Nova Scotia Surf Trip

Go to Halifax. You can look up places to stay at your leisure. Lawrencetown Beach is the hub of the surf scene. But get a map and cruise the coastal roads and check places. If there's a swell running, you'll be surprised. That place is just chuck-full or nooks and crannies. Ax someone where Fish Shacks is. Look for the cow for some beachbreak antics.

Be nice to the locals. Leave any New York/New Jersey attitudes at home. Yeah, there's probably a few "tough guys" up there these days, but they're Canadians. They ain't from Newark, NJ. Facebook Nico Manos, maybe he'll take you under his wing and then you'll be Canadian cool.

Liquor stores are weird the way they sell beer. If it's still the same, you'll see. Stock up on Marlboro's because they don't do American smokes up there. Bring plenty of porn mags to grease local border patrol agents. Avoid Pizza Delight.

Halifax is a cool town. Absorb yourself in it. The McDonalds up there are the best in the world. The workers are even polite. The Uniacke section(I think it's like North Halifax) is where the rocks are. Remember it's Halifax not Newark.

Though it's still the east coast, there's some consistency problems as far as the surf, but man, they got the set-ups in an unspoiled environment. Halifax might just be one of the best places on earth. I would stay there if I was you.

 

Good nugs dropped by PJB. Halifax is sick, but NS is so wave rich it's insane. Every time you turn the corner (if swell's up) you see a new wave. If you have time, you should definitely explore, but coastal access is tough in parts (lots of little fingers of land to drive out onto, kind of like northern ME), so if you're short on time, stick to the known spots. The points in Cow Bay are awesome, but they're really well known so if you're going to find yourself in a crowd, that's where it'll be. The only surfers I've talked to up there have been super friendly and helpful.

There's supposed to be a bunch of good waves down near Liverpool too (according to surf websites), but I've never been.

Halifax is sick, make sure you get yourself some donair and some poutine, and there are some fun bars downtown, too. I will warn you, getting a hotel in the Halifax area is not as cheap as you'd think it might be, so depending when you go, and if you like camping, that might be a nice alternative. And avoid pizza delight is right, but you should check out pizza corner. Ask anyone in downtown Halifax, they'll point you the right way.

 

Hey Straws I'm another NH guy who's been looking to get up there this fall as well. Let's chat.

 

Sounds like a BA place to go for a change of pace, definitely have it on the list of things I should do at least once in my life

 

Yes, I need to road trip it up there as well, severely. Haven't left the country in a while, so excuse the question, but do you need a passport to cross the Canadian border?

 

Used to be no, and you can probably still get by without one, but do yourself a favor and bring the passport.

NS is a freaking treat. I'm a MA guy, might be making another trip up there this fall. Seemingly limitless untapped wave potential. I came back from my first trip and started googling Halifax jobs.

 

I'll have to get the ball rolling on that...just googled directions and saw it's just over 12 hours, not bad at all when considering the potential up there. I've suddenly become obsessed with this idea.

 

Man, do it. My first trip was super last minute - I'd picked a random week for a trip to OBX, my brother and I had the time off work.....the day came, and the forecast for OBX was mediocre at best. Called a last minute audible, drove through a blinding snowstorm to Halifax, and got some of the best waves of my life. Now I'm in love.

 

It's great out there, fall into winter is certainly the best time. I always get stoked about the tropical swells, but have learned the real deal are the NE'sters. If you see a lot of hurri's out there with a really good swell window get on on up here, otherwise you run the risk of the old "kiss and run". Over head and offshore one day, and not even knee high the next. Staying around Halifax will keep you entertained if it goes flat. Have a good vehicle as there is usually a lot of driving around, as the options are limitless. S winds = BAD Anything else is workable,, S, SE, E and NE swell especially E is the ticket. Oh, and my buddy surfed in his winter suit on the weekend..

 

Just remember you're not allowed in to Canada if you've been arrested (and convicted) in the last 10 years.

 

Yo, I've heard some stories aboot this but am totally clueless. I didn't have any problems. Are you talking tourist or trying to gain citizenship? I've heard stories concerning both. I don't know. It wasn't even an issue the last time I went to Canada. Didn't even come up. Doesn't make sense since their legal system is so forgiving up there compared to ours.

But then I was watching something aboot people trying to become legal here in good ol' America, and they were denied because they had a DUI ten years ago? What? Everybody drinks and drives, even our former presidents and vice presidents. You know most of our presidents have been alcoholics(at some point of time or another).

Immigration, wow, North America's native people really got the shaft.

Oh, and I F'up, don't look for the cow for beach break antics, look for the Moose. Sorry. Animals confuse me sometimes...hey LETS KILL THEM ALL !!

Man, I want to be in Nova Scotia so bad right now. I just kicked my elderly neighbor because we're in New Jersey.

Some years ago I almost tried to move to Edmonton because they were hiring foreign workers due to human capital issues. Got to love that Fort McMurray oil sands. Things were so bad that fast food places were closing during periods of the day because they didn't have the staff. But, being stranded in Edmonton while waiting to become a citizen, so I could move elsewhere(legally and financially) would have been bad. Probably would have joined one of the native gangs and been taking blasts and chugging and shoot. Ya know what it is that I be sayin' ?

 

This thread is reaffirming the surf trip I've been thinking about taking to NS this fall. Thanks for the inspiration all!

 

Just don't go after our beavers eh..

 

Argyle St..... crazy fun.

Explore, explore, explore.

I rode the tidal bore on the Bay of Fundy.... not that great.

Whiskey is sold in bars by the oz.... and I mean, a measured OZ... no free-hand pouring.

 

If you are driving up, you do not need a passport book - there is a card you can get, costs less than passport book. Allow a couple months to get it. Go to local Post Office. If you fly up, you need the passport book.

 

Awesome, appreciate the info.

 

Never been, but check out Big Lake NS on the map. That place looks magical.

 

Matt Mays - the local Halifax Blue noser, rocker & surfer: One of the numerous-unsung Canadian artists:

Live CBC performance - song Indio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwU0gNsgguc


If your in Halifax Sept 7 - surfing and music featuring Matt Mays and my personal favorite Sam Roberts (Band):

http://www.theocdcollective.com

Yep Tim Hortons, poutine, BeaverTails, good people, beautiful country & cities, great music - thats Canada - see ya next summer.