getting on the bike lanes and making our way to the Discovery Centre, Pier 21 and Point Pleasant Park was a fun way to get the kids outdoors without whining (yes you can easily walk to these places in less than an hour in total but where’s the fun in that?). If your family is used to longer rides and don’t have tweens who whine an hour into an activity, here’s a list of routes you could explore.
Play, Sip and Learn at Pier 21
The Pier 21 area is historically significant but of course our tweens don’t care about that. Luckily there are ways for parents to engage with the kids in a fun and meaningful way when you’re at Pier 21. Nearly one million immigrants came to Canada through Pier 21, and it is the last surviving seaport immigration facility in Canada.
I know a few friends who have been able to trace their ancestors to this pier which was a former ocean liner terminal and was an immigration shed from 1928 to 1971. You can learn many stories when you visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration but don’t worry, the tweens will be engaged for a bit here too because there are interactive displays and small play areas that share the history of the area.
If you’re visiting on the weekend, the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market is great spot to grab a treat or two along with some gifts and souvenirs. Akira and Apollo only get pop when we travel so they’re fans of the soda flights at Garrison Brewing (and yes, Chris and I enjoy a beer flight here too).
Throw Axes and Splatter Paint
This is by far the coolest thing according to Apollo. It’s very rare for find thrilling activities like axe throwing where kids are allowed to join in-just remember to wear closed toed shoes. Halimac Entertainment offers axe throwing, archery and paint splatter sessions for all ages. I loved how chill this spot is. There’s a lounge area and you can purchase beverages (yes beer, wine and cocktails included) to enjoy while you play and you can bring your own food in too. Chris and Apollo were quite competitive over the axe throwing but Akira had a bit of a meltdown as soon as we got there so she didn’t end up throwing as many axes as I thought she would.
Her mood did turn around when we were in the splatter room, all decked out in our hazmat suits. Although the paint washes off easily and you get protective covers from head to toe, don’t wear your fancy clothes here okay? Once we put the gear on top of our clothes were placed in a glow in the dark room equipped with paint guns and brushes. We each had a canvas to paint but we also painted each other!
It was nice to let loose and get creative as a family. Try and plan this visit early into your Halifax vacation with because it does take a couple days for the paint to dry. We went here about 6 hours before our flight but luckily we were given a pizza box to place the paintings in and those pizza boxes went through security with no issues and made it on to our Porter flight. They fit in the overhead bins but only because we were on the bigger flights and not the Dash 800! Once you’re done here pop into the Deck game store nearby or grab some treats at the Filipino Xena’s Bread & Butter Cafe!
Get Your Shopping On
If your tweens enjoy shopping then they will enjoy roaming around Halifax. During our Halifax travels with tweens we popped into various stores.
Strange Adventures comic store not only had free comics but they had some unique books, cards and toys as well. Freak Lunchbox is always a favourite because they have unique candy offerings and if your kids are fans of sodas/pop from around the world, then e Joy Food Mart is certainly worth a visit. Mine aren’t into thrifting but I do know of some tweens who are very much into it so I thought I’d share this article about Halifax thrift stores.
Learn at the Discovery Centre
At first glance you may assume that the Discovery Centre is where you take young kids but I quickly realized how awesome this place is for tweens visiting Halifax. It certainly can be on every family’s list of things to do in Halifax because there are so many interactive exhibits.
The wonder happens when the older kids take a moment to read the science behind their play. I spotted both kids reading and understanding the various phenomena taking place during their moments of play. You only need about an hour here to roam through the three floors but know that the top most floor is for the toddlers…except for that LEGO area. The LEGO area is for ALL ages according to my kids!
Ferry Over to Downtown Dartmouth
Taking the ferry to Dartmouth brings on the same feels as taking the ferry to the Toronto Islands. Heck, I even took the ferry when I boarded my Toronto to Halifax Porter flight from downtown Toronto! I am a sucker for a short ferry ride, what can I say! Well this ferry runs frequently and saves you from having to drive over to Dartmouth for an afternoon of exploring, eating and drinking. On each visit we pop into breweries like New Scotland Brewing and Lake City Cidery where the kids can play board games while we sip on our brews. We’re also fans of Battery Park (great selection of beers and a fab patio) and a stop at Vandal Doughnuts is MANDATORY (they have vegan options which makes dairy free Apollo happy)!
The food scene in Dartmouth is great and my recommendations include coffee and baked goods at Two If By the Sea, Yeah Yeahs for Pizza, Doraku for Sushi and Portland Street Creperie for a mid afternoon sweet pick me up. My Halifax influencer friend Cailin O’neil told us that Canteen occasionally has Crobster rolls (crab and lobster) and Hustle Snackbar has the best smash burgers ever.
Relax at the Halifax Central Library
Some days you just need a mini break and the Halifax Central Library is a great spots for that. Not only is this building an architectural beauty, but you can enjoy great views of the city from their fifth level and they have a teen lounge area for chilling. They also have a drop in programs that are worth popping into if you have multi-media art fans.
During our summer visit we bumped into library staff playing with bubbles and the tweens were invited to join in!
Where to Eat and Drink in Halifax with Tweens
There is no shortage of good food in Halifax and we tend to eat as much fresh seafood as we can when we’re on the East Coast. I first visited Halifax in 2009 and have enjoyed seeing a flood of new restaurants representing various cuisines enter the culinary scene here. You can now enjoy dishes spanning the Asian and African continents and it brings me pure joy! The cocktail scene is also fabulous so parents keep that in mind! Below are my recommendations on where to eat in Halifax with kids and don’t worry, I’ll give you some drink suggestions too!
Darya : We loved our experience at this Halifax Waterfront area restaurant and not only enjoyed fabulously fun cocktails but also a delicious Persian inspired menu featuring Eastern Mediterranean dishes. The restaurant is also gorgeously decorated and I highly recommend making a reservation. Next time I hope to try their weekend buffet brunch!
Drift : This Waterfront area restaurant also has a patio and they aren’t usually busy which is shocking to me! Well balanced cocktails and a menu featuring a modern twist on classic regional fare can be found here.
Almonak : If you’re looking for a fancy brunch this North End restaurant will certainly hit the spot. Their Banana Bread Toast was spectacular according to Chris’ Mom and Akira and I enjoyed my Pakora Eggs Benny (don’t add the avocado like I did though – it was way too much!). They also make some great lattes here and there’s a variety of options to please everyone.
Your Father’s Mustache : This is one of those places I love to hate but end up returning to. The vibe is chill at this pub and they don’t seem to mind noise which means kids having meltdowns go unnoticed (which is why we frequented them during the toddler phase). Chris and his friends use to patron this spot on the regular during their youth and over the years we’ve had good food here – yes even lobster rolls. So if it’s a bit of an off day with doom and gloom hanging over those tweens, this might be a safe bet. They also have a variety of Nova Scotian beers on tap.
Doraku : Located in downtown Halifax this sushi restaurant has been serving up fresh eats since 1992. They are busy but things move quickly and yes do the Omakase option. We nabbed their lounge area on the patio and enjoyed dinner with the grandparents on our most recent Halifax vacation.
Edna : This cozy restaurant featuring reclaimed wood and subway tiles continues to impress despite changing ownership a few years ago. Their cocktails are fun and well made while their food menu features local seafood and seasonal veggies and yes, just order one of everything. Apollo was even able to customize a pasta dish so he could maintain his dairy free needs here!
Bar Moxy Lounge : Even if you’re not staying at the Moxy Halifax, their lounge is a fun spot to chill and enjoy a few drinks and snacks at. Keep an eye out to see if you can find their secret room because the kids will enjoy that private space if you can find it! They have all sorts of card games here and giant Jenga, chess, checkers and more so it’s a great spot to relax (it’s close by to Halimac too).
Marriott Harbourfront’s Harbourfront Pourhouse : I was absolutely gob smacked when I saw the kids’ menu offerings at this Halifax hotel restaurant. Like WOW! For dinner kids enjoyed $7 fresh Halibut and veggies and they also have Chicken Alfredo, Burgers and Chicken Fingers all for under $7!!! Crazy right? They have similarly great options for breakfast and lunch as well. Parents, definitely order the hearty, creamy and delicious Chowder here and the Blackened Scallop was amazing too.
Indochine Banh Mi : If you’re roaming around the Halifax Public Gardens then swing by here to grab a simple Banh Mi (I requested extra Daikon) to accompany you as the tweens run around the garden.
2 Doors Down : This laid back eatery has two locations (in Halifax and Dartmouth) and we’ve been to the one in Halifax for Lobster rolls and Burgers. They have a solid beer selection as well.
Chef Abod Cafe and Catering : If you’re looking for a snack in the North End, then swing by here for some great Middle Eastern bites. I’ve tried their Kibbeh and kebabs a few years ago and it was amazing. I was also so impressed to see Om Ali on their menu (one of my all time favourite desserts). If you have someone on a Keto diet, the chef here has some great options!
These are spots on my list to eat and drink in Halifax on my next visit : Bar Sofia, Peacock, Salt +Ash, Bar Kismet
Where to Sleep in Halifax with Tweens
There are some great Halifax hotel reviews out there and over the years we’ve stayed at quite a few of them. If you’re travelling with tweens who like modern comfort, I have two options worth considering.
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront
The Halifax Marriott Harbourfront hotel is conveniently located on the Halifax Waterfront, giving those tweens easy access to dash to the Wave whenever they want. This hotel has a large lobby with plenty of spaces to chill at and the rooms have two double beds as well as interconnecting rooms.
This hotel also has a fab restaurant which offers the best kids’ meal deals. I mean just check out the $7 breakfast options the kids enjoyed (I even ordered a kids meal because it was that great). The staff at this hotel are friendly and if you have Marriott Bonvoy status, you do enjoy perks like free room upgrades and late check-out.
We have stayed at this hotel multiple times and if you have pool loving tweens visiting Halifax, then this is the spot for you! They have a pool (first and last hour is dedicated to adults only – heads up) and a hot tub at this Halifax hotel which is fantastic for those rainy or lazy days. It was all about the little touches here for me. They have towelettes around the room, turndown service with treats and hand written notes from housekeeping. I also appreciate the mini fridge access and the lounge area in our rooms.
Moxy Halifax
Alright now if you have tweens looking for that cool vibe, then this is your best bet. The rooms are small at the Moxy Halifax and there’s no pool but they offer unlimited candy and sesame snacks in the lobby and the lobby is the perfect hang out. This was my first time staying at a Moxy property and it took a bit of time to learn the way they operate. They also have coffee in the lounge for you to grab.
First up, there’s no daily housekeeping. You put your trash outside the room and they collect it (apparently – I didn’t do this and collected the trash in our room over the two days) and if you need extra towels, sanitary pads, shampoo etc – you just walk up to the ”stash” cupboard at the end of the hall and grab what you want!
The cool factor here is that they have a double bunk bed room which can technically sleep 8 people in the 4 double beds. We like to spread out so we each took a bed. The room was narrow but functional – we each had our own nightlight and device charging nooks and the walls had spots for me to hang clothes. Even the lamp and chair were hanging on the wall when we first arrived! Chris’ parents’ room didn’t have a mini fridge but ours did so it’s another perk for the bunk bed room. This room inspired us with its modern minimalism, that’s for sure! The only thing to keep in mind is that on weekends, there’s a DJ spinning in the lobby and it’s a full out party that goes until midnight. The sound carries to the bunk bed room ( Chris’ parents at the end of our hallway didn’t hear anything) so if you go to bed early and are staying here on the weekend, perhaps don’t choose the bunk bed room. We go to bed late so it wasn’t an issue for us. In fact every adult gets a free drink ticket when they check-in so you can easily join in on the fun.
The lobby of this hotel is very lounge-able. The kids loved playing the free games here and would rush down whenever they had a break in our travel schedule. They also found the secret room and enjoyed locking themselves in there as they waited to see if anyone else would find the way to open the lair. The lobby and patio are great way to relax in Halifax, that’s for sure! If you have Marriott Bonvoy status, you do enjoy perks like free room upgrades and late check-out in addition to programming your phone to unlock the room door!
3 Day Halifax Itinerary for Families with Tweens
Halifax is very easy to get around so even if you don’t have a car, you can roam around! There are city busses but we mostly walked to places and took the occasional Uber. The only day we needed a car was the day we did the day trip so a one day car rental is all you’ll need if you plan to follow our long weekend in Halifax itinerary.
Day 1 : Roam around the Waterfront (grab that ice cream, get some shopping in, get on the Harbour Hoppper and eat all the things), rent e-bikes in the afternoon visiting Pier 21 and Point Pleasant Park (maybe a Shakespeare by the Sea play?)
Day 2 : Day trip to Splashifax and Peggy’s Cove before returning to Halifax for dinner.
Day 3 : Throw axes or splatter paint at Halimac and visit Dartmouth for lunch before returning for a ghost tour.
