It makes sense that Canada's oldest and most substantial maritime museum is located in Halifax: The city's history drips with stories from the sea. By displaying artifacts and providing interactive exhibits, this specialty museum recounts the numerous shipwrecks off Nova Scotia's shores, the city's days as a commercial shipping hub and its role as a military player in World Wars I and II. But the exhibit detailing Halifax's response to the 1912 sinking of the Titanic is, for many, the highlight of the museum. The display includes artifacts from the "unsinkable ship" and recounts local efforts to recover lost passengers and remaining parts of the ship. In fact, it was at this museum that director James Cameron saw the carved panel that inspired Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's raft in the 1997 film, "Titanic." (You can also find many Titanic victims buried in Halifax's cemeteries.)

While examining the Titanic artifacts is the biggest draw, previous visitors say that you should make time for the other displays. Recent museumgoers say you should budget about two hours to take in all the maritime history.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic overlooks the harbor in downtown Halifax. It welcomes visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with extended evening hours on Tuesdays) and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. From May through October, the museum is also open Mondays. Admission ranges from roughly CA$5 to CA$9.55 (about $3.50 to $7) for adults, depending on the season. You can learn more about the museum by checking out its website.