Halifax Metro

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is a charming mix of the contemporary and the traditional. The coastal city is near small seaside towns, expanses of rugged coastline, and broad, sandy beaches. As a result, Halifax downtime activities include swimming, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, surfing, or just hiking or biking through one of the 171 local parks and taking in the area's natural beauty.

Halifax, on the Atlantic, is the world's third-largest natural harbor. Because of its locale, the city's weather is often foggy (on average, Halifax experiences 122 days of fog annually) and changeable (so have your umbrella on hand, even on sunny days). But the warmth of the locals more than makes up for the dampness: Halifaxers are extremely welcoming and their charm and friendliness extends to the local nightlife, which is social and unpretentious. Going out at night means relaxing and having a good laugh at a local pub or bar with plenty of Celtic fiddling and traditional music. And, of course, fresh seafood is a menu mainstay at many of the city's more than 450 restaurants, while beer and ale are the drinks of choice. Aficionados of the beverage can take a tour of the Alexander Keith's Original Nova Scotia Brewery for an idea of the brew's popularity.

That's not to say that Halifax doesn't have a sophisticated scene as well. There are six universities in the Halifax Regional Municipality (In 1996, the City of Halifax, the City of Dartmouth, the Town of Bedford, and Halifax County were amalgamated), including the renowned Dalhousie University, St. Mary's University, and Mount Saint Vincent University. The schools bring exciting arts, theater, music, and dance communities to the area and make it one of the best-educated regions in Canada.

And if history is your thing, in 2001, Halifax (which was settled in 1749 and is Canada's first British town) celebrated its 250th anniversary. There are numerous historical sites, such as the Halifax Citadel, and museums to visit. But for many, the most memorable part of the city's history occurred on December 6, 1917: the Halifax Explosion. The blast ripped through the harbor when two ships collided: the Imo, a relief ship, and Mont Blanc, which was carrying 35 tons of benzol, 300 rounds of ammunition, 10 tons of gun cotton, 2,300 tons of picric acid (used in explosives), and 400,000 pounds of TNT. The explosion killed 1,900 people, injured more than 9,000 people, and devastated almost 131 hectares (325 acres) of the north end of the city. Today, however, there are no physical scars left from the incident. And you can enjoy the beautiful harbor with a pleasant ride on the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry, which began running in 1752.

If you're interested in a city with tons of history, charm, and excellent seafood, Halifax could be for you.

See our 5 Jobs in Halifax Metro