Ottawa to East Coast Maritimes

Old Oct 6th, 2014, 07:23 AM
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Ottawa to East Coast Maritimes

My family is thinking of driving from Ottawa to east coast next June/July. Our dates are June 26 - July 10th. So we have about 14 days overall to do the trip.
I have read up a bit on different routes but am a total newbie when it comes to what to do, where to stop and everything like that. This will be our families first trip and longer road trip together. My kids will be 4, 6 and 8 by that time so they may not like driving for 12 hours a day. We have done 7 hours in a day before this past summer driving back from Hampton Beach and they were okay with that but we made many stops for food, washroom and shopping as well so it took about 10 hours for what should have been 7 hours. They can do about 4 hours straight before the need for washroom and food break. With that being said, help me figure out an itinerary. We have been told to change it up and drive through Canada on the way there and through the US on the way back. That suits us fine as we can do some tax free shopping in New Hampshire hopefully.
I also don't have an exact destination in mind for the east coast as I don't know anything about it. All I know is we have been told not to miss out on PEI. Are there nice beaches to spend a day where we can even body board in waves? My son just discovered that this summer while in Hampton beach and loves it. Our family will be flying out from Vancouver to meet us on the coast somewhere once we decide what we are doing.

I figure we will take the first two days to get there and last two days to get back.
I'm trying to see if it would make sense to head off after work on Thursday June 25, 2015 so we can get about 5 hours of driving out of the way.

Suggestions.?
Thanks
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15 (if needed)
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Old Oct 6th, 2014, 04:46 PM
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so, you've got good suggestion to do canada one way and through the states the other. to enjoy stops...that's about 5-7 days of driving (13 hours from ottawa to charlottetown) in my opinion that would give you enough time to do new brunswich - shedia and Kouchibouguac National Park have nice beaches. see hopewell rocks at high tide for an hour and return for low tide for a couple of hours - and then time on pei. many families like to book a rental there for 5-7 days. OR, drive to nova scotia. even there, you'd only have time to see a small section of the province. you do not have time to do all three provinces unless you want to do your entire vacation in a car.
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Old Oct 7th, 2014, 04:31 AM
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Is there a good place to book a house as a sort of hub where we can do day trips out of or is that not possible given the distances of places..
So you are suggesting just to. Tackle PEI and New Brunswick this time. I read in another post sating really 1 day is enough in PEI unless you are really interested in Anne of Green Gables lol...
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Old Oct 7th, 2014, 06:35 AM
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you need to do some of your own leg work...we don't know your family and aren't going to plan everyday of your trip. have you even read the individual provinces tourism sites. if you've already been told 1 day is enough for pei, i assume you've been told why. yes you could drive through it in a day but what about the beaches around cavandish? great golf courses? grenwich national park? charlottetown? maybe a dayout on a fishing boat? as said do your own research and come up with a tentative plan so we could be of more help. what about new brunswick interests you? again, read old posts and their tourism websit.
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Old Oct 8th, 2014, 04:39 AM
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Your children will not want to leave the beaches at Cavendish.
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Old Oct 9th, 2014, 08:46 AM
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Some water is warm and fun to swim in, and some is very, very cold.
Warm is Northumberland Strait, between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and the other side of PEI, near Cavendish.

Maine is very cold, as is Nova Scotia.

I've driven from Toronto to New Brunswick a dozen times, and my preference is to go to Maine and up to New Brunswick, and then come back through Canada.

The eastward trip is fun and interesting; the return is pretty boring with lots of forest. So that makes it easy to go home in a hurry, instead of running out of time.

If you like to look things up on the web, find Lincolnville Maine and look at the (cold water) beach and the restaurant next door, that kids will love. And check the Deer Island ferry. Kids like that, too.
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Old Oct 9th, 2014, 03:24 PM
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I'd love to have the magical answer for this poster, but the challenge, of all of the required driving, to see the sights, AND handle three young kids the whole way, is about overwhelming (even to me, in trying to be fair to reality, in my thoughts.

I mean, even Ottawa to Sydney, NS one way is 16 1/2 hours of driving.

(and I use Sydney, because there could be some use in getting that far... and that's just driving in a straight-ish line

My vibe is not making this young group stand more than four hours of driving in a day, and that would mean barnstorming all over, seldom even stopping to catch your breath, and being constantly challenged the whole time, despite it supposedly being your va-ca-tion.

Perhaps you could target Quebec, QC for the first night...

then, somehow, Fredericton, NB by the 2nd night (after SIX hours of driving)

Day three, I'm thinking... Fredericton-to-Hopewell Cape at LOW tide-Charlottetown, PE, which is 260 miles, and 5 hours of driving time.

Day four... spend doing whatever you might do ON PEI

(so lets just SAY, nights THREE and FOUR IN the same spot in Charlottetown, PEI - for what little recuperation you can get)

Then... myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy next vibe for you, is to target the town of Baddeck, NS as a "hub", from which you can have at least a couple of days (3 nights, possibly??) of day trips.

Most important is the circuit of The Cabot Trail of northern Nova Scotia.

Another target worthy of some consideration is Fort Louisbourg, which is southeast of Sydney, NS.

I wish I knew more about activities for kids, but I do think they might like some of the layout of the fort.


So lets tally up the NIGHTS I have so far, and see where we are:

1 - Quebec City
2 - Fredericton
3&4 - Charlottetown
5&6&7?? - Baddeck, NS


I think that you should target Halifax, NS next, if possible, and also get yourselves near to the Bay of Fundy shoreline at Low Tide whenever you can... and then, obviously, work your way back toward Ottawa (maybe via Miramichi and Rimouski???)

Hope that helps you envision a starting blueprint.
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Old Oct 9th, 2014, 03:53 PM
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Oh, if you use Halifax, NS for the family flying in... (from the west)... that would be very convenient, as you have to pass through/near Truro, NS anyway, and to dart up to Halifax to fetch them at the airport would be rel-a-tive-ly convenient.

Don't know how long you want to have the westerners with you on the trip, but if you need more time with them, then consider having them RIDE BACK to Ottawa (or somewhere along the way) with you, and then flying back to the west from there.

One more thing that means a lot to many Bay of Fundy tourists... is this table of TIDE TIMES ... I want you to first figure out the window of when you'll be visiting (oh, wait, we already know that ??? June 26 to July 10) ... and then print out the TIDE TIMES for at least 3 or 4 spots in the area, for the entire window of time when you'll be anywhere NEAR to the Bay.

Be SURE to include "Hopewell Cape"... and maybe... Truro, and, oh, I dunno... Wolfville... for the tide times you print... AND add MONCTON (for the "Tidal Bore" - which is when a RIVER turns right AROUND and runs UP STREAM, at a predictable moment - which MIGHT really surprise your kids!)

Anyway, spend a few pieces of paper on that there suggestion, and then have it in the glovebox, for easy reference while you're going. (though I hardly envision you guys making every scheduled tide-viewing time deadline, with all the kids running the show)
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Old Oct 14th, 2014, 07:29 PM
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I am just going to jump in and make a bid for PEI being worth more than 24 hours. I would say that with 3 children under 10 you need to pick 2 maritime provinces. There is beauty in each province but what you want is for the kids to remember time at the beach, not nasty car ride.

I was born and raised on PEI and I will stand up and say I can't stand Anne of GG or anything Anne associated. You can totally spend 5 to 7 days on PEI and not go to the made up destination of Green Gables.
1)Grenwich National Park
2) Singing sand and bridge jumping at Basin Head
3) live noon hour concerts at the Confed centre in Charlottetown - always free
4) Province house
5) Your kids are perfect age for Sand Spit park. Great rides for your age of children. Adults don't pay unless they go on rides…so civilized.
6) Deep sea fishing in Hunter River.

Personally I would do PEI and Nova Scotia - Cabot trail has beaches and hiking. Sorry but coming from PEI New Brunswick will always be the last 7 hours before I am home.
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Old Oct 19th, 2014, 12:02 PM
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Wow thanks so much for the suggestions. It gives me options to lay out a tentative schedule to discuss with the group who believe it or not are more clueless then me lol.. My kids can handle 7/8 hours driving a day and I actually like driving so that helps.
Wife really likes the idea of relaxing in PEI for a few days too. But as many said, we need to pick and choose as it is not enough time to do all and have fun. I also like the idea off having 2-3 places as hubs so we are not constantly packing and moving...
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 08:17 AM
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Okay so it is confirmed that we will be taking this trip this summer.
After reading up some more and taking suggestions on this forum I tentatively have something like this in mind. It is definitely a work in progress.
Day 1: Drive Quebec City or some town beyond.
Day 2: Drive to Fundy National Park/Hopewell..
- (low tide is at 2 pm).
- Debating between Sunday National Park of Hopewell to see the tides
Day 3: Drive to Cavendish via Confederation bridge
- Looking at renting a cottage or something near PEI National park.
- May stop in to see the lobster in Shediac lol...
Day 4EI Stuff
- National Park
Day 5: PEI Stuff
- National Park
Day 6: PEI Stuff
- day in Charlottetown
- St. Ann's church lobster supper
Day 7: PEI Stuff
- Deep sea fishing or clamming?
Day 8: PEI
- Sandpit maybe or shining waters?
Day 9: Halifax, NS
- Take the ferry from PEI to Halifax
Day 10: Halifax, NS
- Halifax CitadelTBD
Day 11: TBD
Day 12: TBD
Day 13: Drive Home
Day 14: Drive Home

My Other though was to switch it up and do Halifax before PEI thus taking the ferry over to PEI and then the Confederation bridge back. I just read somewhere that you save about $20 with this Ferry/Bridge arrangement.

Thanks for any feedback.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 08:33 AM
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Oh we can also add a 15 and 16th day if needed too. Depending on what day we leave Ottawa, Our Day 5 or 6 will be Canada day as well if that makes a difference.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 06:05 PM
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If it helps I think Sands spit and shinning waters offer a combo pass. Like any other water park the first two hours after opening are the best time to go to the water slide section of the park. The big slide where you ride the an inner tube around large circular toilet bowl thing is a BLAST.

I do think your basic time lines are going to let you really enjoy the maritimes. Also with your total budget for this trip I don't think the $20 is going to make much difference so do it in the order that works for your total plan.

Kinloch
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Old Jan 23rd, 2015, 08:29 PM
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Hopewell Cape for the tides, for sure...


and were it me, I would cut a couple of days from PEI, and maybe add a day or two to the trip, to allow for a trip to the Cabot Trail.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2015, 09:12 PM
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Well I have day 11 and 12 free so I may do the Cabot trail and the area up there. Still filling it out. As I look at the schedule I think it may may more sense for us to switch it up and do it as:
Day 1 Ottawa-Quebec City
Day 2 -Fredericton
Day 3-Hopewell Rocks
Day 4-5Halifax area (Lunenberg)
Day 6-7-Cape Breton/Cabot Trail
Day 8-11 ferry to PEI. More relaxing time (Charlottetown, Cavendish, PEI National Park)
Day 12 - Confederation Bridge back to ???
Day 13-14 Drive home.

I am debating if I want to spend Canada day in Halifax or Cape Breton area.
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Old Jan 29th, 2015, 07:19 AM
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Canada Day is definitively A LOT of fun in both Halifax and Cape Breton, but if you are looking for a wider range of activities and things to do then I suggest Halifax. There is always a FREE outdoor concert at Alderney Landing and a huge firework show over the harbour which can be seen from both the Dartmouth and Halifax waterfront/boardwalk.

The events for 2015 haven't been listed yet, but there are usually free pancake breakfasts, activities at Pier 21, a parade and free services and admissions to various museums such as the Halifax Citadel! Here is a full list of last year's events so you can get an idea of what to expect for 2015! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-s...area-1.2692084
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Old Feb 4th, 2015, 06:52 AM
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With 3 kids 3,5,and 7 I am not sure if the Cabot trail is right for us at this point. Correct me if I am wrong. It ends up adding more driving to the itinerary which my wife dreads lol...
I am thinking of cutting out Cape Breton altogether sadly...
This is what the new schedule looks like so far..


Day 1 Sat June 27: Drive from Ottawa to Quebec City (4 hrs)
- really debated going straight to Fredericton but worried kids would not last.
-I have no desire really to sight see in QC as we have done that before.

Day 2 Sun June 28: Drive from QC to Fredericton 6 hrs
- visit some sites here such as officers square, soldiers barracks, government house

Day 3 Mon June 29: drive from Fredericton to Hopewell 2 1/2 hours
- (low tide is at 2 pm and high tide is 8 pm)
- Overnight in the area somewhere... Suggestions for cheap area? Or will I need to go to Moncton?

Day 4 Tues June 30: drive to Halifax 2 1/2 hrs
- Swing into Shediac on the way to see the giant lobster and grab first bite of seafood somewhere...
- maybe see Fundy National Park in the morning?
- Halifax citadel

Day 5 Wednesday July 1st: Halifax and area
- Return to Halifax in evening for fireworks
- Lunenberg?
- Peggy's Cove?

Day 6 Thurs July 2: Drive to Souris, PEI Via Ferry
- rent cottage in Souris
- beach day in Souris
- explore area

Day 7 Friday July 3: Souris cottage
- day at Basin head beach

Day 8 Sat Jul 4: drive Souris to Cavendish/Brackley/North shore area...
- Rent cottage for 4 days somewhere in area
- explore area and relax

Day 9 Sunday July 5: Cavendish/Brackley/North shore area
- cavendish green gables stuff
- beach day (which beach? Brackley, Cavendish, Stanhope)

Day 10 Mon July 6: Cavendish/Brackley/North shore area
- beach day (which beach?)
- drive to western part of PEI maybe?

Day 11: Cavendish/Brackley/North shore area
- relax explore area
- maybe another beach visit

Day 12 Wed Jul 7: drive to Charlottetown
- Hotel or b&b here
- St. Anne's lobster dinner
- province house

Day 13 Thurs July 8: Drive home (via USA or Canada?)

Day 14 Fri July 9: Drive Home

Day 15: Sleep

Oh as well, are there any beaches where my 7 year old son can boogie boarding? We did it in Hampton Beach this past summer and he fell in love with it. If so we will pack the board along.

Thanks for any feedback.
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Old Feb 8th, 2015, 07:53 AM
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Hi, a suggestion for you. From Ottawa - if you drive to Hudson there is a small car ferry to Oka. It's quick, scenic and lets the kids out of the car. I believe it is $6. It also allows you to avoid driving through Montreal, traffic and endless summer road work.
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Old Feb 8th, 2015, 10:48 AM
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A tremendous beach for this on PEI is just outside of Charlottetown. If you go to google maps and type in Bellevue Cove, PEI you will see that the Kinloch Rd dead ends at the water. There is a public beach access there. You need to check the tide schedule but when tide is out Boogie heaven. This is the best picture I could find on an internet surf.

http://media.point2.com/p2a/htmltext...3/original.jpg
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