PEI Ferry, Titanic, and Halifax Citadel Exploring

Take the ferry from Prince Edward Island to Nova Scotia to go to Halifax to explore the Citadel and see the Titanic exhibit at the Maritime Museum.

If you are planning a trip to Canada by car you can visit Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia all in one drive. This is what we did one summer!

*Birds and the marina in the early morning in Charlottetown*

Before we started out, I took an early morning walk along the bay at Charlottetown. The sky and the calm water were perfect for photos.

Hannah’s Bottle Village

We took a detour along Highway 1 to go out on Point Prim to check out a bottle village and a lighthouse on the way to the ferry to Nova Scotia.

Here you can explore a small village that includes bottle houses, a bottle chapel, a bottle lighthouse, and the Sherwood Forest in bottles.

My son’s favorite was one with a sports theme.

Hours: 7 a.m. – 12 p.m., Daily

Admission: Donation

Address: Hannah’s Bottle Village, Prince Edward Island C0A 1A0, Canada

Point Prim Lighthouse

Built in 1845, the Point Prim lighthouse is the first and oldest lighthouse on Prince Edward Island and one of only a few round brick lighthouses in Canada.

Going up into the lighthouse you can see different examples of past lights.

The small bed that the lighthouse keeper slept in.

After doing the stairs you reach the top by a ladder, so watch your step.

Then see the light at the top and take in the view out over the bay.

Hours: 10 a.m., Tuesday-Sunday; Closed, Monday (Seasonal Hours Vary check the website for more information)

Admission: Free to wander the grounds. To go up into the lighthouse it is $5, Adults; $3.50, Children Under 12; Free, Children under 5.

Address: 2147 Point Prim Rd, Belfast, PE C0A 1A0, Canada

Northumberland Provincial Park

After seeing the lighthouse, we stopped for a short bit at Northumberland Provincial Park to take a beach walk in the red sand. It is only four miles to the east on Highway 4 from the ferry.

Hours: 8 a.m. – 11 p.m., June – September (Check the website for more information)

Address: 12547 PE-4, Belle River, PE C0A 1B0, Canada

Treena’s Takeout

Next, we headed to the ferry. While waiting for the ferry we took seafood takeout to eat on the ride.

Hours: 11 a.m. 7 p.m., Monday- Thursday; Closed, Tuesday and Wednesday

Address: 84 Lighthouse Rd, Wood Islands, PE C0A 1B0, Canada

*Seeing another ferry. The main blog photo is a view from the ferry.*

Prince Edward Island-Novia Scotia Ferry

Hours: Check the website and hours vary from season to season. Also, the ferry can be canceled due to weather conditions.

Fares vary: the auto rate includes the passenger rate. I would recommend a reservation otherwise you might not be on the next ferry. You pay Round Trip whether you take it one way or both ways.

NOTE: You only pay when you leave Prince Edward Island either by the bridge or ferry. More information on the website.

The crossing takes about 75 minutes.

PEI Ferry Terminal Address: 139 PE-1, Belle River, PE C0A 1B0, Canada

Next, we headed south to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Halifax Hotel: Westin Nova Scotian

The hotel is close to downtown, but it is an older property. It was once the place to stay for the likes of Queen Elizabeth and celebrities.

Address: 1181 Hollis St, Halifax, NS B3H 2P6, Canada

After checking in we walked along the boardwalk to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

The most interesting exhibit is on the Titanic. Halifax was the closest port near the sinking. Sadly, many of the people who died are buried in a cemetery in the city.

You can see panels from parts of the Titanic.

A wooden deck chair ready for a passenger to recline on.

I saw a letter and postcard sent from the Titanic.

Then an exhibit of the wireless transcript sent from the Titanic about the iceberg.

Along one wall is a recreation of what the ship looked like created from advertising for it. (Main photo)

On display are items from the Halifax explosion that happened on Dec. 6, 1917. The Mont-Blanc was filled with explosives caught fire and exploded. At least 1,782 people were killed in the Halifax and Dartmouth area and 9,000 others were injured.

You can see a clock partially melted stuck at just before 9:05 a.m. when the explosion happened.

Also melted pieces from homes and businesses destroyed by it.

The museum is filled with many maritime artifacts and examples of boats.

A small sailboat ready to head off for a day on the ocean.

Hand-crafted wooden boat with a captain’s wheel.

I also checked out the First Order Lens from Sambro Island Lighthouse.

Maritime Museum Details

Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Wednesday- Monday; 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Tuesday (Hours can vary in winter, check the website for more information)

Admission: $9.55, Adult; $8.50, 65+; $5.15, 6-17; 5 and Under; Free – May 1- Oct. 31 $5.15; Adult; $4.40, 65+; $3.10, 6-17; 5 and Under, Free – Nov. 1- April 30 ( Family rates available, check website for more information

Address: 1675 Lower Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 1S3, Canada

Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

Step back to 1749 and immerse yourself in the social and military history of Halifax with the 78th Highlanders and the 3rd Brigade Royal Artillery.

We checked out the barracks in the fort.

You can try on military outfits.

Learn about how the citadel was built. It was so well-constructed, that the citadel never faced an attack.

There are long tunnels throughout the structure that my son enjoyed exploring.

*Preparing for a rifle demonstration at the Citadel*

We were there during a rifle demonstration.

Andrew working on a lesson at the Citadel's school. — *Andrew working on a lesson at the Citadel’s school.*

A schoolhouse was also located in the fort for the soldier’s children. Andrew even did a lesson.

From the top, you can take in the views of the city and the nearby Old Town Clock.

This is a large site so allow at least an hour to tour it.

Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Daily, May 6- Oct. 31; from Nov. 1- May the same hours but interior rooms and exhibits are closed.

Admission: $6.25, Adult; $5,24, Senior; Free, Youth

Address: 5425 Sackville St, Halifax, NS B3J 3Y3, Canada

MORE CANADIAN ADVENTURES

Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park Adventure

Walk on the sea floor at low tide among rock formations at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park and explore the forested coast at Fundy National Park in New Brunswick.

After staying the night in Halifax we headed to Hopewell Rocks. We only stopped for lunch and had to manage our time for the drive based on the tides, which is important if you want to walk on the ocean floor.

Fredericton and the World’s Longest-Covered Bridge

From Quebec City, we visited waterfalls and drove through the 1,282-foot-long Hartland Covered Bridge before arriving in picturesque Fredericton.

Two Days In Quebec City

In Quebec City, we explored the remains of a fort underground, toured the historic Old Town, and saw the nearly 300-foot Montmorency Falls.

Short Trip to Montreal

See a giant apple, drive by a Thousand Islands, tour the War of 1812 Fort Wellington, and check out the Olympic Park Biodome in Montreal! After stopping in Toronto, we headed to Canada’s second city, Montreal, and checked out more amazing places along the way.