Province of Nova Scotia Travel Forum

We are planning a trip to the Canadian Maritimes -- leaving in 6 days. I have two questions:

Q1 - We are staying a week in Newfoundland (which is quite well planned), then flying to Halifax to tour Nova Scotia -- which is slightly planned. At this point, that plan is to take in the following sites in NS - Peggy's Cove, Grand-Pre Historic site, Pier 21 Historic site, Shubenacadie Provincial Park, and the Cabot Trail. The question is: Is this a reasonable NS itinerary? Are those the highlights of Nova Scotia? Tell me what you think!

Q2 - Assuming the NS leg takes another week, we will still have 10 days left in our vacation before having to come back to Halifax to fly home. What should we do for those 10 days? Tour PEI? New Brunswick? Maine? I'm afraid I have spent all my prep. time learning about NL and NS, and have spent no time planning the rest of the trip.

AAAaarch! I need a vacation from work to plan for my vacation!!! Redlats

Hey Redlats,

Okay, I did this trip when I was very young, but let me tell you what I remember!

When we went to Nova Scotia, we came via NB. We toured Cape Breton first (Cabot trail and Lousibourg), then down to Halifax... Peggy's Cove and Lunenburg, then over to Grand Pre and Annapolis (spelling?). I think we spent about 5-6 days doing all this. We spent 2 days on Cape Breton alone, 1 day driving, and the other day at Louisbourg (don't miss it, it's great). We spent a few hours at Peggy's Cove (mostly for photos, there isn't much else there), about a half day in Lunenburg, and about a day in Halifax. We then drove across NS to Grand Pre for a half day before taking the ferry across the Bay of Fundy.

This is probably pretty close to what you have planned, just maybe in a different order.

As for what to do after, PEI will take you 1-2 days tops, unless you really want to stretch it out. What you might consider doing (unless you are set in staying in the Maritimes) is driving through NB to Quebec and visiting Quebec city for a few days. Or, you could just spend a few extra days in the places you like best.

Anyway, I hope this helps a little. Have fun, the Maritimes are gorgeous! Amanda

Before you hit Newfoundland try this web page. If you want something different and it's great. www.linkumtours.com It's a light house on an Island and you stay in the light house keepers home.

Now back to Nova Scotia. How long do you have. We travell back and forth to Ontario every 2 years. Never run out of things to see in Nova scotia. Yes you have the right idea. The Airport is about 30 minutes north east of Halifax City. Head up to Cape Breton as the 1st of Sept. things start to slow down and some places close up during the week. When you cross over on the causeway there is a tourist info both on the right side. Drop in there. Grab a map and head up the west coast through Judique, Port Hood & Mabou. The Rankin Family ( a down east musical family band) live there. head north through Margeree Forks and up to Cheticamp: ( this is a French Canadian style Village. great home cooked meals and good palce to stay the night. Take and go north aroung the Cape and back down the est side. spend another night or head for Louisburg. Make sure you take in the fort. Lot's to see. Head south and the is a Galic College in Baddeck. The girls should be back to school. They put on a good bag pipe show if there in. Take 2 or 3 days to travel Cape breton. Come back down and hit the Annapolis Valley. Long drive from up north. great places to stop and stay along the way. Drive down to yarmouth and around the horn and up to Lunenburg. spend a night or 2 there. Sea if the Blue Nose sailing ship is in. Check the schedule and grab a sail. Back to Halifax and spend a few days.
Ed

I'd suggest a little down-time in PEI. You're going to be exhausted from a hellova lot of driving. Rent yourself a little cottage in Rustico (outside Cavendish) and take some time to enjoy the beaches, the tacky tourist stuff, and a little R&R around the northern shore of the Island. School starts next week, so you'll be on the outer edge of the tourist season.

You're visiting Grand-Pre - are you Acadian? Grand-Pre is the Mecca for Acadians, and they just had a huge gathering there a few weeks ago.

Amanda, Ed and Rob,

Thanks for all your advice! We are leaving on Labour Day, and flying to Newfoundland first, and yes that will be a lot of driving. A week later, we fly to Halifax, and maybe then we should start with the down-time in PEI thing to recover from the NL driving. My problem is I cannot sit still for more than one full day without becoming bored (whereas my wife would happily be bored).

Our vacation will be a total of 3 1/2 weeks before we fly back to the Prairies. So we will have 2 1/2 weeks for NS, NB and PEI. The order after the first week is not set in stone.

Ed, I will have to study your plan on a map. Most of the places you mention, I'm not familiar with -- I should bring our Rankin Family CD's for them to autograph. Rob, we are not Acadian, but I like to learn a bit of the history of the places we visit, so learning more on Acadians and eating Acadian food would be right up our alley.

Again, I thank you for your help. I'm starting to get itchy feet, and want to leave today instead of Monday -- whether I'm prepared or not.

Redlats

One more thing if you like wines they have great fruit wines and Grande Pre had a nice winery there you can tour and do tasting. I gave you a scenic route up the west coast of Cape Breton. It's alot better then the highway. Yes you should take in PEI and go accross the bridge, it's one of those things you'll never do again. It's free on the way over but they charge you to get off the Island.
Have a safe trip;
Ed

I'm jealous...

In PEI: I took the ferry over, and crossed the bridge to return, which killed two birds with one stone. It's a relaxing place, but I would see the Red Cliffs in the north; very nice.

On Nova Scotia, I started at Yarmouth, from there I saw the French Coast, Digby, Port Annapolis (Port Royal), Grand Pre, Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove, Halifax, and The Fortress at Louisburg.... all in 6 days.... It was a bit too much, but I had seen Halifax before, and my ankle was sprained and I couldn't hike the Cabot trail. I think you can do it too, but it's not exactly relaxing. I'd slow down a bit and relax more.

I'm sure RobDavis can show you a good time in St John! right Rob?

Ton's of photos on my PEI & NS pages, check it out....

Frank

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PEI is one of the nicest places in the Maritimes and if you have time, you could easily drive there. For New Brunswick, you might also want to see the Hopewell Rocks -search them on the net. That is a unique enough attraction to warrant a visit.

Clint

Free Spirit Gallery
http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca
Exquisite Inuit (Eskimo) & Native American Art

I would also suggest driving south from Halifax, Hitting Lunenburg, Liverpool, Yarmouth, The french shore, Digby, Fort Anne, Port Royal, Upper Clements park (natrue preserve) and the annapolis valley.

You could do this drive in a day or two. as a circular trip through the southern part of Nova Scotia.

Liverpool is pretty, lots of neat places to shop for trinkets. Yarmouth has a wonderful lighthouse and shops. The french shore has amazing churches (Church point is the largest wooden church in the Americas), Digby has famous seafood and especially scollops. Upper clements park is a nice nature preserve. Fort Anne is a historic park and a cool little town (see the tidal generating station too). Fort Royal is the first settlement of North America (besides the native indians). And the Annapolis valley (on highway 1 not the 101) is full of quaint little towns and lovely fresh veggies. You can then hit Grand Pre on your way back to Halifax. (It is mecca for Acadians and once you read the history you will know why.

Lastly, everyone in Nova Scotia will talk to you and offer advise on things to see. they are very firendly, so go have fun.

Also, Saint John is lovely too, if you want, take the ferry from digby for the day and check our the real home of the loyalists. (also some amazing seafood there too.)

Safe travels and have fun.

P.S. I am Acadian and originally from the french shore of Nova Scotia....