Hi

I wasn't sure which forum was best to post this; hope it gets some results.

I'm a Canadian by birth, but have lived "Down Under" since 1966. I've heard so much about the eastern provinces,but have never been there. So, give me an idea of a sensible itinerary, beginning with the Atlantic provinces. I'll fill in the time lines, but need an idea of where to start and finish. So, it's New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, maybe PEI and Newfoundland that I'm interested in. I suppose I'd prefer not to experience the famous Canadian winter, so would look at late spring, summer or early autumn for my visit. I would then visit relatives in Quebec, and, finally in BC. These latter 2 destinations are not a concern to me. I'm hoping my family will smother me with things to do!

I'm not a big spender, but enjoy the experience of places rather than being in luxurious hotels. Being retired, I can spend a fairly long time on my trips. I like nature, walking and meeting people. So, tell me what I can/should do.

Thank you in advance.

How long do you have?

I'm sure you could spend quite a while just on one province. Say the Newfoundland towns. Those may be the four smaller provinces but still represent more then day trips.

Hi, Nick

Thanks for a very prompt reply. I really am very flexible with my time, have no intention to doing anything but slow travel!! So, I'm looking for a sensible progression through the provinces. I have no objection to public transport and/or renting a car. Accommodations can be more on the economical side, as I'm not into luxury, really.

How flexible are you with regards to flights?

Well if you are flying, you will likely fly through Montreal or Toronto. Then from there, you would have some options depending where you want to start the ground portion of your trip. You could fly from either of those to St. John's Newfoundland, spend a few days and maybe take a car for a few days and see the sights or if you don't want to, I am sure there are people who take tours out to the interesting places.

Then you could take the ferry to Nova Scotia and wend your way around and through there, ending up in Haliax - which is a great little city. I think there would be a bus to PEI - to
Charlottetown. However, I might get a car for a day or two there so you can really drive around. Actually, if you flew into Halifax originally you could take a few weeks and tour Nova Scotia, go over to PEI and then trip around New Brunswick and go back to Halifax - making a loop. From western New Brunswick to Halifax takes about 7 hours now on the highway - and it is also an easy drive to the bridge to PEI from either NS or NB -- just to give you some perspective. The Newfoundland trip is the one that would be separate really, the PEI, NS and NB trip is easy to do. Let us know how your thinking goes and many who post here could add to your plans as they unfold! I am from NB and I know there are people from PEI and NS on the site! Good luck.

Thank you, Debrah. That's exactly the sort of information I was after. JDeQ, at this stage, I'm totally flexible re: flights. I needed a feel for the best way to tackle the provinces, which will help to determine my air flights. It's so darned far from here to Eastern Canada, not many bargains to be had, for sure. It'll be around this time next year when I'll be going, so lots of time to plan, (or over plan, maybe!)
Cheers from down under.

Ok then.

If it were me and time weren't an issue I would fly into Halifax and explore that region of Nova Scotia. I would then drive north to Cape Breton island and take the ferry to Newfoundland (N Sydney-Argentia)and spend some time exploring there. I would then take the ferry back to Cape Breton (Port aux Basques - N Sydney) and enjoy the Cabot trail along the north west coast of Cape Breton island - it is considered to eb on of the most stunning drives in the world. From there I would travel back down to the mainland and explore the western side of Nova Scotia.

You can take a ferry to PEI near Pictou (Caribou Woods Island Ferry). You could spent some quiet time on the island and take the bridge back to the mainland where you could explore New Brunswick.

Following the Trans Canada highway will take you into Quebec. If you want, you could follow it to Toronto, drop the car off there and spent some time exploring Canada's largest city. From Toronto you could take a flight to visit your family in BC and fly home from Vancouver.

Thank you so much. I'm beginning to feel excited already. Out come the atlases and notepads. The computer will stay on most of the days. The dust bunnies can grow fatter, who cares?

Yvonne, this is a beautiful part of the world! We were there in late May/early June a few years ago and visited New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. This was before we were Slow Travelers, and if I were to do this trip again (which I would love to), I would definitely slow it down!

We flew into Bangor, Maine and spent the day at Bar Harbor and in the beautiful national park there. Then we drove to St. Andrews in New Brunswick for the night (Inn on Frederick) and took the ferry across to Digby, Nova Scotia.

We spent two days in Lunenberg in a B&B-- a beautiful historic house that doesn't seem to be operating any more. We spent one of those days in Halifax, which we loved. We also visited Peggy's Cove and some of the other small villages in that area.

From Lunenberg, we had a beautiful drive along the eatern shore and spent one night at a remote inn called Seawind Landing. I would have loved more time here.

Then we headed to Cape Breton: one night near Baddeck at the Luckenbooth B&B on the Cabot Trail. (Fabulous hosts!) We really enjoyed the Alexander Graham Bell museum. And then the next day we drove along the Cabot Trail to the northern point, spending two nights at Oakwood Manor.

We took the ferry from Pictou to PEI. On PEI we spent one night at The Inn at Bay Fortune on the eastern shore and then two nights in Charlottetown at the Shipwright Inn. We saw all the Anne of Green Gables sights and enjoyed a "ceilidh" at the Confederation Centre.

We took the long Confederation Bridge back to the mainland and spent our last night back in St. Andrews at the same inn where we started.

Thinking back on this trip, I would have enjoyed more time everywhere we stayed. Perhaps I would skip PEI and focus on Nova Scotia? (Though at the time, it was very important to us-- my daughter and I were both very interested in the Anne of Green Gables emphasis.) Although we splurged on accommodations on PEI, we also found wonderful and very affordable B&Bs. Most of our meals were also inexpensive-- I especially loved the seafood: lobster, scallops, mussels... inexpensive and plentiful! Late May/early June was a great time to be there too-- low season rates in May and very few tourists.

This is making me want to go back to Nova Scotia!

Kathy

I agree with Jerry about Cape Breton. That drive through the highlands is stunningly scenic. I also highly recommend Fort Louisbourg, a living history park. That may have been the best living history site I have ever visited. Maybe because it is not on a heavily traveled route, but it really felt like stepping back in time when we were there quite a few years ago.

- Roz

This thread has reminded me of our trip to the same area. We went to Nova Scotia and PEI several years ago in October for the fall colors. I LOVED it.

We flew from Boston to Halifax, then stayed three or four days in Mahone Bay, an absolutely lovely little village on the south shore, not too far from Halifax. Then we drove to PEI for another few nights at Charlottetown. I wish we'd had more time, because we didn't see the Cabot Trail and I never got to see the tide change at the Bay of Fundy.

I just found my old "trip report" from the early days of slowtrav. The photos are no longer at that link, but I just uploaded them here. Looking at the photos again REALLY makes me want to return!

Good morning

Your replies are most welcome, and will keep me occupied with happy anticipation. Those dust bunnies are growing as we speak!!

It sounds like a beautiful part of Canada. Thank you all.

Hi Yvonne,

As a Canadian who had visited some of the areas you are interested in, I think you should be aware that you are talking about a lot of driving/travel in the Maritime provinces if you want to take them all in. I've never been to Prince Edward Island, so I have no comments on that area. We have spent some time in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and a few days in and around St. John's Newfoundland.

Nova Scotia is likely the most scenic and interesting province. You could easily spend up to two weeks in the province - at least 4-5 days on Cape Breton Island (Cabot Trail, Glace Bay Miner's Museum, the fort at Louisburg) and perhaps a day or two more on the South Shore - many interesting communities south of Halifax down to Yarmouth. We've been to Mahone Bay twice in the past few years, visiting friends who have retired there. I agree with Chis - beautiful spot. It would be a good base for the South Shore and a day trip or two into Halifax. You likely won't want to leave. Nova Scotia produces an excellent series of guide books. Here is a link to a site that should be of interest.

My wife's family is originally from New Brunswick - so we spent some time there a few years ago on a family holiday. If the focus and history of much of Nova Scotia is maritime, New Brunswick is more diverse - agricultural in large areas. It is a bit harder to recommend interesting sites in New Brunswick. A lot of the tourist attractions are, in my opinion, overrated. Don't bother with Moncton or Fredericton. The two areas worth visiting, in my opinion, are the Acadian area around Shediac - nice beaches & a different cultural experience and the Bay of Fundy region - Campobello Island, and Hopewell Rocks are two worthwhile attractions. I'm sure others will have some different opinions about the province, but that's my contribution. Here's a link to New Brunswick Tourism.

We were only in Newfoundland for a few days, based in St. John's. It was not part of a visit to any other area. We flew from Ottawa to visit some relatives who were based there for a few years. St. John's is interesting city with whale watching at Bay Bulls and many scenic drives around the Avalon Peninsula, BUT it is a long way from anywhere else. The day we went whale watching some tourists who were based in Nova Scotia joined us. They flew from Halifax for the excursion - an expensive day-trip. I haven't been to the rest of Newfoundland - the west coast has some rugged attractions, eg Gros Morne National Park - but don't think I'll ever make it there. Here's a link to Newfoundland tourism. Depending on your time frame, finances and love of long distances you may find Newfoundland too daunting.

With Canadians like Jerry & I to give you advice, how can you go wrong?

Your replies are giving me plenty to chew on! I'm very glad I started planning early, there are some decisions to make, for sure. Hmm, do I need to learn any new expressions to get along down east?

Doug, I'm sure, even with you and Jerry advising me, that I can find some way to go wrong!

Cheers.

quote:

Hmm, do I need to learn any new expressions to get along down east?

Expressions? Well, if you go to Newfoundland you may need a translator. When my brother-in-law first moved there he said that when he had people reporting to him on the progress of a project they were working on, he would nod in agreement, but didn't really understand a lot of what they were saying for the first couple of weeks.